Ragtop_Rob

Hi Everyone!

THANKS AGAIN FOR YOUR HELP. This car would not be possible without you all. I have a 71 454 Vette, I MUST have side pipes. I like the factory look and heat shields, BUT I love the hooker sound. Is there a way to have both? Will the pipes from Sweet Thunder give me the hooker sound? OR should I just get the Hookers and damn the stock look. Any advice is GREATLY appreciated.

Durango_Boy

I have Hookers and LOVE them, both look and sound. A member here, Dean from Bangkok sells steel shields for C3s with 4" pipes to protect against burns. Personally I like the look of the bare pipe and just make sure I am very careful when getting in or out.

I don't like stock pipes, and Sweet Thunder makes some very good sounding inserts for the Hooker pipes.

63mako

Your car is sweet! I am a custom guy, but with a low mileage, correct, numbers matching big block 71 vert use factory sidepipes with chambered exhaust. You will give up some power over the hookers. You may have to modify the body at the rocker for the hookers to fit.

Glassbowtie77

I have the Hookers also and absolutely love the look of them. I have the Hooker MaxFlo muffler inserts and the sound is old school, deep and powerful sounding but not obnoxious.

71rdster

I still think that the factory sidepipes for 69 are the greatest looking pipes and covers ever. But they are far more expensive and restrictive than Hooker headers and sidepipes. Even if you pop for ceramic coating, and some of BD's heat shields (which look pretty cool too), you'll save a lot, have better performance, great looks, and a really great sound. IMO, its a no brainer.

84rzv500r

Dean can hook you up... even does custom stuff