hooker sidepipes leaking
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
From: Columbus Ohio
hooker sidepipes leaking
Quick question if I may..
My hooker chrome sidepipes have seen better days. Right before the pipes meet in the collector, they are slightly rusted and have a pretty bad leak on the bottom making them sound pretty bad. Both sides are the same... Also the left header is leaking exhaust at the head... More noise...Have not tried tightening the bolts yet but will in the morning.
Is it worth taking the car to a muffler shop to see if they can weld up and/or fix the holes? I would paint them black before they went back on the car.. OR am I wasting time with older headers when I shouldve just bought brand new?
Dont want to waste money on new if the ones I have now can be easily fixed.Sorry if this is a stupid question... Dont know squat about welding or headers, etc.....
My hooker chrome sidepipes have seen better days. Right before the pipes meet in the collector, they are slightly rusted and have a pretty bad leak on the bottom making them sound pretty bad. Both sides are the same... Also the left header is leaking exhaust at the head... More noise...Have not tried tightening the bolts yet but will in the morning.
Is it worth taking the car to a muffler shop to see if they can weld up and/or fix the holes? I would paint them black before they went back on the car.. OR am I wasting time with older headers when I shouldve just bought brand new?
Dont want to waste money on new if the ones I have now can be easily fixed.Sorry if this is a stupid question... Dont know squat about welding or headers, etc.....
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
From: Columbus Ohio
Not exactly sure, but from the looks of them, they have been through quite a few seasons.
Good to know they can at least be possibly fixed. Im taking it in today. We'll see how it goes!
Good to know they can at least be possibly fixed. Im taking it in today. We'll see how it goes!
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,908
Likes: 129
From: Fredericksburg Virginia
I've done two different things on mine.
On my old chrome set I purchased 4" "Band Clamps" from the local trucking supply store. They are basically 3" wide chrome rings with bolts on the seam that are "stepped" to go over the flange of the pipes. In order to install these, you'll need to grind off the "ears" where the stock tightening bolt goes. I gooped up the sidetube before I slid it onto the collector, then gooped up the inside of the Band Clamps before tightening with the red gasket stuff. Worked great. No leaks.
On my new black set, I was able to goop the inside of the sidetube when I slid it over the collector and get it tight enough to stop any leaks. It was all well and good until one of the sidetubes repositioned itself (I didn't tighten it enough on the frame rail) and broke the seal. Now I have a small leak that I haven't gotten around to fixing.
It's tricky, but you can lick the leaks. And it will sound MUCH better once you do.
The Band Clamp thing looked just fine and worked VERY well. I'd try that first if I were you.
As far as random holes, I just sealed them up as best I could with the red gasket stuff. It worked OK. Eventually I replaced the whole system.
This all comes about from not running the car long/hard enough to get the entire exhaust system up to temp and burn off all the condensation. The PO of my car thought he was doing right by starting it for 15 minutes each week. WORST THING EVER for the exhaust system...mine was swiss cheese when I got to the car.
On my old chrome set I purchased 4" "Band Clamps" from the local trucking supply store. They are basically 3" wide chrome rings with bolts on the seam that are "stepped" to go over the flange of the pipes. In order to install these, you'll need to grind off the "ears" where the stock tightening bolt goes. I gooped up the sidetube before I slid it onto the collector, then gooped up the inside of the Band Clamps before tightening with the red gasket stuff. Worked great. No leaks.
On my new black set, I was able to goop the inside of the sidetube when I slid it over the collector and get it tight enough to stop any leaks. It was all well and good until one of the sidetubes repositioned itself (I didn't tighten it enough on the frame rail) and broke the seal. Now I have a small leak that I haven't gotten around to fixing.
It's tricky, but you can lick the leaks. And it will sound MUCH better once you do.
The Band Clamp thing looked just fine and worked VERY well. I'd try that first if I were you.
As far as random holes, I just sealed them up as best I could with the red gasket stuff. It worked OK. Eventually I replaced the whole system.
This all comes about from not running the car long/hard enough to get the entire exhaust system up to temp and burn off all the condensation. The PO of my car thought he was doing right by starting it for 15 minutes each week. WORST THING EVER for the exhaust system...mine was swiss cheese when I got to the car.
