Hooker Sidepipes: Power Killer?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 445
Likes: 2
From: Austin Texas
Hooker Sidepipes: Power Killer?
It seems I have read a few comments about sidepipes not allowing high horsepower motors to 'breath' properly.
At the same time, I recall reading an article in a recent vette magazine (corvette fever I believe) that showed numbers from a high HP small block: numbers with an aftermarket full exhaust system, numbers with sidepipes and inserts, and numbers with sidepipes w/o inserts. This particular article showed the sidepipes w/ inserts to product slightly better numbers than the full exhaust. Obviously, the sidepipes w/o inserts showed by far the best results.
I really want to pull the trigger on the sidepipes to pick up some ground clearance with my BB, but I would hate to do that at the expense of horsepower.
So, my question is, do sidepipes kill power?
Bryan
At the same time, I recall reading an article in a recent vette magazine (corvette fever I believe) that showed numbers from a high HP small block: numbers with an aftermarket full exhaust system, numbers with sidepipes and inserts, and numbers with sidepipes w/o inserts. This particular article showed the sidepipes w/ inserts to product slightly better numbers than the full exhaust. Obviously, the sidepipes w/o inserts showed by far the best results.
I really want to pull the trigger on the sidepipes to pick up some ground clearance with my BB, but I would hate to do that at the expense of horsepower.
So, my question is, do sidepipes kill power?
Bryan
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 5,446
Likes: 2
From: Not Correctly Restored Stingray Fla.
Header for header...A standard header will give you more HP than a sidepipe header, simply because of the distance the exhaust has to travel (on a sidepipe header) compared to header that ends under the car. As far as after the header, a 4" open pipe (sidepipe) will make up the difference compared to almost any exhaust system you will put under the car.
Last edited by LOTAHP; Jan 31, 2005 at 11:19 AM.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 203
Likes: 0
From: harrisonburg (JMU) va
Originally Posted by mlub
ive heard some say on here that you lose some low-end torque because of loss of back-pressure, but i dont know...i'm interested to hear also
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 958
Likes: 0
From: shawnee ks
Originally Posted by LOTAHP
Header for header...A standard header will give you more HP than a sidepipe header, simply because of the distance the exhaust has to travel (on a sidepipe header) compared to header that ends under the car. As far as after the header, a 4" open pipe (sidepipe) will make up the difference compared to almost any exhaust system you will put under the car.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 4,101
Likes: 10
From: NorCal
Originally Posted by big632
The best sidepipe header is the stahl system. The hookers have too long of runners but will make power above 3000plus,loose a little gain a little. The stahls will make more power everywhere. I like the look of the hookers but with my new exhaust fabbed stahl and my own sidepipes for what I needed.
Hans
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 923
Likes: 4
From: Austin Tx
the sidepipes keep the interior cooler too since they run the exhaust out to the side of the car way before the firewall, rather than hot pipes and headers running down the middle of the car. Comes in handy here in Austin.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,042
Likes: 202
From: Atoka, TN
Originally Posted by big632
The best sidepipe header is the stahl system. The hookers have too long of runners but will make power above 3000plus,loose a little gain a little. The stahls will make more power everywhere. I like the look of the hookers but with my new exhaust fabbed stahl and my own sidepipes for what I needed.
got any pics?
chris
Pro
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 511
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From: St. Louis MO
http://www.et-motorsports.cc/project...aust/index.htm
Here's some pics of the stahls. They fit pretty decent. I ordered them partially assembled to save a little money.
Here's some pics of the stahls. They fit pretty decent. I ordered them partially assembled to save a little money.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 3,363
Likes: 0
From: Canton Ohio
I understand that the hookers aren't the best headers for performance but I am pretty sure that hookers are going to run better than the stock manifolds that I have bolted on right now, so I will still see an improvement in performance!
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 17,676
Likes: 201
From: Who says "Nothing is impossible" ? I've been doing nothing for years.
Hmmm that's why I bought the Hooker sidepipes, for better performance. Big blocks may be different but there aren't many small block headers out there that come in 1 7/8 in primaries. That and JCL spiral baffles I am looking for a good gain over my 1 5/8 in. primary header and mufflers, I am not buying into any performance loss theory
On big blocks you can probably get the same size primary tube so the gain will not be as great
On big blocks you can probably get the same size primary tube so the gain will not be as great
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 958
Likes: 0
From: shawnee ks
Originally Posted by MotorHead
Hmmm that's why I bought the Hooker sidepipes, for better performance. Big blocks may be different but there aren't many small block headers out there that come in 1 7/8 in primaries. That and JCL spiral baffles I am looking for a good gain over my 1 5/8 in. primary header and mufflers, I am not buying into any performance loss theory
On big blocks you can probably get the same size primary tube so the gain will not be as great
On big blocks you can probably get the same size primary tube so the gain will not be as great
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 5,446
Likes: 2
From: Not Correctly Restored Stingray Fla.
This is why the Forum is so great !!! 
I have never seen these Stahl headers before. I just got off the phone and their website. This will be the next thing I will be saving $$$ for. And my Hooker Sidepipes will be the next thing added to my "LOTA PARTS FOR SALE" thread. Thanks Mike & 442 
I have never seen these Stahl headers before. I just got off the phone and their website. This will be the next thing I will be saving $$$ for. And my Hooker Sidepipes will be the next thing added to my "LOTA PARTS FOR SALE" thread.
Thanks Mike & 442
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 17,676
Likes: 201
From: Who says "Nothing is impossible" ? I've been doing nothing for years.
Originally Posted by big632
The BB are 2 1/8 but still have a performance loss over reg tuned headers in a drag car. SB is the same. Not that important on street cars and yes 1 7/8 would be the way to go over smaller pipes.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 10,258
Likes: 1
From: Calif.
Originally Posted by 300ZXTwinTurbo
It seems I have read a few comments about sidepipes not allowing high horsepower motors to 'breath' properly.
At the same time, I recall reading an article in a recent vette magazine (corvette fever I believe) that showed numbers from a high HP small block: numbers with an aftermarket full exhaust system, numbers with sidepipes and inserts, and numbers with sidepipes w/o inserts. This particular article showed the sidepipes w/ inserts to product slightly better numbers than the full exhaust. Obviously, the sidepipes w/o inserts showed by far the best results.
I really want to pull the trigger on the sidepipes to pick up some ground clearance with my BB, but I would hate to do that at the expense of horsepower.
So, my question is, do sidepipes kill power?
Bryan
At the same time, I recall reading an article in a recent vette magazine (corvette fever I believe) that showed numbers from a high HP small block: numbers with an aftermarket full exhaust system, numbers with sidepipes and inserts, and numbers with sidepipes w/o inserts. This particular article showed the sidepipes w/ inserts to product slightly better numbers than the full exhaust. Obviously, the sidepipes w/o inserts showed by far the best results.
I really want to pull the trigger on the sidepipes to pick up some ground clearance with my BB, but I would hate to do that at the expense of horsepower.
So, my question is, do sidepipes kill power?
Bryan
I think that same article went out of its way to mention that the Hookers shown in the installation WOULD kill low-end power in small-displacement and/or stock engines. The power gain seen in the CF article was for a slightly built 406 ci engine that was REALLY losing a lot of potential because the "before" setup was simply long tube headers with 1 5/8" primaries.
That particular engine in the article needed and wanted the larger-diameter primaries and exhaust.
Your mileage may very well vary quite a bit.
