2/24/2012 - Kooks Custom GTM Exhaust System - Ready to Take Orders!

[Shane]

Well, the last run of the Kooks Exhaust is complete and I am ready to begin taking orders for the next run. Thanks to all of the guys who ordered last time!

I've worked out a deal with Kooks to reduce the order/run quantity to 5. Out of those 5, most likely I'll be ordering one or two systems to keep in stock until they are sold......then start a new run of 5. So the end result will be in reality that we will only need 3 or 4 confirmed orders for each run, which should speed up the process considerably.


This system is all Stainless Steel, and includes long-tube headers (with O2 bungs welded in), cats, X-Pipe, mufflers, tips and mounting hardware, clamps, and brackets. The main advantages would be increased performance/hp in switching from the stock exhaust manifolds to a long-tube header/X-pipe design. A close second would be exhaust note. This system gives a much more exotic sound than the stock manifolds with the FFR provided H-pipe. Third would be that it's all Stainless Steel, so it doesn't need to be coated (like the FFR exhaust) if you don't want to, and it won't turn into a ball of rust. Yes, you can ceramic coat them if you like. Fourth......well it's just a sexy looking exhaust system!

Price for the whole system is $2083 plus shipping (which averaged around $70 for the last order) for all LS engines EXCEPT the LS7. For the LS7 the price is $2233 for the system plus shipping. This is due to additional work involved in the header flanges for the LS7. Many of you may note that the prices have gone up since the last run. This is due to both an increase in price on the systems from Kooks and also the fact that the supplier they were getting their exhaust tips from can no longer supply the same quality of parts they have in the past.....so Kooks had to switch suppliers and the exhaust tips are now $90 more than they were in the past.

There is only one difference between the "standard" (LS1/LS3/LS6) headers and the LS7 headers, and that is the header flange port shape. The "standard" headers have round ports and the LS7 headers have D shaped ports. Both the "standard" and LS7 headers use 1-7/8" primaries into a 3" collector. The "standard" headers/system WILL fit and work on an LS7 with the difference in HP between running the LS7 headers and the "standard" headers being somewhere in the range of about 2 hp. So yes, if you have an LS7, and you'd be happy to trade the loss of 2hp for a gain of $138 in your pocket, just order the "standard" system for your LS7. This is also the reason that the systems I will be ordering to keep in stock will be "standard" systems and not LS7 systems.


If you just want to order the headers and not the complete exhaust system, you can do that also. Price for the "standard" headers (fits LS1, LS2, LS3, LS6) will be $1130 + shipping and the LS7 headers will be $1280 + shipping. Once again, the "standard" headers will fit and work on the LS7 also.

I can also offer the headers or complete system ceramic coated. Price for coating the headers only is $294, or the entire system for $650.

If you're interested in ordering, please send me a PM with your name, address, phone, email and engine type (LS1, LS3, LS7, etc), and I will put you on the list for the next run. As soon as I have the 3 or 4 orders on my list, I will contact everyone for payment and turn the order in to Kooks. As of this run, I will also be collecting a $500 deposit to get your name on the order list. I have not done this in the past, but on the last 3 runs, I have had people back out at the last minute, leaving me holding the bag. Basically, I make an announcement here that I'm turning the orders in to Kooks, then contact everyone for payment, and if you don't pay, I have several people who have paid and want their system to get on order....which means I have to foot the bill for the system you decided you didn't want at the last minute. My boss/accountant/wife does not like that very much.

I would also like to strongly urge you to be sure of what you want to order when you order it. For every order we turn in, it seems we always have several guys who want to change their order at the last minute and add ceramic coating or delete the cats or go to an LS7 system when they first ordered an LS1 system, etc..... This creates a HUGE headache for both Kooks and I as we try to keep up with who wants what, what they've paid vs what they owe us....and what we've paid Kooks vs what we owe them, etc.


Here are some pics of what you get. Please note that the system in these photos has been ceramic coated. The systems also come with all of the hardware needed to install the system---gaskets, nuts, bolts, clamps, mounting brackets that clamp to the mufflers (brackets are available to mount to G50 transaxles available on my website and sold seperately).








And this is what the system looks like when it's NOT ceramic coated:



Please note that you will require a couple new spark plug wires to clear the headers on a couple of the cylinders. Here is what I've found that works:

Taylor custom makes them for Street and Performance in Arkansas. Part # TA-2326-BK (black) or BL (blue). Made for LS1/6 with 135degree boots.
A set is $102.95 plus shipping. Or if you want just one or two, they will sell them individually ($12.95 each). Talk to Mark at (479)394-5711.

Thanks!!

[Shane]

And here are some videos (sorry for the poor vid quality)




And a youtube video:

http://youtu.be/gJBAgw7h6Hs



Thanks!

[fastthings]

I'm in. You knew that, rignt?

[Shane]

Yes...I do have you on the list....still need to take time to get you a total on the rest of your list!.....sorry...been crazy here!

[Edgeman]

Shane, Just received my order very nice, can't wait to install.
Thank You again, Doug

[Shane]

Just bumping this up to give some advice. It seems on every order there are always a few guys who are in a hurry to get their Kooks system so they can finish with their car or planning their build out, dyno-ing their engine with the Kooks system installed, etc...... I guess what I'm telling you is this: Don't wait until the last minute to order your Kooks exhaust! If you think you are going to need this system in the next 4 months.....the time to order is NOW! I don't want to sound pushy or like I'm being a hard-a$$ about this.....that is NOT my intent here at all......just trying to explain things from my end.

I've had several guys tell me I need to always keep these in stock and sell them as orders come in. That all sounds great......except that with the combination of guys who just want headers, or just want the X-Pipe, or want ceramic coating on the whole exhaust or just the headers, or they don't want the cats, or they want different exhaust tips installed, or they want the LS7 headers......at any rate, in order to take care of everyones needs all the time I'd have to order and sit on about $50k worth of exhaust systems. Now if these were exhaust systems that fit a Mustang or something like that, where there are hundreds of thousands of them on the road, it would be one thing, but when there have only been 400 or so GTM's sold, and probably less than 1/3 of them on the road......well, it's not exactly a huge market....which is why I can not afford to sit on $50k worth of exhaust systems for years on end, hoping that they might sell sometime in the future.

So, once again, if you know you are going to want the Kooks exhaust for your GTM, do not wait until the week before you need it to call me and order it. ;-) A good time to order might be the day you put your GTM kit on order with FFR. :-) Thanks!

[Shane]

2 orders in....3 to go!

[fastthings]

Time to get it ordered guys.

[Shane]

Need one more order guys! Thanks!

[BigBlue]

Shane, you have done a fine job helping us all with information and custom parts. Is there any way you can figure out how to re-route the exhaust system to get it below the axles and come out below the body? I personally am not an admirer of the current system. I would prefer to rework the spoiler to leave a 3" gap between it and the body and then fit trapezoidal tailpipes in this gap at each side (same style as Lexus LS460). There is ample room for silencers in the rear corners. The gen1 spoiler is far too steep and gives the rear view of the car a pinched look. I think a low routing would put less radiant heat on the hatch and look much better.

[BigBlue]

Sorry, read diffuser for spoiler.

[Shane]

Hey BigBlue,

The biggest problem with doing anything like that is.........$$$$.

If you notice, I started this thread in February......looking for 5 orders. It is now the middle of May and I still lack 5 orders. Just a rough guesstimate, by the time I figured in the time needed to design and fit a system you describe, AND pay Kooks the thousands of $$$$$ in fixturing costs to make all new fixtures for every single component in the system, I'm guessing (assuming that more than just one person would want the exaust as you describe) that it would probably take over a decade of sales to just break even.

The second problem with a system like that is that it would have to be 2 completely seperate exhaust systems on the LH side and RH side, as there would be no way possible to have any kind of cross-over or X pipe since there is no room under the transaxle to run an exaust pipe from the LH to the RH side. The X pipe in the current system is what gives the exhaust that exotic sound. Without it, you're back to having a supercar that sounds like an old '70 Nova. (or as one of my past Kooks customers described it.... "an old lobster boat")

On top of that, to be perfectly honest, I'm not a huge fan of the gap between the diffuser and body on the Gen II. IMO, I think the Gen I diffuser looks very nice....like it belongs on the car. The Gen II diffuser looks like something that someone made to try to fill in a hole...most of the way.....or something that someone removed from a different kind of car and tried to piece it onto the GTM. It doesn't fit the body and doesn't look like it was ever meant to.

Sorry........

[VD2021]

Originally Posted by Shane

On top of that, to be perfectly honest, I'm not a huge fan of the gap between the diffuser and body on the Gen II. IMO, I think the Gen I diffuser looks very nice....like it belongs on the car. The Gen II diffuser looks like something that someone made to try to fill in a hole...most of the way.....or something that someone removed from a different kind of car and tried to piece it onto the GTM. It doesn't fit the body and doesn't look like it was ever meant to.

Sorry........

Agree 100%. I think it was the "not cut" solution to fitting the mendeola.

Sorry for the thread jack...

[crash]

Originally Posted by VD2021

Agree 100%. I think it was the "not cut" solution to fitting the mendeola.

Sorry for the thread jack...

I don't think the Mendeola had anything to do with it. It was the issues of engine bay temps and that the Gen I diffuser angle was too steep to allow the diffuser to actually work correctly.

Still, I believe one of the best mods you can make is to add Shane's diffuser louver kit. You don't really need a working diffuser on a street GTM, but you can SURE use the extra cooling that the diffuser louvers offer.

[Shane]

Thanks Crash. I agree 100%. If I ever built a Gen II for myself, I would request that FFR delete the Gen II diffuser from my order and add a Gen I diffuser and add the louvers. It provides about 100X more support for the rear of the body than the Gen II diffuser, fits the body, looks better, and I would suspect is much more effective at drawing out engine bay heat than the gap at the rear of the Gen II diffuser.

[VD2021]

Originally Posted by crash

I don't think the Mendeola had anything to do with it. It was the issues of engine bay temps and that the Gen I diffuser angle was too steep to allow the diffuser to actually work correctly.

Still, I believe one of the best mods you can make is to add Shane's diffuser louver kit. You don't really need a working diffuser on a street GTM, but you can SURE use the extra cooling that the diffuser louvers offer.

No worries. I agree 100%+ on the mod and I may be wrong on the mendeola, but the first thing Jason asked when I called to purchase the Gen1 diffuser was if I was going to run the mendeola. IIRC he told me it wouldn't fit installed as on the gen1... Maybe one of the guys that have installed their mendeola can chime in. No worries either way..........

Originally Posted by Shane

Thanks Crash. I agree 100%. If I ever built a Gen II for myself, I would request that FFR delete the Gen II diffuser from my order and add a Gen I diffuser and add the louvers. It provides about 100X more support for the rear of the body than the Gen II diffuser, fits the body, looks better, and I would suspect is much more effective at drawing out engine bay heat than the gap at the rear of the Gen II diffuser.

I called to order a Gen1 diffuser as soon as FFR installed and posted pictures of the Gen2 diffuser installed on their GTM. I personally like the Gen1 finished look, already had Shane's V2 louvers and did not care about any downforce testing for my street build.

IMO the louvers compliment the look of the diffuser. Another outstanding VRaptor product. I'm even thinking of leaving them in an aluminum finish so they continue to standout.

[crash]

Not trying to be combative or defensive.

I just don't believe the two decisions were linked in any way.

For the record, we had to notch our diffuser to be able to fit the Mendeola S5 in the FFR PDG GTM. Kind of an apples and oranges comparison, but we had already spaced out the diffuser and put louvers on it, and STILL had to notch it slightly to get the Mendeola to fit. There just isn't a lot of room back there.

[Shane]

Thanks Vidal! Looks great!

[Shane]

Orders are going to be turned in to Kooks Tomorrow! Thanks for the orders, guys! You will be getting an invoice for the total once I get the shipping totals from Kooks.