Choosing headers - Hooker, Dynomax, or...
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: Culver City CA
Choosing headers - Hooker, Dynomax, or...
Hi all, looking for some firsthand experience using ceramic coated headers. I'm trying to reduce temps under the hood and in the cockpit of my '82 convertible. (not a typo, I'll post pics soon. I call it the car GM SHOULD have made...)
Dynomax are running around $270-275 and about $570 for the Hookers. Are the Hookers worth the extra dinero? Any bad experiences with Dynomax? There's a 5 year warranty with Dynomax that covers rust and didn't see one advertised from Hooker.
Car has a 350 with angle-plug heads.
Thanks!
69Sean
Dynomax are running around $270-275 and about $570 for the Hookers. Are the Hookers worth the extra dinero? Any bad experiences with Dynomax? There's a 5 year warranty with Dynomax that covers rust and didn't see one advertised from Hooker.
Car has a 350 with angle-plug heads.
Thanks!
69Sean
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,465
Likes: 0
From: Orange Park Fl
I bought a set of hookers for a big block pickup and they did not fit. After about 15 minutes of Hooker's tech support guy telling the manager of the parts store I bought them from and me that we were wrong and they did fit (in spite of the fact that we were looking at them and there was no way), the tech guy finally said, "Well I guess we just don't make products for YOUR vehicle!" I took his word for it and have never bought a Hooker/ Holley/ Flowtech etc product since. I have had a set of ceramic coated off-shore headers from E-bay on my car for a few years now and they still look like they did the day I put them on (but it's still hot under the hood, it's still a Vette). God bless, Sensei
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 11,322
Likes: 1
From: Living in the Hartland
Running the ceramic coated Dynomax Blackjack headers for 5+ years, coated has dulled but still looks decent, reduces heat nicely compared to the painted headers in my Formula, have angled plug Trick Flow heads and a few plugs are tight but not a big deal and no burnt boot problems at all with Summit 90 deg plugs wires
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 2,783
Likes: 2
From: Engineers do it better.
I always tell people, if you can afford Hookers, go for it 
I have had mine for four years, nice and shinny. I used them on stock L48 heads, then Sportsman II angled heads, and now on Performer straight plugs. They all worked without any problems.
Well worth the money
I have had mine for four years, nice and shinny. I used them on stock L48 heads, then Sportsman II angled heads, and now on Performer straight plugs. They all worked without any problems.
Well worth the money
Racer
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 325
Likes: 0
From: Partlow VA
My set of Hookers arrived yesterday from Jet Hot Coatings. If you buy new from them they are guaranteed for life and with the Sterling coating they look great!!! http://www.jet-hot.com/
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,254
Likes: 1
From: Edinburgh
I've had my Dynomax ceramic coated on for a year now with no problems and significantly cooler. The reason I chose them over Hedman was that teh Dynomax fitted without mods alongside Steeroids. Hookers would not.
G
G
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 20,709
Likes: 25
From: Sorrento Italy
Originally Posted by Vettkeeper
My set of Hookers arrived yesterday from Jet Hot Coatings. If you buy new from them they are guaranteed for life and with the Sterling coating they look great!!! http://www.jet-hot.com/
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 9,206
Likes: 17
From: Sewell NJ
I've got the Dynomax headers and have had them on for about 3 years. No problems so far and the finish, although a little duller than when new, looks very good. I installed them with Percy's dead soft aluminum gaskets and to date I've had zero leaks. For the money I don't think you can beat them.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 1,012
Likes: 0
From: Minnesota
Originally Posted by vettfixr
I've got the Dynomax headers and have had them on for about 3 years. No problems so far and the finish, although a little duller than when new, looks very good. I installed them with Percy's dead soft aluminum gaskets and to date I've had zero leaks. For the money I don't think you can beat them.
What did you use for fasteners? I know there were some issues with some of the cheaper bolts etc.
SEMPER FI--1970 Dave
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 9,206
Likes: 17
From: Sewell NJ
I used Stage 8 locking bolts on the header flange and collectors along with the Percy's dead soft aluminum header gaskets. I used Summit aluminum collector gaskets and so far I've had no leaks anywhere. One thing I did find out the hard way, even the aluminum gaskets need retorqueing after a few weeks. I put the lock bolts on when I installed everything and they were a pita to take off. If you use them just use the bolts for the first month or so and retorque the gaskets a few times. Once everything settles in put the locks on and your done with it.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 814
Likes: 2
From: WESTLAKE LA
Originally Posted by vettfixr
I used Stage 8 locking bolts on the header flange and collectors along with the Percy's dead soft aluminum header gaskets. I used Summit aluminum collector gaskets and so far I've had no leaks anywhere. One thing I did find out the hard way, even the aluminum gaskets need retorqueing after a few weeks. I put the lock bolts on when I installed everything and they were a pita to take off. If you use them just use the bolts for the first month or so and retorque the gaskets a few times. Once everything settles in put the locks on and your done with it.
I agree
Stage 8 is the way to go
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: Culver City CA
Well I placed an order for the Dynomax's today and the money I saved just about paid for the Edelbrock EPS-800 carb I ordered at the same time.
My main goal right now is reducing temps so I'm willing to give up a few HP assuming the Hookers make more.
I'll be doing the insulation on the floors/firewall at the same time trying to reduce cockpit temps.
My uncle has driven this car for 33 years but I don't think he's ever spent more than 15 minutes in it. I wanted to drive the car to the NASCAR race in Fontana this weekend but my right shoe would probably melt to the firewall
Thanks again!
Sean
My main goal right now is reducing temps so I'm willing to give up a few HP assuming the Hookers make more.
I'll be doing the insulation on the floors/firewall at the same time trying to reduce cockpit temps.
My uncle has driven this car for 33 years but I don't think he's ever spent more than 15 minutes in it. I wanted to drive the car to the NASCAR race in Fontana this weekend but my right shoe would probably melt to the firewall
Thanks again!
Sean
Safety Car
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 4,176
Likes: 7
From: Jennings LA
Originally Posted by Vettkeeper
No I got them from Jet Hot coating @ JETHOT.com. I just used the Jegs boxes just to prop them up.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,872
Likes: 12
From: Waterloo ontario Canada
Last winter I have a brank new set of hookers and a brand new set of heddman. To me at that time I thought hookers were overpriced and heddman's were just as good.
On both sets I had to remake 3 tubes because of specaillty heads.
I quickly found out the Hookers were far thicker, heavier flanges and tubes. Hooker quality was much better then Heddman.
If I was going to buy another set I would go for the hookers.
On both sets I had to remake 3 tubes because of specaillty heads.
I quickly found out the Hookers were far thicker, heavier flanges and tubes. Hooker quality was much better then Heddman.
If I was going to buy another set I would go for the hookers.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 325
Likes: 0
From: Partlow VA
Originally Posted by 72 LT1
VETTKEEPER, are those headers Super Comps or just comp headers?? How much $$, coated?