Converting to headers/sidepipes, suggestions please
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 1,743
Likes: 289
From: Chardon Ohio
Drifting
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,968
Likes: 44
From: East TN
Hookers fabrication was moved from Mexico to Aberdeen, MS after Holley bought them out.
Hooker
704 Highway 25 South
Aberdeen, MS 39730
662 369-6153 (Tel)
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,375
Likes: 1,593
From: Western NY
In my "youthful enthusiasm" (I did this job back in 1977) I had jack stands under the rear axle (it was a Firebird), and they extended about 16-18", and I had a pair of relatively tall, home-fabricated ramps under the front tires. Even so, I had to use a floor jack, under the lower a-arms, to lift the front end, one side at a time.....
Believe me, it was a little nerve wracking.
Believe me, it was a little nerve wracking.
Last edited by leadfoot4; Feb 1, 2016 at 08:33 AM.
Veteran
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,284
Likes: 81
From: Nashville, TN
I did mine on jack stands, just have to go from one corner to the next a little at a time until you get all four corners high enough. Also another little tip I did, remove your spark plugs and alt bracket before putting them in.
Once they are in the engine bay and ready to bolt up, I used a 12x6 piece of plywood to put under the header pipes and used my floor jack to move the headers into the correct position for the bolts to line up. I started with one of the inside bolts half way threaded to just get it close. Then used a center punch to put in the header end hole by the alt to get the holes even closer. Then manipulated the headers with the floor jack to get the rest of the bolts in.
Once they are in the engine bay and ready to bolt up, I used a 12x6 piece of plywood to put under the header pipes and used my floor jack to move the headers into the correct position for the bolts to line up. I started with one of the inside bolts half way threaded to just get it close. Then used a center punch to put in the header end hole by the alt to get the holes even closer. Then manipulated the headers with the floor jack to get the rest of the bolts in.
Veteran
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,284
Likes: 81
From: Nashville, TN
If you do decide on the Hookers, I run the max flow insert now. I started with the glasspack insert (too quiet for me), then went with no inserts (my kind of loud) but had no bottom end TQ (pre 383 build) and settled on the max flows. Everyone except moms with little kids love the sound of mine, hope that helps your decision.
Had a 1976 L-82, 4-sp
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 5,338
Likes: 1,213
From: Some days your the dog and some days your the hydrant.
Royal Canadian Navy
I did mine on jackstands with a lift of about 16". I removed the 'z' bar, oil pressure sender, spark plugs and temperature sender. Have a buddy help lift up the headers from the bottom and pull up through from the top. The passenger side is a piece of cake with only removing the spark plugs. That's my experience with the Hooker's.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 6,937
Likes: 848
From: melbourne florida
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Mine were installed on a lift.no dents no trimming easiest install of a set of headders I ever saw.
I have the sweet thunder inserts and they sound pretty good.
I have the sweet thunder inserts and they sound pretty good.
