bbc headers
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 11,094
Likes: 990
From: Sierra Foothills CA
I've had Hedmans for over 20 years- 2" primaries w/ a 3" collector. I did send them to Jet Hot to get coated after a couple of years. I'd buy them new with the heat coating, whatever brand you choose. The paint will never hold up and then rust will set in. It's worth the extra $ up front IMO. I had to make a small dimple on one primary tube on the passenger side at the frame because it would tap the frame sometimes at idle. Nobody has ever even noticed it. You may not have that problem at all. I haven't seen it firsthand but I've read that the Hookers give less ground clearance than the Hedmans. The only thing I've ever scraped is higher than normal speed bumps- you just need to slow down a bit more for them. The performance gains far outweigh any small negatives. 
Last edited by Les; Sep 29, 2013 at 12:32 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 5,738
Likes: 644
From: Lincoln, CA
Hedmans here too.
I had them coated as the one they sell you is only coated on the outside.
As for fitment they just barley hit the passenger side frame so they have to be dented to make a little room..
I had them coated as the one they sell you is only coated on the outside.
As for fitment they just barley hit the passenger side frame so they have to be dented to make a little room..
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,527
Likes: 148
From: East London/SW Essex UK
Had Heman 1 7/8" id's on mine for 7 or 8 years - they fitted well and although close to chassis on passenger side and steering box on drivers side they didn't touch. Good road clearance - however due to that collectors are a little close to floor. If the car is used regularly, only put in garage when engine and exhaust system fully warmed through then corrosion should be an issue.
I recently changed to Hooker 2 1/8" Super Comps. Again fitment was fine with not touching, but I used new poly engine mounts to be sure of alignment. Collectors hang down VERY low and connected exhaust at front of car is too, so ground clearance is a real issue - even more so if the car is lowered. These headers are ceramic coated. The real benefit is not so much prevention of corrosion, but heat insulation (they run cooler) and noise insulation (they run quieter without the usual 'ticking' sound from tubular headers) - as a bonus they look good too
I recently changed to Hooker 2 1/8" Super Comps. Again fitment was fine with not touching, but I used new poly engine mounts to be sure of alignment. Collectors hang down VERY low and connected exhaust at front of car is too, so ground clearance is a real issue - even more so if the car is lowered. These headers are ceramic coated. The real benefit is not so much prevention of corrosion, but heat insulation (they run cooler) and noise insulation (they run quieter without the usual 'ticking' sound from tubular headers) - as a bonus they look good too
Pro
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 680
Likes: 5
From: Denham Springs LA
I have hooker headers with sidepipes. I bought them used from a fellow with a 70 vette. He had no fitment issues. I had to dent them in about 6 locations to fit my car so each car could be a little different. Sidepipes eliminates the cabin heat issue and I think they look really good.
I dynoed my engine with regular headers and with side pipe headers. If I'm remembering correctly side headers lost 5hp.
Roger
I dynoed my engine with regular headers and with side pipe headers. If I'm remembering correctly side headers lost 5hp.
Roger
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Race Director
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 11,360
Likes: 382
From: Plano TX
I have Hooker supercomps, the 1 7/8" primary version. Needed a few dimples. Good ground clearance. The hooker applied ceramic coating was trash, flaked off in a few years. Took them off, scuffed them and used some of that new super-duper silver header paint. To my surprise it held up. It really was super-duper.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 118
Likes: 0
From: Pennsylvania
I just recently put a set of Hooker 1 7/8" SuperComp headers on my 71 with a ZZ454. I spent a while considering the 2" Hedmans, which are a hell of a lot cheaper, but decided 2" was too big for my needs so forked over the extra for the Hookers largely because no one else makes anything 1 7/8" or smaller for BB C3's.
So far so good. Getting it tuned this weekend so we'll see how it goes after that, it's leaning out too much under WOT at the moment, so I haven't pushed them yet.
So far so good. Getting it tuned this weekend so we'll see how it goes after that, it's leaning out too much under WOT at the moment, so I haven't pushed them yet.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 118
Likes: 0
From: Pennsylvania
I'll also say, they did lower the car slightly, but not excessively, the biggest thing is the flange on the Hooker's points downward (so the bolt is at the bottom). The pipes themselves are maybe 1/4" lower than before, but the flange is another 1/2" or so lower than that. Haven't grounded them out yet, but it won't surprise me if I do at some point, lol.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,532
Likes: 14
From: Dallas-Fort Worth TX
Hedman customer here. They were coated when I purchased them.
Depending on your heads OEM, or after market, you typically have to dent the #3 tube to clear steering box if your exhaust ports are raised.
Depending on your heads OEM, or after market, you typically have to dent the #3 tube to clear steering box if your exhaust ports are raised.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 285
Likes: 9
From: Waukesha Wi
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 7,353
Likes: 72
From: Graceland in a Not Correctly Restored Stingray
I've got 2 sets of black Hooker sidemounts; older ones reserved for dyno duty, newer ones for running. Periodic re-painting has yielded good results over the years, but must be properly done. In any event I do plan on having JetHot do the running set someday. ...in matte black, of course. 427, FWIW.
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Last edited by TheSkunkWorks; Oct 24, 2013 at 09:33 PM.
