Hooker vs original side exhasust, thoughts please
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 915
Likes: 2
From: Lima, OH -- 69 L71 427/435hp
Hooker vs original side exhasust, thoughts please
I'm wrapping up this frame-off and I've found myself on the fence about which side-exhaust setup to use, and would like some feedback.
Performance wise, how much more restrictive is the original setup vs Hookers? What type of baffling is used inside the sidetubes of the original? How well does the original scavenge exhaust?
How do the two compare sound wise (granted Hookers have similar baffling)?
Visually, in your personal opinion, which do you think looks better?
Another factor is cost, stock setup will cost roughly $3-4k or more.
As of right now I have Hookers and STS baffles, still in boxes. I've heard some sound clips of how they sound on a BB and have a general idea, but i've never heard how the originals sound on a BB before and have nothing to compare against.
Thanks
Performance wise, how much more restrictive is the original setup vs Hookers? What type of baffling is used inside the sidetubes of the original? How well does the original scavenge exhaust?
How do the two compare sound wise (granted Hookers have similar baffling)?
Visually, in your personal opinion, which do you think looks better?
Another factor is cost, stock setup will cost roughly $3-4k or more.
As of right now I have Hookers and STS baffles, still in boxes. I've heard some sound clips of how they sound on a BB and have a general idea, but i've never heard how the originals sound on a BB before and have nothing to compare against.
Thanks
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,871
Likes: 6
From: Sault Ste. Marie Ontario
Sorry I can't answer your questions as I am yet to buy my exhaust. I am considering the Hooker set-up for my 73 BB. If you decide to go factory, PM me if you would like to deal off your Hookers.
Ian
Ian
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,060
Likes: 46
From: winter haven florida
St. Jude Donor '12
i like the looks of the hookers better and the mufflers can be changed out to change sound and performance if you dont like what you have. the hookers can be restrictive or have no restriction depending on the inserts you choose. i would think the stock set up would be very restrictive.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 397
Likes: 13
From: Pittston PA
I faced the same delima a few years back, I know the Hookers should offer some performance edge. I considered a set of hookers, and having them coated by Jet-Hot to reduce corrosion, I worried about the header tubes exposed under the car (where they join the collectors) also consider that everyone who has Hookers complained about "leg burns".
With all that sais I finally decided on repos of the factory system (Allens exhaust) in stainless steel, with fiberglass (paintable) covers. I am happy with the sound and performance (unmodified smallblock). I hope this helps
LJS
With all that sais I finally decided on repos of the factory system (Allens exhaust) in stainless steel, with fiberglass (paintable) covers. I am happy with the sound and performance (unmodified smallblock). I hope this helps
LJS
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
I suspect the only way I could afford a decent set of stainless side pipes with a SAFE heat sheild would be IF someone imported that from CHINA....second off, it cant be any louder than a factory 2.5 inch out the rear off a header equiped small block.....love the gurgle sound, not willing to get whats left of my brain kicked out by freeway sound for hours or even less.....and don't need wife to burn herself on the legs either....SO....
been only 30 years + now....cant someone come up with SOMETHING???
gotta keep the price down in the 500 bux region both side, whole shooting match....bend your own tubes to your headers...don't have to look just perzactly purrrrrrrfect to the OEM or whoever design...just DO IT!!! damnit???
been only 30 years + now....cant someone come up with SOMETHING???
gotta keep the price down in the 500 bux region both side, whole shooting match....bend your own tubes to your headers...don't have to look just perzactly purrrrrrrfect to the OEM or whoever design...just DO IT!!! damnit???
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,877
Likes: 13
From: Doha
St. Jude Donor '08
I used to have a factory side exhaust into my '71 BB, the sound was little loud but it was real fun to drive!. I can compare its sound to a hooker sidepipes with reverse mufflers (not sure what exactly they called, but I meant the most restrictive mufflers) or maybe just a little louder. I changed to under car exhaust and I felt some increase in performance, but I really miss that mean sound of the BB 
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,143
Likes: 0
From: Leander Texas
I suspect the only way I could afford a decent set of stainless side pipes with a SAFE heat sheild would be IF someone imported that from CHINA....second off, it cant be any louder than a factory 2.5 inch out the rear off a header equiped small block.....love the gurgle sound, not willing to get whats left of my brain kicked out by freeway sound for hours or even less.....and don't need wife to burn herself on the legs either....SO....
been only 30 years + now....cant someone come up with SOMETHING???
...don't have to look just perzactly purrrrrrrfect to the OEM or whoever design...just DO IT!!! damnit???
been only 30 years + now....cant someone come up with SOMETHING???
gotta keep the price down in the 500 bux region both side, whole shooting match....bend your own tubes to your headers
I don't have headers, but I did just make my own side pipes. I salvaged what was remaining of the factory y pipe for the manifold connections, and fabed up the rest. For mufflers I used 2 1/4" cherry bombs. ( I tried strait pipe, but it was so loud it would rattle the windows in the house at idle
) I used fiberglass covers with some hot water heater wrap insulation on the inside to help keep things cool.Here is a pic without the covers.
With covers.
Just an option.
In the future I do plan on a set of Hooker Side pipes. I just like the way they look.
Last edited by DR.Jay; Jun 22, 2007 at 08:46 PM.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,060
Likes: 46
From: winter haven florida
St. Jude Donor '12
i love the look of the hookers with the polished ceramic coatings on them. as for them being hot and causing leg burns i look at it like this. when i was a child i was told that the stove was hot so i didnt touch it to find out if it would burn me. just tell anyone riding in your car to pay close attention when getting in and out of the car.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 10,643
Likes: 8
From: Foxfield CO 1970 Convertible
Painted the connectors with high-temp until I can get them chromed.
A test fit...
Race Director
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 10,643
Likes: 8
From: Foxfield CO 1970 Convertible
I don't think you'll be disappointed. I think they sound great! When I get on the throttle, they speak up, but when cruising you can talk at normal volume and listen to the radio.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,143
Likes: 0
From: Leander Texas
In the one pic with the Vette up on jack stands, you can see a dark down pipe in the fender well. That pipe is the right side factory down pipe I cut off just before the y connection. After I cut it I just losely bolted it back onto the manifold, and turned it toward the side of the car. I bolted the cover on to be sure of the proper position. I then just started adding the other pipes to it. I bought an assortment of pre-bent pieces of pipe for the different angles. I just slipped the first bent pipe over the factory down pipe, and I would turn it so the angle was where I wanted it, then I marked it with a Sharpie across the joint for alignment. I had to cut some of the pre-bent pipe at the bend, rotate the the two halfs a few degrees, and weld back together, to get the proper bends to get around the frame since I wasn't able to find off the shelf pre-bent pipes for the angles that I needed.
Above all it test the angles, check the fit with the covers measure, recheck, mark the pipe joint, recheck, cut, weld, recheck again.
The total cost was under $100.oo to build both sides, and it took me about 2 hours to complete.
If you need picks of the hangers, and the bends let me know. I'll be happy to post them.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 922
Likes: 164
From: Hudson NH
Senior Member since 1492
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 87,922
Likes: 156
From: Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean people aren't out to get me...
St. Jude Donor '09
I've got both...just haven't installed the Hookers yet. Stahl also makes side exhaust pipes for C3's.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
Likes: 10
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
Here's what I did. I made connectors from 3 and 4 inch mandrel bent exhaust pipe. For me, the benefits of the Hookers over the stockers were 1) cost and 2) greater capacity. I didn't want less that 3 inch dia. all the way to the exhaust.
Painted the connectors with high-temp until I can get them chromed.
A test fit...
Painted the connectors with high-temp until I can get them chromed.
A test fit...
What kind of headers are those?
Racer
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 464
Likes: 0
From: Concord CA
I installed the hookers and they look great..I ceramic coated the exhaust portion and left the tubes chrome. Theres now a vendor that makes some great covers for the hookers. The website is www.cobrastuff.com There you can see the prices and all that stuff. I could post a few snaps if you like.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 952
Likes: 44
From: NC
In my opinion if your car is going to be stock with the original big block 427 , you should go wit hteh factory side pipes with the original chrome covers. You have a very desirable car and I think the original looking exhaust would complement the origninal motor. I am a custom guy and I have changed every part of my drive train from stock. But in your case, I would definitly do the factory pipes look!
James
James