Hooker sidepipes
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 254
Likes: 5
From: ingleside illinois
Hooker sidepipes
Has anyone ever tried installing the hooker sidepipes,on a big block 71-78 vett body with aftermarket dart heads.I no the heads are a half inch higher than stock-but their has to be a way.I want them on my 540.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 6,239
Likes: 1,010
From: Watkinsville, GA and Glen Cove, NY
I had to modify the Hookers to work on my 502 powered 69 with AFR heads. The exhaust port is only raised .375 which is the same as the Dart heads I believe. I had to cut and reweld 5 tubes, very expensive if you can't do it yourself.
If you are not in a hurry, I am going to sell my headers which are black ceramic coated and in great shape. Probably won't get them off for 6 weeks or so. I am going to get a set of Stahl's who do make a header for raised port heads. Very expensive and a little different design.
Bill
If you are not in a hurry, I am going to sell my headers which are black ceramic coated and in great shape. Probably won't get them off for 6 weeks or so. I am going to get a set of Stahl's who do make a header for raised port heads. Very expensive and a little different design.
Bill
Last edited by 69ttop502; Apr 21, 2008 at 04:57 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 6,239
Likes: 1,010
From: Watkinsville, GA and Glen Cove, NY
Sorry, I don't and am 1000 miles from the car, but I basically cut the tubes about 1 inch from the flange and rewelded. It was all 4 on the drivers side and 1 on the passenger side. Watch the plug access as well. Definitely will have to do some major dimpling as well.
Pro
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 723
Likes: 0
From: North Port, FL
I have Dart Pro 1's on mine. It was an easy mod to the headers to make them fit. I cut about three fourths to seven eithts through all four pipes on each side from the bottom at the flange. I then bent the pipes down about 3/8" to close up the cuts then re-welded the cuts at the flange. Since the welds are mostly on the underside and at the flange they are not hardly visible. Both sides fit great with this mod.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 243
Likes: 0
I have a 540 with Dart Pro Ones and both side pipes went on no problem. The passenger side was a little high, so i jumped on it and gave myself more clearence. Unless the fender is lower on your car, I have 69.
Good Luck
Good Luck
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,020
Likes: 1
From: Nederland Texas
I have Dart Pro 1's on mine. It was an easy mod to the headers to make them fit. I cut about three fourths to seven eithts through all four pipes on each side from the bottom at the flange. I then bent the pipes down about 3/8" to close up the cuts then re-welded the cuts at the flange. Since the welds are mostly on the underside and at the flange they are not hardly visible. Both sides fit great with this mod.
I have a Dart talldeck 598 with the Dart Pro 1's and I found it necessary to cut the entire flange off, bolt a new flange to the head, then bend each tube over and relase it letting it capture itself in the top of the flange. Then tack it in place. With the tubes free of the flange they were easy to bend. Then weld them up on the inside with a little die grinding to smooth out the welds. I sent them off to Jet Hot afterwards.
-P
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,505
Likes: 139
From: Butler Pa
I have Dart Pro 1's on mine. It was an easy mod to the headers to make them fit. I cut about three fourths to seven eithts through all four pipes on each side from the bottom at the flange. I then bent the pipes down about 3/8" to close up the cuts then re-welded the cuts at the flange. Since the welds are mostly on the underside and at the flange they are not hardly visible. Both sides fit great with this mod.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 444
Likes: 0
From: Dallas TX
The fastburn heads on the zz383 had taller ports than stock so I ran into a lot of clearance problems with the steering box. I thought it would require cutting and welding to reroute the tubes which would be a hassle since they are chrome. I figured I had nothing to lose by trying a hammer to put in a dent since it would get cut out anyway if it didn't work. A good sized dent did the trick and it doesn't seem to have an adverse effect on performance.
Pro
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 688
Likes: 1
From: Stevens Point WI
as far as futher adjustment I was told put some rags on it and jump on them to get them to bend down enough to clear fenders
Did not want to weld as mine are jet hot coated
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 254
Likes: 5
From: ingleside illinois
fonz69 you also had raised exhaust heads.Or were they stock.Everythime some tells me that they made them fit im ready to get them,i cant stand when a company says it will never work,that just makes want to do it all the more.
Pro
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 688
Likes: 1
From: Stevens Point WI
Mind you they are tight but if I knew there would be cutting and welding new parts I would have passed
But they did fit and the guy I bought my hard top from owns the car they used to mock up the header system and they look like they fit even better on a stock BB chevy
Former Vendor
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,092
Likes: 2
From: walpole ma
I had the same problem and just ordered a new set of headers and side pipes from STAHL. They make them to your heads, and the design of the header is worth about 30HP over the hookers.(according to them) I got mine and they fit just fine.
http://www.2ndgenrestorations.com
http://www.2ndgenrestorations.com
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 254
Likes: 5
From: ingleside illinois
Hey road- race those dont look like the ones you have on in the website-or are they.THey look like hooker with the 4 pipes coming out under the rocker vents.If they arent the ones can you show a pic of the stahls installed on car.I want to see how they look from outside engine bay looking at side of car.Thank's
Former Vendor
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,092
Likes: 2
From: walpole ma
Hey road- race those dont look like the ones you have on in the website-or are they.THey look like hooker with the 4 pipes coming out under the rocker vents.If they arent the ones can you show a pic of the stahls installed on car.I want to see how they look from outside engine bay looking at side of car.Thank's
those are the STAHLS. They dont look like hookers at all. The four pipes dont come out the side.
