Does anybody know...
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,429
Likes: 20
From: Kingston Ontario
Finished pipes
On BB side pipe headers, how do you tell if they are NOS or not. There's no name brand on them, they have never been on a car and you can see they have been sitting around for many years. They were listed as NOS late 60's. On the header flange at the head there is a # 946 or 649 something...thanks...
Last edited by BB72; May 10, 2007 at 11:52 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Kissimmee fl
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St. Jude Donor '07
If you mean by NOS that were they GM parts, no. The only headers that came on a c-3 corvette were some off road headers onto side pipes, similar to hookers but made by someone else at the time. They were all black, never chrome. These may have been a 69 only option and available with the L-88 option. Anything else may be New and Old, But not from GM stock.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,429
Likes: 20
From: Kingston Ontario
I've been searching the net
If you mean by NOS that were they GM parts, no. The only headers that came on a c-3 corvette were some off road headers onto side pipes, similar to hookers but made by someone else at the time. They were all black, never chrome. These may have been a 69 only option and available with the L-88 option. Anything else may be New and Old, But not from GM stock.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,695
Likes: 64
From: Kissimmee fl
Finalist 2021 C3 of the Year - Modified
2017 C3 of Year Finalist
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St. Jude Donor '07
Those are the style I was refering to as the off road exhaust. Not sure how to tell if they are NOS. THe only info I have is they would have a GM part no on the packaging when they were new.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 7,353
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From: Graceland in a Not Correctly Restored Stingray
Look like a well worn set of Hookers with 2 1/8 primaries and 4" collectors. I've got two sets of them.
Can't recall the name of the original racing headers
, but they had a slightly different twist in the bundle ahead of the collector.
Not my car (wish it were), but here's what they should look like...
Can't recall the name of the original racing headers
, but they had a slightly different twist in the bundle ahead of the collector.Not my car (wish it were), but here's what they should look like...
Last edited by TheSkunkWorks; May 6, 2007 at 01:19 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2006
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From: Burning Jet-A
The off road sidepipes were created for the 66-67 L-88 racers and were handmade initially before being manufactured by the Kustom for Chevrolet. These were equipped with Chevrolet part numbers stamped into the Header flange, a 7 digit number, with another 4 digit number under that number. The headers were offered with the car at delivery at the dealer or over the counter at the dealer. It is unclear how many sets were made. Eventually the Hooker Header company got its start making better than "Kustom" headers and making thousands of sets...
Visually the tubes route different. Regardless of the stampings, the routing of the tubes is different. I have a couple sets of Hookers and a Kustom set as well. I actually think your picture is of a hooker type set, but am not sure.
Visually the tubes route different. Regardless of the stampings, the routing of the tubes is different. I have a couple sets of Hookers and a Kustom set as well. I actually think your picture is of a hooker type set, but am not sure.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,429
Likes: 20
From: Kingston Ontario
The off road sidepipes were created for the 66-67 L-88 racers and were handmade initially before being manufactured by the Kustom for Chevrolet. These were equipped with Chevrolet part numbers stamped into the Header flange, a 7 digit number, with another 4 digit number under that number. The headers were offered with the car at delivery at the dealer or over the counter at the dealer. It is unclear how many sets were made. Eventually the Hooker Header company got its start making better than "Kustom" headers and making thousands of sets...
Visually the tubes route different. Regardless of the stampings, the routing of the tubes is different. I have a couple sets of Hookers and a Kustom set as well. I actually think your picture is of a hooker type set, but am not sure.
Visually the tubes route different. Regardless of the stampings, the routing of the tubes is different. I have a couple sets of Hookers and a Kustom set as well. I actually think your picture is of a hooker type set, but am not sure.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2007
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From: Graceland in a Not Correctly Restored Stingray
The set below are some Hookers I dug out for comparrison. Not identical, but suspect yours are most likely an old vintage set of these, as I believe the bundle on the Kustom pipes is distinctly different. (I'll post a photo of the Kustom's if I can find it.)
Last edited by TheSkunkWorks; May 6, 2007 at 05:16 PM.
Senior Member since 1492
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From: Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean people aren't out to get me...
St. Jude Donor '09
Pictured is a set of early Hooker Sidemounts on the left and a Set of GM (Kustom) factory headers on the right. They are stamped with 3960710 & 3960709. You can see the difference in the pipe routing. The GM set are said to provide excellent clearance for starter, frame, steering box etc. The downside if you want to call it that is the GM sidepipes primaries don't appear to be equal length. I'm not sure how big a difference that would make.
Your set appear to be similar to the Hooker sidemounts.
I have a set of both.
Last edited by Jughead; May 6, 2007 at 06:24 PM.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,429
Likes: 20
From: Kingston Ontario
Pictured is a set of early Hooker Sidemounts on the left and a Set of GM (Kustom) factory headers on the left. They are stamped with 3960710 & 3960709. You can see the difference in the pipe routing. The GM set are said to provide excellent clearance for starter, frame, steering box etc. The downside if you want to call it that is the GM sidepipes primaries don't appear to be equal length. I'm not sure how big a difference that would make.
Your set appear to be similar to the Hooker sidemounts.
I have a set of both.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 7,353
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From: Graceland in a Not Correctly Restored Stingray
btw... excellent comparison. Couldn't help noticing the difference in how the two makers attached the primaries to the flanges.
I think you did real good. What finish are you thinking of having done?
