Best HP: Hooker LTs+Flowmaster, or Hooker Sidepipes?
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From: Overland Park Kansas
Best HP: Hooker LTs+Flowmaster, or Hooker Sidepipes?
Hey guys. Well I just picked up some Hooker super comp sidepipe headers and sidepipes for my '79. They came with what are apparently hooker mufflers but I can't find a part number. I currently have a H-pipe and true duals out the back with chambered flowmaster exhaust on.
So my question is what will be best for horsepower in my 383, the setup I have now (hooker longtubes + H pipe + flowmaster mufflers), the new sidemount hooker headers + open sidepipes, or the sidemount headers + hooker mufflers they came with.
The STS baffles aren't really an option right now because they're ridiculously expensive for what you get and I don't have the money.
Thanks!
-Josh
So my question is what will be best for horsepower in my 383, the setup I have now (hooker longtubes + H pipe + flowmaster mufflers), the new sidemount hooker headers + open sidepipes, or the sidemount headers + hooker mufflers they came with.
The STS baffles aren't really an option right now because they're ridiculously expensive for what you get and I don't have the money.
Thanks!
-Josh
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I think you'll do better with what you have unless you do something with the Hooker inserts.
JIM
JIM
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From: Foxfield CO 1970 Convertible
Well, your best HP will be the headers and open sidepipes. However, you won't be able to think or hear after a few minutes of driving (and it's probably illegal anyway)! 
The best HP will be a combination of factors. Here's a link to a good article.
Also, you might consider other factors. Pipes under the car are less maintenance if you actually drive it. Side pipes result in a much cooler cockpit in hot weather.
The best HP will be a combination of factors. Here's a link to a good article.
Also, you might consider other factors. Pipes under the car are less maintenance if you actually drive it. Side pipes result in a much cooler cockpit in hot weather.
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From: Graceland in a Not Correctly Restored Stingray
Despite there being some good info in that article, I have to disagree with PHR's take on primary length variations not being worthy of much consideration. Collector scavenging matters aside, the size of primary pipes has a direct affect on where peak torque is reached for a given engine and how the torque curve is shaped; typically the larger the higher the peak, and the longer the more area under the torque curve below the peak (and less above). The more primaries vary pipe to pipe the less consistent will be output cylinder to cylinder, which can, further, adversely affect A/F distribution. This may not matter a great deal if the exhaust system downstream is the first order hindrance to performance anyway, but it's tuned/equal length primaries for my money. My $.02.
FWIW, the BB Hooker sidemounts project to put my next 427's sweet spot right where I want it, which isn't that much of a coincidence IMHO. Also, Hooker claims their MaxFlow insert actually out-performs leaving the pipe open.
TSW
edit - please note my having made an important correction concerning primary length affect.
FWIW, the BB Hooker sidemounts project to put my next 427's sweet spot right where I want it, which isn't that much of a coincidence IMHO. Also, Hooker claims their MaxFlow insert actually out-performs leaving the pipe open.
TSW
edit - please note my having made an important correction concerning primary length affect.
Last edited by TheSkunkWorks; Feb 21, 2009 at 11:02 PM. Reason: Clarification concerning effect of primary length
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From: Overland Park Kansas
I'm actually not 100% which mufflers I got with them. If you look down the muffler, you see what appears to be a serrated star shape that spirals down the small (probably 1"-1.5") hole. Does that sound like reverse flows?
Le Mans Master
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From: Graceland in a Not Correctly Restored Stingray
Can you see all the way thru? ...could be 'glass packs. Reverse flows function somewhat in the way in which they sound as if they would; routing flow down and back thru baffling before letting it escape.
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From: Overland Park Kansas
Yes I can see all the way through. It looks like they took a 4 point star and just spiraled it down the inside tube all the way to the other end. Hard to describe really, but you can for sure see all the way through it. I thought the glasspack ones just has a straight tube down the middle with serrated wire or something lining the tube?
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I think you just answered your own question.....a 1-1.5" hole is going to choke anything bigger than your lawnmower.
JIM
JIM
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Yes I can see all the way through. It looks like they took a 4 point star and just spiraled it down the inside tube all the way to the other end. Hard to describe really, but you can for sure see all the way through it. I thought the glasspack ones just has a straight tube down the middle with serrated wire or something lining the tube?
The new Hooker MaxFlo inserts are 2 1/2" perforated tubes and flow enough for just about any street motor and sound the best of all inserts I've tried
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From: Watkinsville, GA and Glen Cove, NY
In all honesty, I think your best bet would be to stay with the undercar system and put some better mufflers in there. Maybe some Ultraflows. Especially if your system is mandrel bent and is at least 2.5 inches. A good undercar system sized appropriately, will usually outperform a sidemount system, mainly because of the primary length and the bend the sidemounts have to make.
Bill
Bill
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From: Overland Park Kansas
In all honesty, I think your best bet would be to stay with the undercar system and put some better mufflers in there. Maybe some Ultraflows. Especially if your system is mandrel bent and is at least 2.5 inches. A good undercar system sized appropriately, will usually outperform a sidemount system, mainly because of the primary length and the bend the sidemounts have to make.
Bill
Bill
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St. Jude Donor '08-'09
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Definately go w/ Hooker sidemounts and maxflo inserts, no question. I have a '71 with a 350/270. I put on the side mounts with maxflo's, and the performance difference was amazing, and they look excellent. I thought that maybe they are too loud, so I ordered the mufflers. Bad idea. I ran a few miles with the mufflers, which had a low muffled sound, and the performance sucked, but I still has the look. Felt like I cut the ***** off the car.... 10 minutes later I put the maxflo's back in, and I was thrilled again.
Do it, you won't regret it.
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Do it, you won't regret it.
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The problem with side pipes is that they are all show and no go at least the small block 1 7/8ths. that i've seen. No thought was put into primary length at all. The collector which is a functional part of any system also has no thought either. The only gains of the system is no back pressure when run with no interior or the larger baffle. So they might be above iron ram horns somewhat.
The racing side pipes are well tuned with some thought put into them.
You are not going to beat tri-Y or some 4 into 1 merge collector of correct diameter and a free flowing 3- 4 inch exhaust system
The racing side pipes are well tuned with some thought put into them.
You are not going to beat tri-Y or some 4 into 1 merge collector of correct diameter and a free flowing 3- 4 inch exhaust system
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St. Jude Donor '09
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St. Jude Donor '06
Best HP for a 383 stroker engine would be some Tri-Y pipes and either a 2.5" or 3" pipe with some good ultraflow mufflers.
For the best Look, definitely go with the Hooker side pipes.
I have Hooker side pipes on my 72 454, with teh Hooker inserts, and it is loud and scary, but you can still talk over them when cruising about 2500 to 3000 RPM. That means 60 to 65 MPH, and the in-car temps are really cool.
At 5,000 to 6,000 RPM, they make most small children wet their pants, which is just about perfect in my mind.
I want to set off car alarms when I drive by at WOT, but don't want to go deaf while cruising. I am very happy with mine.
For the best Look, definitely go with the Hooker side pipes.
I have Hooker side pipes on my 72 454, with teh Hooker inserts, and it is loud and scary, but you can still talk over them when cruising about 2500 to 3000 RPM. That means 60 to 65 MPH, and the in-car temps are really cool.
At 5,000 to 6,000 RPM, they make most small children wet their pants, which is just about perfect in my mind.
I want to set off car alarms when I drive by at WOT, but don't want to go deaf while cruising. I am very happy with mine.
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From: Graceland in a Not Correctly Restored Stingray
Add gear drive whine to the already angry note of a nasty BB growling thru Hookers and most mothers will have wet themselves getting little Johnny and Suzy to hurry indoors before you arrive.
...but, don't let us give you the wrong idea about the sidemounts. They can sound as tame or wild as you want them to.