I just had my Hookers installed last week. I picked up my car Friday and they look great! They sound good too, but I did expect them to be louder. Don't get me wrong they are loud. Just not as loud as I thought they would be. A friend of mine told me to just have my mechanic remove the baffles. He said its a quick fix and it would make my pipes really loud. I brought my car back to my mechanic today for him to tighten the bolts and I told him I wanted him to remove the baffles. He said, "if that's what you want I'll do it, but I want you to know that it's a big job. I'll have to completely remove your headers ". He explained even more things that would have to come off to get it done and then basically reinstall them. It took a week to get them on and I am not willing to be without my car another week. Not at this point anyway. He did tell me that the glass pack would get louder over time, so I think I'll just wait awhile and see.

 

They will get louder in a few months, but you might not notice the higher decibels, as you drive the car, the sound "grows on you".

Now......in the old days....we would drive the car 70 mph for an hour....then hurry home /turn the engine off and stick a garden hose in the exhaust outlets/put a gallon of water into each sidepipe.....give the pipes 10 minutes to cool down....then start the engine and take the car for a 30 minute 70mph ride....the increase in loudness was quite noticeable.........

But I would NEVER suggest that you should do anything similar to the above actions!

 

WOW that's interesting! And tempting, of course I'd NEVER TRY ANYTHING LIKE THAT, but I have to know.....what exactly does it do? What does it alter that causes the increase in sound?

 

To remove the baffles, the rocker panels need to be removed, then loosen the 1 side tube clamp bolt, and last remove the 2 side tube mounting bolts. The rear tire may also need to be removed for removal and installation of the rocker panel. The headers are not removed to change baffles. http://www.summitracing.com/parts/hok-21046hkr

I have the Hooker Max Flow mufflers and think they are very loud.

 

baby jesus that sounds good !!

 

Mike80 is your vidieo choppy like that or is it my computor? Watch out fot cops on that strech of 202 from Ringoes to the river!

 

It's my video, sorry about that, had the settings wrong for the video camera, but the sound is there. Maybe I'll do another video next time I go out. Yeah, I don't get on it on the highways so much, mostly back road spirited driving. I'm hoping to get some free time and head down to the track.

Thanks

 

I had people tell me that I wouldn't be able to hear me radio and stuff like that so I was expecting them to be extremely loud. Thanks for sending the video, at least I know that I have what I paid for. I am a lady with little knowledge in this area. So I turn to you guys on the forum often for advice, suggestions, or instructions. I don't think I will have the baffles removed, not now anyway.
Let me ask you this. If I did have them removed, and didn't like it because it was too loud. Can they be reinstalled, or is there no turning back at that point?

 

Maybe I am confused with the hookers you had installed, why would he have to remove the headers the baffles are in the pipes should be a easy job just pull the pipes themselves and their is the insert, I don't think hookers weld them in so you can swap them out for different ones, I love mine and wouldn't change em for the world

 

Don't sell yourself short. There are plenty of men on here that that don't know how to check the oil on their cars!

The baffles go into the side pipes like a cartridge. They just slide in and out once you remove the side pipes. Its a bit fiddly getting the mounting bolts off, but, you can take a day and try removing them, or, different styles to find the sound you are looking for. Running without baffles at all will make the rear of the pipes much hotter so keep that in mind with bare legs!

 

I bought what he told me to buy
Headers 2234HKR 1029.95
Side pipes 2234HKR 356.95
Mufflers 21021HKR 185.95

He did tell me that he thought he could just clamp (not sure that was his exact words) them on, but then he told me he had to weld them in a couple places. It doesn't show. I mean the finished job looks really good. So I am thinking that because he welded it in places, that's why it would be a big job. In this case, because of the welded places, would that require him to remove the headers? It took him a full week to install them. At first I was told it would only take a day and a half but then he told me about having to weld them in places and he said he had taken off that black strip that runs on the bottom of the car, from the front tire to the back tire, but he said he didn't like the way it looked without it so he put it back on and cut notches in through the black strip where he mounted those welded brackets and again it doesn't show either. I mean it's very clean, looks nice, but I am disappointed that I don't have the option to remove the baffles easily to at least see if I would prefer them off. To be honest, I am 99% sure that I would love them without the baffles, but like I said it took a full week to have them installed. So if I had him take them off I am afraid to think how long it may take. I use my car as my everyday car, I just love it so and wanted it for as long as I can remember. I hate not having it especially a week or more at a time. Then again it makes me sick to think I invested somewhere around 3500.00 and it's not as loud as I wanted.
Don't get me wrong. They are wonderful just like they are and there's no reason I can come up with that I NEED them to be any louder. Most everyone tells me " you don't want them louder than that!" (I hate when people tell you what you want or don't want) they even told me that if I had them louder I'd get pulled over all the time and so on and so forth. I don't know if that's true either. Seems that I get a lot of that around here. I don't know why the cops would pull me over. It's legal isn't it? I was told the same thing when I was getting my windows tinted.
If they want to pull me over let them. If they ticket me, o well, I don't really care. I've been driving since I could reach the peddles and I have never been in an accident that I was at fault and I have never even gotten a ticket.... Not ever! So if they want to ticket me. Go ahead.
Well crud. Now what should I do? I know I will eventually bite the bullet and have them removed, cuz I know I won't be completely happy with them till I do.

 

I went with Hookers stainless steel version so I wouldn't have to worry about them rusting, total cost was about $1700. I started the install on a Friday night in my garage and finished Sunday night. So it took me 2 days, no welding needed, and I trimmed my black rocker panels to fit around the sidepipes also.




I have no idea why someone would weld the sidetubes to the headers and make it a difficult job to change the mufflers??? As a matter of fact, on mine, I lubed them with "Never Seez" so they would be easier to remove if I wanted to change the muffler inserts.

 

The only thing that I have seen welded on Hooker style pipes is the two studs that hang the side pipes to the frame. There are holes in the frame for the studs to sit in but I know people do spot weld them in place. The side pipes come off though with the removal of the clamping bolt and the two nuts (on the studs) per side, after the rocker panels are removed. I have never had to remove the rear wheels. If more welding was done than that I would not visit that mechanic again.

 

sounds to me like your mechanic is takeing you for a ride for a bunch of extra cash!!!!

 

imho he did take you for a ride, 3500 for the headers, pipes and mufflers installed seems very high to me. but the biggest thing is its what you like/want, any pics of before and after?? running them without inserts they will get very hot and be to the point of burning skin when it touches them, if you do decide to pull them out, I would get a set of covers. I cant see why on earth he would weld anything on it, there is no need too

 

I do feel that I know more than the average female, I can do simple things like change a tire, r wiper blades, check oil and thanks to great guys like you, REELAV8R, Roco71, Tokim, the list goes on and on, I am learning more and more everyday.
Wait, so your saying that there many different baffles and each produces different sounds?
I hadn't considered the heat increase. I have exhaust shields from steel shields on it and they work very well with the baffles in. Do you think that without baffles the shields would get significantly hotter? I mean hot enough to burn flesh like motorcycle exhaust?

 

the sweet thunder inserts seem very popular for the hooker sidepipes, I don't think running no inserts would make the shields hot, that is what are designed to do

 

Is rusting a common problem with the Crome ones? I would have gotten the stainless steel in a heartbeat if I had known that. I assumed that he would recommend the best choice. I should have done my own research. I certainly don't want them to rust, and even worst is that I live in Destin Florida during the summer. I am VERY close to the beach, Any suggestions. Is there some sort of prevention I can do to protect them, especially while I am there? I wipe my car down, polish it up, quick detail it every evening. Is there something I can clean them with that would protect them.
Rocker panels, that's what they are called. Wonder why they are called rocker panels. I think the welding he did, is what " Flyeri " explained in his post. The more I learn about the side pipes, the less I understand. Why would he say he would have to take the headers off? Why would he say it would be a big job? The local Corvette Club highly recommended him, and everyone I've talked to, I mean everyone, all say good things about them. Even when I checked the reviews. Every review was five star. It just doesn't add up.

 

Yes, I think the spot welding you described is exactly what he did. I'am hoping that my car will be ready for me to pick it up tomorrow and then I'll ask him if that is what he did. If he says yes, (and I am really expecting him to say yes, that's what he did) I will want to know why then is he saying he would have to take the headers off and how it would be a big job and all. I don't know exactly how to ask him those things without sounding as though I am questioning his professional knowledge, because in fact, I am questioning it. I just want to know the why. What are the reasons. I don't want to offend him but I need those answers.
I have been accused of being an "*******" when it comes to my car. Honestly I don't feel that I have ever been. (Well once, when a man pulled out in front of me and hit my car. I lost it that day. Thought would have to call my husband to bail me out) I am particular, and I want everything perfect, or as close as possible. I do expect a professional job from a professional.

 

Total cost was around 3500.00 that's including headers, side pipes, muffler, and exhaust shield. He charged me 1200.00 for labor. Well actually not him, he works at the Chevy dealership. Is 1200.00 overpriced?