Here at Kooks custom headers we are striving to bring the absolute best products to the market. As part of that process we are always looking for what the next product should be.I would like to gauge the interest in a Stainless header for the 4.2L I6. I would like as much input from you as possible.
4.2L I6 Headers
- Thread starter novajoe
- Start date
I would be intrested for sure. the biggest factor for me would be power gains to cost. alot of products have a high price for little HP+torque gained. curious to know the cost and performance you can come up with.
I would be interested more in not having to replace a cracked manifold twice... A stock tuned computer cannot take advantage of the flow...
not having to replace it again would be worth the money alone!limequat said:The "yes" should be broken out into:
Yes, I'd buy for $800
Yes, I'd buy for $1000
Yes, I'd buy for $1500
That is a good point. I can not edit the poll, but at what price point is it no longer worth it. Please let me know all concerns you would want addressed if you were going to purchase these headers. I will be taking all this information up the chain and see what happens.
Sparky
Member
- Dec 4, 2011
- 12,927
Hmmmmm.....
I guess it would depend on cost. I would expect them to be more than a replacement manifold (for obvious reasons) but could still be worth it depending on cost. I'm one of the rare lucky guys that hasn't had a manifold crack yet in over 164k miles. But that doesn't mean it won't. If the price was right I'd still probably only get a set if my manifold busted however. I tend to spend most of my performance money on the Camaro.
There were some updates to the engine in 2006 but not sure if the head exhaust ports and manifold changed at all or not.
I'm pretty sure a mod/admin could revise your poll if you wanted.
I guess it would depend on cost. I would expect them to be more than a replacement manifold (for obvious reasons) but could still be worth it depending on cost. I'm one of the rare lucky guys that hasn't had a manifold crack yet in over 164k miles. But that doesn't mean it won't. If the price was right I'd still probably only get a set if my manifold busted however. I tend to spend most of my performance money on the Camaro.
There were some updates to the engine in 2006 but not sure if the head exhaust ports and manifold changed at all or not.
I'm pretty sure a mod/admin could revise your poll if you wanted.
limequat
Member
- Dec 8, 2011
- 520
novajoe said:
After price my main concerns would be fitment. Does it connect to the stock downpipe? If not what flange? Do I need a new downpipe and CAT? Do I need to extend my O2 sensor harness? What are the power gains? Stainless steel or mild?
I don't expect all of these to be answered right away, just stuff to think about.
Sparky said:
I Fully understand the price point concern. I know the last time I changed a manifold on a TrailBlazer it was a little over $800.00 my cost and you may still have the cracking issue down the road. So at what price would you consider it and at what price would you walk away?
limequat said:
To address the fitment question, all of our headers are prototyped on a real vehicle and then a fixture is made so that every header we make has the best fitment possible. As far as material we use 304 Stainless for our headers. Now as far as where it will connect it is hard to say until the prototype is done. If we have to move the O2 sensors we can do O2 extensions just like we have to do on many of our applications. If we do produce these headers I can warranty that the quality and fitment will be the best that can be offered.
Sparky
Member
- Dec 4, 2011
- 12,927
From what I am seeing there is a difference in the manifold after 2006.
A new 02-05 manifold costs $150 ish for a Dorman which supposedly fixes the cracking issue. Obviously I would not expect a stainless header set to cost that little and still be any good. Honestly I'm probably not a good candidate for a header because I'm too cheap for something like this on my Trailblazer. I'd rather spend its mod money elsewhere, mostly on stuff I could move to the next (probably newer) one since this one's time is limited due to rust cancer.
A new 02-05 manifold costs $150 ish for a Dorman which supposedly fixes the cracking issue. Obviously I would not expect a stainless header set to cost that little and still be any good. Honestly I'm probably not a good candidate for a header because I'm too cheap for something like this on my Trailblazer. I'd rather spend its mod money elsewhere, mostly on stuff I could move to the next (probably newer) one since this one's time is limited due to rust cancer.
Wooluf1952
Member
The other company that has/had headers for the 4.2 I6, never had any documented HP/Torque data.
That and the (for me) high price, IMHO, hurt their sales.
That and the (for me) high price, IMHO, hurt their sales.
FlyingFischer
Member
Mooseman
Moderator
Just yesterday I went to a custom exhaust shop and asked for a quick estimate. They do all stainless work. A one off would cost about $850 and if he were to make a few (10-20) it would come down to $700-750. It's the prep time for the jigging that would make a one off more expensive.
Mooseman
Moderator
I only posted this as an fyi since I'm not really interested in headers for my truck. Too expensive for what I'd get out of them. Or if anybody wants to pay me for a set I would be happy to loan my truck as a guinea pig 
