Hooker sidepipe headers
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From: Vernon Wisconsin
Hooker sidepipe headers
As you know I have a 77, this has the third set of tubes in 6 years. The tubes rot out on the top of the tube, about 8 inches from the collector. The car is in WI, but the car does no see rain or snow. What is up with the rot on the top of the tube? P.S. the car is not in a climate controled garage, however it remains about 40 degrees at the coldest times of the year. Any ideas here?
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
As you know I have a 77, this has the third set of tubes in 6 years. The tubes rot out on the top of the tube, about 8 inches from the collector. The car is in WI, but the car does no see rain or snow. What is up with the rot on the top of the tube? P.S. the car is not in a climate controled garage, however it remains about 40 degrees at the coldest times of the year. Any ideas here?
Happens to me too, and I"m in Missouri. Maybe it's a '77 thing?
I have always attributed it to the humidity and condensation in my cave of a garage, and moisture that rots it from the inside too.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From: Vernon Wisconsin
Hooker headers (tubes)
I guess I am somewhat relieved that this has happened to someone othe than me. No not just short trips. When I drive the car during the spring, summer, fall months, The shortest trip is well over 30 miles. The car has never seen or been exposed to salt, or wet roads in over 25 years (this I know for sure) This is the third set of tubes that I had to buy. Hooker, seems to think that this is a problem they would rather not address, for they have never replyed to this issue either via e-mail or otherwise. I truly love the look and sound of this setup, and don't want to keep forkin out 700.00 eery 2 years to preserve the look and sound of my car. If I am or have done something wrong in the installation or care of these items PLEASE let me know.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
The best defense is to never let the engine run without it getting to full operating temperature, and keep the collectors as clean as possible. This means maybe vacuuming out the crease of any debris where moisture can be held in. See here when the weather gets humid everything in my garage gets 'wet' and stays moist for a few months. This is horrible on my engines and tools and spare parts. The ones on the car are no exception.
The moisture gets on those collectors and starts to eat at it over time because those creases are a great place to hold moisture. I've never seen a set that didn't have those issues and that includes Jet Hot coated pipes.
The moisture gets on those collectors and starts to eat at it over time because those creases are a great place to hold moisture. I've never seen a set that didn't have those issues and that includes Jet Hot coated pipes.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From: Vernon Wisconsin
Hooker sidepie headers
DB, Here in WI we do not share the same climate woos as you do. The headers themselves are as good as new, however the recurring problem is the rot ON TOP of the side pipe tube. I could understand it if it were on the bottom side of the tube, but being on the top? and every 2 years for the last six? I am truly baffled
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
DB, Here in WI we do not share the same climate woos as you do. The headers themselves are as good as new, however the recurring problem is the rot ON TOP of the side pipe tube. I could understand it if it were on the bottom side of the tube, but being on the top? and every 2 years for the last six? I am truly baffled
Do you polish and wax the pipes? Curt does that to his here in Missouri and they look a lot nicer than mine ever did when I performed minimal maintenance on them. I think his get serviced a few times a year.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 943
Likes: 3
From: Chicago IL
It's very important for you to wipe them down after each trip and when finished apply some chrome polish. This will keep them in good shape and reduce pitting. Sounds like you might be having some blow bye at the collector. I had some black exhaust dust blowing up on the top of mine for awhile until I tightened them up.
Last edited by curtis74; Jan 26, 2009 at 12:49 AM.
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Drifting
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,491
Likes: 2
From: North Royaton Ohio
Have you considered the stainless steel sidepipes? I have those on my 81 and, like DB, when the temperatures start to climb just about freezing, everything in my garage starts to sweat. No rusting on my sidepipes, though.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 8,295
Likes: 30
From: one night in Bangkok you are never lonely
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 8,295
Likes: 30
From: one night in Bangkok you are never lonely
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 954
Likes: 40
2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Hi
Did you check the humidity level in the garage?
I checked the humidity in my garage and in the summer it go up to 85% - 90%,
so I bought a humidity dryer (250W) that keep the humidity at 40%-55%.
Avner
Did you check the humidity level in the garage?
I checked the humidity in my garage and in the summer it go up to 85% - 90%,
so I bought a humidity dryer (250W) that keep the humidity at 40%-55%.
Avner
7th Gear
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
hooker headers
it happens to 1979 vettes also when i bought the car it had a cheap set of black painted headers which didnt last very long at all
i replaced them with hooker ceramic headers they are pretty dam good theyve been on the car for about two years the only damage or wear on them is from speed bumps
i replaced them with hooker ceramic headers they are pretty dam good theyve been on the car for about two years the only damage or wear on them is from speed bumps
Racer
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 281
Likes: 9
From: New England
BOBL.2
What kind of inserts are you running? I also have the Hooker Header sidepipes with STS baffles. I do not have any rust issues. I was just thinking ,with the design of the spiral baffles there is not any area around the baffle to hold moisture because its like an ice auger design ,but if you are running glass packs that are a slip fit there would be areas around the insert that would hold moisture against the tube on the top or bottom of the header. The fiberglass itself can hold moisture .
Dario
What kind of inserts are you running? I also have the Hooker Header sidepipes with STS baffles. I do not have any rust issues. I was just thinking ,with the design of the spiral baffles there is not any area around the baffle to hold moisture because its like an ice auger design ,but if you are running glass packs that are a slip fit there would be areas around the insert that would hold moisture against the tube on the top or bottom of the header. The fiberglass itself can hold moisture .
Dario
