Hooker headers and side pipes
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 237
Likes: 0
From: TAMPA FL
Hooker headers and side pipes
On my 73 383 I was dyno 380 hp at the rear wheels. I have since installed hooker headers a side pipes. I seem to have lost 25-35 hp. Is there a fix for this
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 2,580
Likes: 2,037
From: Minnesota
What inserts are you using? Also have you compensated the fuel mixture for the additional airflow the headers will give you?
Side pipes aren’t the best for maximum power. An adequately sized dual exhaust with long tube headers under the car will be better. I think the look and sound is worth it though. That power loss seems a bit high though, especially if you had the factory rams horns before.
Side pipes aren’t the best for maximum power. An adequately sized dual exhaust with long tube headers under the car will be better. I think the look and sound is worth it though. That power loss seems a bit high though, especially if you had the factory rams horns before.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 34,451
Likes: 665
From: Republic of Texas
To keep your hooker side exhaust and keep your power your best option is STS spiral baffles. They are slightly tunable, many of us have ran them on our cars. Several members have dynoed their car with open headers and after installing the baffles and only loss 12-15hp from open headers.
https://www.spiralturbobaffles.com/
Here is my BB with the STS baffles, dynoed @ 638hp.
https://www.spiralturbobaffles.com/
Here is my BB with the STS baffles, dynoed @ 638hp.
Last edited by Corey_68; Oct 25, 2025 at 12:35 AM.
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From: Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
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Side pipes are not ideal. And if noise levels are also of concern. You didn't mention.
Well then. Suck it up.
If noise levels are of no concern. See post above.
Well then. Suck it up.
If noise levels are of no concern. See post above.
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 237
Likes: 0
From: TAMPA FL
Race Director
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Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 4,176
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From: out of nowhere
If you run no inserts you can blip the throttle under overpasses and get even with the Harley guys. Ask me how I know!
I agree with what has been posted here. When I put your set up on a street/strip ‘69 I once had I read about the power losses from all of the available baffles. I spent so much time and money trying to go faster that I ended up just running them straight with no baffles. Wasn’t willing to give up those hard won ponies. Due to neighbors, I had to quickly leave once cranked and when coming home I would cut the engine and coast up into the drive. Only got pulled over once. The cop admired the car and asked questions about it, but made sure to tell me “you know I can write you ticket on your exhaust alone, plus a bunch more on your other modifications”. Not joking about the Harley dudes. It was fun watching them jump up off the bike a few inches with the throttle blip. Can’t stand how the loud pipe dudes do that, so I was just schoolin ‘em. I was also in my 30’s/still a punk, so….
I agree with what has been posted here. When I put your set up on a street/strip ‘69 I once had I read about the power losses from all of the available baffles. I spent so much time and money trying to go faster that I ended up just running them straight with no baffles. Wasn’t willing to give up those hard won ponies. Due to neighbors, I had to quickly leave once cranked and when coming home I would cut the engine and coast up into the drive. Only got pulled over once. The cop admired the car and asked questions about it, but made sure to tell me “you know I can write you ticket on your exhaust alone, plus a bunch more on your other modifications”. Not joking about the Harley dudes. It was fun watching them jump up off the bike a few inches with the throttle blip. Can’t stand how the loud pipe dudes do that, so I was just schoolin ‘em. I was also in my 30’s/still a punk, so….
Last edited by litevette; Oct 25, 2025 at 09:58 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,687
Likes: 269
From: New York
The quiet inserts far left, were way too restrictive. They chocked the engine and made it much slower. How restrictive? I jumped on the gas and the back pressure caused the header and side pipe to separate.
The “glass pak” in the middle, were louder, but not what I was looking for.
The Max-Flo far right, allowed the car to breath best and gave the best performance. But I had to lean over and shout at the passenger for them to hear me. They are loud!