installation of hooker comp header
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
installation of hooker comp header
Getting ready to order parts for installation on my 78 any tip or comments on the installation would be greatly appreciated!
Last edited by white owl; May 23, 2015 at 02:27 PM. Reason: lack of year
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 5,339
Likes: 546
From: Central Texas
Take the starter off if you have a factory type starter. They go up from the bottom so you need to get the car up in the air about 24". Follow the directions that come with the headers and you'll be fine. Easiest set of headers that I have ever installed. 
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 201
Likes: 3
I've installed two sets of headers on my '70 in the last 31 years. the first set was 30 years ago and the 2nd set was last week. My new headers are the Hooker Silver Ceramic Coated. I have to disagree about the starter. I have never had to take the starter off to put Headers on. With the car up on tall jack stands about 18" they slide right in place from the bottom. Just kind of lay them flat, slide them under the car and kind of roll them up into place. It might be a tesh easier if you take the spark plugs out, but I didn't even do that this time. These hooker headers were about the easiest thing I've put on this car in about the last month.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
I've installed two sets of headers on my '70 in the last 31 years. the first set was 30 years ago and the 2nd set was last week. My new headers are the Hooker Silver Ceramic Coated. I have to disagree about the starter. I have never had to take the starter off to put Headers on. With the car up on tall jack stands about 18" they slide right in place from the bottom. Just kind of lay them flat, slide them under the car and kind of roll them up into place. It might be a tesh easier if you take the spark plugs out, but I didn't even do that this time. These hooker headers were about the easiest thing I've put on this car in about the last month.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 4,364
Likes: 1,588
From: los altos hills california
I found it beneficial to first install studs. ARP has sets for instance. The bolt/nut indentations at the pipe to flange interface were quite limited on my set. It was necessary to slowly work the header into place finger tightening all the nuts until they could be tightened completely with a wrench.
The Hookers I had interfered with the passenger footrest so I had to have the car towed to an exhaust shop to finish the job. I doubt that you have to take the starter off. I don't remember doing that!
The Hookers I had interfered with the passenger footrest so I had to have the car towed to an exhaust shop to finish the job. I doubt that you have to take the starter off. I don't remember doing that!
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 201
Likes: 3
I took my AC system off a few years ago. As I remember the Compressor bracket was a heavy cast one that I then believed was the original GM piece but now I really don't know. But Hooker has an AC bracket thru Summit. This time I also bought the Hooker Alternator bracket. It is a two piece part. One piece fits over and around the front left side header tube and bolts to the two header bolt holes. The other piece bolts to that and then carries the alternator. I have it mounted and it looks like a very good set up but I don't have my hood on at the moment and this bracket makes my alt look as though it might be higher than it was with the old set-up. Here is a link to a previous discussion about the Alternator Mounting: https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-mounting.html
You have to have a means to connect your collectors to your exhaust pipes. Years ago when I did my first one, I used flex pipe to connect the collector to the exhaust just to be able to drive it to a muffler shop where they made the pieces for me and connected them. Thru the years I have come to doing all that stuff myself. You can buy pieces of exhaust tubing thru the aftermarket with mandrel bent "U"s, etc. I then cut the pieces out that give me the radius' and bends that I need and weld them up to fit. Can't think of anything else at the moment.
You have to have a means to connect your collectors to your exhaust pipes. Years ago when I did my first one, I used flex pipe to connect the collector to the exhaust just to be able to drive it to a muffler shop where they made the pieces for me and connected them. Thru the years I have come to doing all that stuff myself. You can buy pieces of exhaust tubing thru the aftermarket with mandrel bent "U"s, etc. I then cut the pieces out that give me the radius' and bends that I need and weld them up to fit. Can't think of anything else at the moment.
