Hey folks, I've been wanting to put side pipes on my 76 L-48 since I got it. I love the look of the hookers, but can't afford the headers at this time.

I wanted to get spiral baffles, so I called them up:

http://www.spiralturbobaffles.com

Really nice guy, and took the time to talk to me about sidepipes and headers in general. Some folks had posted about a 4-1 collector with slip on 3 1/2" (patriot?) tubes and 3 dummy pipes.

Knowing eventually that I wanted to go with hooker headers (and liking the 4" better) he mentioned seeing a Hooker set of the 4-1 with 3 dummy pipes, that has the 4" side tubes.

The Hooker part # is: 21063HKR

They're called "Universal Sidemounts"

Jegs: $380
Summit: $359.99

Here's the link to the Hooker catalog:

http://www.holley.com/Catalogs/HKR20...R%20LAYOUT.PDF

They're at the bottom of page 70.

All I figure I'll need is a little fab'd pipe to go from the non-dummy pipe up to the exhaust manifold.

So with spiral baffles and the univeral kit from Hooker, we're up to $700.

Not too shabby.

Hopes this helps someone out, it took me awhile to figure out the best looking (IMHO) and cheapest way to do this.

For guys doing this for the first time, let me know if you need any install tips, I've found a few web articles on it...

-Don

 

Even Hooker make's a fake Hooker sidepipes!

 

If i read your intent right, you want to upgrade to the full sidemount Hookers when the moeny allows and re-use the baffles at that time? I assume you would then sell the universal ones on eBay to recoup some of the expense?

Sounds like a decent plan. Make sure you watch CLOSELY for rust at the collector and underneath. At the first sign, hit it with a liquid rust converter to help keep it in check. Also, make sure to use a liberal amount of anti-seize on the hardware and slip joint...if you EVER intend to get those spiral baffles back out.

 

to get the real Hooker Side mounts in black not chrome or stainless, but none the less they are the real thing. Then down the road a bit you could take them off and have them jet-coated.

Just an idea

 

I agree, check Summit... the black hookers are $700....

 

Good idea on the black ones, but that still leaves me without the spiral baffles...

Just so everyone knows, that $360 price is the "fake header" and the same slip tubes that the real headers use, so the only thing I need to buy to upgrade to the real thing are the headers...

 

When I installed sidepipes it was sort of a "crossing over" point for me.

Suddenly, it became a car not to take to the grocery store or to use casually again. Kinda hard to put my finger on the change that took place. I wonder if anyone else felt this way?

 

but why shouldn't they cash in on the "fake" market and not let the $$$ go elsewhere.

 

it's not that, look at my pic's, i had some of those fake pipes as thay were called here so much. with all those post knock'n them. just hit me funny even Hooker make's them. did'nt mean to knock'n them. i sure liked mine a lot. i needed a new sysm. on my vette bad last year and it was a cheap way out tell i got around to build'n my new motor and going with headers. but after one 10 hr. round trip to see some frends that was it for me. just to much for long trip's, couident even hear the radio at wide open. i could have upgraded the radio but i got more important thing to do first.

 

You're lucky, I can't hear my radio at idle.

 

well i dont have a sweet azz bigblock like you!

 

I have those "fake" ones as someones call them and i love them,sounds and looks great!
i have the patriot version but it looks the same,here is a pic

these ones have the baffels with them i got them for 240$ at www.jegs.com

 

I haven't even bothered to put a radio IN...no point! But once I have my spiral baffles (supposed to arrive today...should be better than the nasty trashed glasspacks in there!) and soundproof the car (this winter, no way I'm going to gut the interior again at the start of cruisin' season), I should be in good shape. Jughead, as cool as M22 bragging rights are, that beast hast to add even more to the noise ...I've had Gransport c3's old overdrive TKO in my car for about 3 weeks, and it's AMAZING how much quieter the car is at 70 mph when you drop the revs by 30% with a shift to 5th. By spring next year, I'll be sound-system shoppin

 

wish i had the buck's to do that. that'ed been nice! at 3700rpm there all you can hear! and that's cool tell you have to hear it for 5 hr's on a road trip! to much for this old bird

 

Last time I took a road trip before the TKO, I wore earplugs! . It was a cold day, so I had to keep the tops on...I find that with tops off and rear window out, there's a lot less noise (which gives you an idea of how bad the noise must be with the cabin sealed )