What about headers??
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 857
Likes: 1
From: Morrisonville Illinios
What about headers??
I have a good question for all and some of the answers that I have gotten in my neck of the woods has me wandering 
even more. Ok I have figured out that I will be putting LONG TUBE headers (OPEN FoR SUGGESTIONS AS TO WHAT BRAND or TYPE)on a 87' with a built up L98 that is from an 89'. The intake is modified for 1000cfm with custom runners, ported and polished heads, a Comp Cam, roller rockers. Now here is where my final questions lie!! Do I get rid of the CATS (no emission testing here) and if I do what do I replace the air pump with? Seems a waste of time to just install a replacement ideller pully just to stay with the belt or do I just keep the air pump? Do I need to keep an O2 fitting for the ECM/MAF? Do I need to have a new chip for the ECM if I don't keep the CATS? Do I need a new chip if I put on some HIGH FLOW CATS, egr and air fittings along with the O2 can the current ECM handle the system. Do I buy a set of headers with out any of the emission fitting and just an O2 bung for the MAF/ECM. I am now at a big crossroad as to finish the build and just need some good information. 
Thanks WRO
even more. Ok I have figured out that I will be putting LONG TUBE headers (OPEN FoR SUGGESTIONS AS TO WHAT BRAND or TYPE)on a 87' with a built up L98 that is from an 89'. The intake is modified for 1000cfm with custom runners, ported and polished heads, a Comp Cam, roller rockers. Now here is where my final questions lie!! Do I get rid of the CATS (no emission testing here) and if I do what do I replace the air pump with? Seems a waste of time to just install a replacement ideller pully just to stay with the belt or do I just keep the air pump? Do I need to keep an O2 fitting for the ECM/MAF? Do I need to have a new chip for the ECM if I don't keep the CATS? Do I need a new chip if I put on some HIGH FLOW CATS, egr and air fittings along with the O2 can the current ECM handle the system. Do I buy a set of headers with out any of the emission fitting and just an O2 bung for the MAF/ECM. I am now at a big crossroad as to finish the build and just need some good information. Thanks WRO
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 62,142
Likes: 1,729
From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
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The intake won't flow 1000cfm, not anywhere near it.
You can either put the AIR eliminator pulley in, or find yourself a belt that will work to delete it entirely. I havent found one that will work but someone else mightve.
Headers + Y pipe will delete the precats, which you dont need anyway. Changing out the 87's cat is a must though, a Random-Tech, Car-Sound, or Dynatech cat would be good replacement. You can do away with it altogether but beware of the resonance increase without it.
You MUST use an O2 sensor, and if you have changed your cam you need a custom chip, not because you delete any cats. It'll handle the system just fine.
Hooker 2151 needs to have an O2 bung welded in, and you must do this before any ceramic coating is done, it is also a bare header (no emissions fittings). Hooker 2149 has all emissions hookups and is coated. Each uses the 16720 Y-pipe.
Or you can go TPiS, which fits slightly better, and has everything 2149 has.
You can either put the AIR eliminator pulley in, or find yourself a belt that will work to delete it entirely. I havent found one that will work but someone else mightve.
Headers + Y pipe will delete the precats, which you dont need anyway. Changing out the 87's cat is a must though, a Random-Tech, Car-Sound, or Dynatech cat would be good replacement. You can do away with it altogether but beware of the resonance increase without it.
You MUST use an O2 sensor, and if you have changed your cam you need a custom chip, not because you delete any cats. It'll handle the system just fine.
Hooker 2151 needs to have an O2 bung welded in, and you must do this before any ceramic coating is done, it is also a bare header (no emissions fittings). Hooker 2149 has all emissions hookups and is coated. Each uses the 16720 Y-pipe.
Or you can go TPiS, which fits slightly better, and has everything 2149 has.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,858
Likes: 7
From: Santa Maria CA
Also if you got an automatic, the Hooker 16720 pipe will hit the corner of the transmission pan, preventing you from getting a flush seal at the collectors and block access to some of the pan bolts. They cut the corner too close because the bend is wrong. Also the Hooker 2149's have the O2 bung on the #7 primary tube.
