Are Hooker Competition Headers good to put on a 80 L48? Going to start modifying the engine and want to start with the exhaust. Will Hooker Headers with a true dual exhaust give a noticable increase in power? Should I run straight pipes or get some mufflers?

 

It won't make much difference with a stock L48. But as you increase the engines ability to breath in, the headers will be greatly appreciated.

Right now your L48 is like a guy trying to run a race with his mouth taped shut. He can only breath through his nose.

When you put a better intake, cam, air cleaner, and heads on it but no exhaust improvements, it is then like inhaling through your nose and mouth, but you can still only exhale through you nose.

The reverse of this analogy is equally true. You need to improve both the flow of air in and the air flow out of the engine.

Chuck


[Modified by Chuck Harmon, 2:02 PM 9/7/2002]

 

The exhaust is definately the best place start, but to realize real power gains you also have to improve the intake, like what was said before. But, you can do that later, you don't have to do both at the same time. You can check out my signature to see what I've done so far. When I did my exhaust a couple of weeks ago, I used the Hedman ceramic coated headers, and I am very happy with them. From there I ran 2.5" pipe back through the crossmember, then installed a 2.5" x-pipe also made by Hedman, and then 2.5" pipe again back to the Flowmaster 40 series mufflers. No matter what you chose though, make sure you get a balance pipe, like an X or an H pipe, the X's are the best, and the dyno numbers proved this (I saw the X and H pipe dyno results in Car Craft). They create a scavenging action which in turn will increase horsepower and torque, they are also supposed to reduce some of the interior resonance. They are not that expensive and well worth the money, I bought all of the parts in my signature (except for the brakes) from Jeg's, the H-pipe they sell is about $40, and the "X junction only" which is what you want if you get an X-pipe is $90.

 

I was planning on getting a K&N soon, then doing the cam and intake. What are a good set of heads to use for street and strip?


[Modified by Mikes80L48, 10:33 PM 9/7/2002]

 

How does your Vette sound with your current set up? Are flowmaster 40 series mufflers good mufflers to use on the Vette?


[Modified by Mikes80L48, 10:33 PM 9/7/2002]

 

you have to have muffs if your gonna race at etown with us ;)

 

I think Etown is kind of to far to drive to drag race ;)


[Modified by Mikes80L48, 11:57 PM 9/7/2002]