|
|
Dual Exhaust Install - Now We’re Kookin’Inside Kooks Custom Headers’ true dual, 3-inch, X-pipe equipped, bolt-on Fourth-Gen F-body exhaust system From the December, 2011 issue of GM High-Tech Performance By Justin Cesler Photography by The Author
|
|
Ever since the release of the fourth-generation F-body, enthusiasts have been clamoring for a real true-dual exhaust system. There is just something about a V-8 and an X-pipe that makes enthusiasts weak at the knees and you just can't get the same tone with a Y-pipe, regardless of the size of the piping or the make of the muffler. Don't get us wrong, the factory GM Y-pipe setup is decent and has been proven to support a healthy amount of power, but when it comes down to raw sound and attitude, almost nothing can touch the tone of a well thought out true dual system. Unfortunately for many racers and cruisers, installing a full over-the-axle true dual system on an F-body proved to be a task too difficult, too costly, and too time-consuming to pursue. There have been attempts at pre-axle "dumps," which work well but cover the bottom of the car in soot and drone at speed (ask me how I know), under-the-axle true dual installs which give up ground clearance and "style" for the addition of tips, and for some brave souls--this author included--to build and install side-exit exhaust systems (it sounded terrible on my car), but only a few have known the joy of a complete, OEM quality, true dual system...until now. Enter Kooks Custom Headers, a company that has been building quality parts for muscle cars since before many of us were even born. After secretly building 3-inch true dual systems for LS1 F-bodies on a one-by-one custom basis, the company has finally stepped up to the plate, built the jigs, fired up the welders, and began building and shipping a complete, 100-percent bolt-on solution (PN 65-9802-CX-DUAL) that any enthusiast can order online and bolt-on in the comfort of their garage without having to cut, weld, or modify anything on their F-body. Of course, an undertaking like this doesn't come without some doubt from the peanut gallery, and while many people have a hard time believing two 3-inch stainless steel pipes can fit anywhere between an axle and a gas tank, the folks at Kooks have set out to prove it is not only possible, but it is quite easy with the right configuration. So, without further bench racing, we hopped on a plane and headed over to Kooks to watch a live install so that we could show you not only how it fits, but how simple it is to bolt-on and drive. No rattles, no undercar mess, and that classic big-block sound? Sign us up!  1 If you’re looking for a...  1 If you’re looking for a true 3-inch stainless steel bolt-on true dual exhaust system for your LS1-equipped fourth-gen F-body, look no further. Kooks Custom Headers has stepped it up big time with its all new exhaust, which features a true X-pipe, two Kooks Racing polished mufflers, and enough volume to flow over 1,200 horsepower.  2 Anyone who has spent time...  2 Anyone who has spent time underneath a fourth-gen knows how tight space is between the passenger-side axle tube and the factory gas tank. That area also shares space with the upper Panhard bar, making clearance extremely tight. Here, you can see the dual 3-inch over-the-axle pipes from Kooks.  3 No good exhaust system...  3 No good exhaust system is complete without quality exhaust tips. Each Kooks true dual system ships complete with four 4-inch polished slash cut tips welded behind a high quality Kooks Racing muffler. Notice the hanger on the Y-pipe for the tips...that will come in handy later to both secure the system and reduce rattles.  4 Our true dual recipient...  4 Our true dual recipient for this install belongs to none other than Chris Clark of Kooks. With a large camshaft and a couple of nice bolt-on parts, including Kooks long-tube headers, Chris’ WS6 Trans Am was already sans-exhaust when we arrived and was eagerly awaiting the 3-inch true dual system that was to come.  5 Step 1: Start anywhere...  5 Step 1: Start anywhere and get to work! Dr. Drew was on hand to install our system and he started with the passenger side, sliding the long-tube to X-pipe section in place first. As you would expect, everything bolts or slides right in place and nothing on the car has to be modified.  6 Kooks utilizes the factory...  6 Kooks utilizes the factory exhaust hangers for the front half of the system, so make sure you save them while removing your old exhaust system. As you can see, the supplied brackets also feature multiple holes for alignment, although with the stock brackets in place you will only need the first set.  7 With the passenger side...  7 With the passenger side laid in place, Dr. Drew (who, incidentally, is neither a doctor nor a television personality) slid the driver-side pipe in place and lightly tightened the long-tube to pipe clamp in place. It’s a good idea to leave these loose for now; you will need the wiggle room to fit the rest of the system.  8 Time for the Kooks X-pipe...  8 Time for the Kooks X-pipe to install in place of the factory Y-pipe design. In front of Dr. Drew’s left hand, you can also see a BMR driveshaft safety loop (PN DSL001) which was installed prior to our arrival. Built to be both NHRA legal and designed for maximum exhaust clearance, the BMR driveshaft loop is essential for this installation to work without rubbing or rattling.  9 You can see just how much...  9 You can see just how much room the BMR driveshaft safety loop has around the bottom of the dual 3-inch Kooks stainless steel pipes. Of note, this piece won’t fit on convertible F-bodies or with the BMR Trak Pak, so make sure you consult with BMR and Kooks if you plan on running this system on either of those setups.  10 The true dual system also...  10 The true dual system also requires the use of a BMR upper Panhard bar relocation kit, which replaces the upper Panhard rod support and lowers the Panhard rod while maintaining the correct geometry. This piece (PN PHR004) bolts in place without any welding or drilling, making it for a quick and easy install.  11 Look at all that room...  11 Look at all that room between the gas tank, axle tube, and upper Panhard rod! OK, truth be told it is still quite tight, but thanks to excellent fabrication and quality control, two mail-order 3-inch pipes can fit through there without an issue.  12 The rear two X-pipe-to-muffler...  12 The rear two X-pipe-to-muffler over axle pipes are welded together to maintain clearance and fitment and install as one piece. Unlike some Y-pipe systems with a single rear muffler, the Kooks true dual system allows for multiple alignment joints for a nice fit and an easy install, as you can see here.  13 As a precaution, Kooks...  13 As a precaution, Kooks also includes a piece of heat tape, which needs to be installed on the factory gas tank, above the closest 3-inch exhaust pipe and directly to the right of the factory gas tank strap. The pre-cut tape just sticks in place and provides piece of mind and keeps the fuel in the tank cool.  14 Before installing the...  14 Before installing the rear muffler and tip assembly in place, Dr. Drew bolted a new pair of hangers to the rear bumper support section and prepped the area for the final assembly. These rear hangers help keep the tips in place, nice and tight to the bumper, and don’t allow them to sag over time, which is an excellent addition to the system.  15 With the hangers in place,...  15 With the hangers in place, Dr. Drew slid the muffler section on to the over-the-axle pipes and dropped the tips in the correct area within the bumper cutout. On a Trans Am, the 4-inch tips fit tight within the stock exhaust cutout and look great filling the entire area with polished goodness.  16 The driver-side tip and...  16 The driver-side tip and muffler section drops in place just as easily and features two connection points (one behind the muffler and one on the over-the-axle pipe) to allow for infinite adjustment, making it simple to line the tips up perfectly. You may need a buddy to stand behind the car while you align them, so make sure you get someone with a keen eye or you will end up looking ridiculous.  17 With everything in place...  17 With everything in place and the exhaust tips lined up to the bumper, Dr. Drew began working his way back through the system, tightening the provided clamps, checking for proper clearance, and making sure that everything was in the right place. As you tighten, you may see the tips move, so make sure you stop and check at each connection.  18 On the ground, the 3-inch...  18 On the ground, the 3-inch true dual exhaust from Kooks looked great but the real magic was in the sound. Gone was the factory rasp, replaced with a deep, thundering tone that sounded more like a traditional big-block than a stock LS1. Under acceleration, the X-pipe and 3-inch exhaust sounded like no other F-body we’ve heard in a long time and we experienced no rasp under deceleration or mid-range driving.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1999 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am - Street Heat
Almost no other GM model pulls off the aggressive look quite like the fourth-gen Trans Am, and when you modify one like Nathan Turjillo from Las Vegas has, well; you end up with a real showstopper....
more
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|