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My original question was about those Hooker manifolds and an H pipe. I got these: Hooker Exhaust Manifolds 8525-3HKR. From the looks of it the factory manifolds have a smaller outlet, 2 or 2.25" so there will be some small improvement in the flow.
I've had headers on other cars and realize that there are many options out there for GM A-bodies that would probably work but to me the gains would not be worth the p.i.t.a in this case. The man who owns the custom exhaust shop has the same opinion and he would've been perfectly happy to run up a bill doing anything I wanted. He showed me some of his work and certainly has the experience. I did give it thought and spent quite a bit of time looking including the suggestions here but went with my original intent.
Next week he'll weld the connections that are currently mechanical and leaky, install the H-pipe and drop those Hooker manifolds in. They are a full 2.5" outlet without restrictions. I'm also going to have him move the O2 bung a full foot forward as it's sitting too far back. It runs rich and must be doing so for a reason and I am hoping that'll have some affect on that. It certainly isn't going to hurt it. I figure that if I do wind up going for a Terminator X over the winter it makes sense to get exhaust leaks and all that cleaned up first.
I'll post some pics and the result in case somebody, somewhere finds this thread because people do even years later.
Yeah, I wanted a driveway pig to fart around with and found this thing only a few miles away. It's much too shiny so I've got it and my '69 C3 in the garage now and talk about ten pounds of .... stuff ... in a five pound bag.
It is a complex subject no doubt.my car would lose power with vortex heads a milder build would run better with your vortex heads
It's all application.
Many, but Not all shops have capability to make "Mandrel-Bent" curves. If you're not familiar with mandrel-bent versus the alternative, suggest look around web pics. Most will choose mandrel-bent.
Got a shop in Oceanside that does just this. But, they ain't cheap. They also won't cook yer plug wires nor fry yer starter.
It is a complex subject no doubt.my car would lose power with vortex heads a milder build would run better with your vortex heads
It's all application.
Have an older SF120 flowbench with Velocity Probe; head work as well as restricted class carbs.
Yeah, I wanted a driveway pig to fart around with and found this thing only a few miles away. It's much too shiny so I've got it and my '69 C3 in the garage now and talk about ten pounds of .... stuff ... in a five pound bag.
Got a shop in Oceanside that does just this. But, they ain't cheap. They also won't cook yer plug wires nor fry yer starter.
Warner's Muffler is the name.
I looked at Warner's website
Nice site https://www.warnersmuffler.com/about
Of particular note:Warner offers something rarely found today: Lifetime Workmanship Warranty
These manifolds turned out just fine as did the shop. Honestly, I thought what I had was better than is actually is plus I was more concerned about the O2 sensor, H pipe and leaks and all that has been fixed. I have less than 50 miles on the thing as I just picked it up but right away I could tell it was much better. No more chronic fuel smell and the thing seems much smoother and more responsive. Still sounds nice. I believe I was right in that the O2 sensor was way too far back at the wrong angle. Now it's much closer to the manifold on the first horizontal section and at a more useful angle per the GMP install guide.
Imagine that - follow the instructions and it works as it should. Who would've ever seen THAT coming ?
So, no more rusty nasty leaky OEM logs with only a 2" outlet, now it's 2.5" all the way through. It needs more miles to really determine this but I cautiously hope there is no need to go Terminator X. Save that for a time when I have other silly ideas, like a new cam. This means I was correct about what the car needed but not how to do it. I got to know the shop and owner a bit better now and although it means spending $$$ to rip out what he just repaired in a couple weeks I'll take it back and have him eliminate all the catalog junk under there and install a nice custom set of pipes with MagnaFlows. Should've done that in the first place but hindsight's always clear.
Headers. My original question was about these manifolds and I can say they are very slick and I am happy with them so if anybody's on the fence I say get them. I went to a car show yesterday close to my house and peered at several GM A bodies and they all had headers. I'll just say I prefer what I have for this car rather than repeat all this. Unlike every single car I saw mine really is a daily driver - grocery getter. You gotta run your errands anyway so why not do it in something like this? It runs plenty strong and sounds good and there is another factor: not everybody can deal with loud anymore. Believe me, I've had plenty loud.
I only have hearing in my right ear and at that maybe 85% on a good day and that's very recent. SSHL I couldn't handle anything too loud as I am just 'recalculating' to deal with this loss, it's incredibly disorienting. I literally had to flee when someone fired up a loud car because it's overwhelming. My Olds really does sound pretty good, maybe after I get the exhaust system totally done I'll post a short video to prove it. Figures, I just sunk over a grand in a sound system that I literally just installed and now can't use.
