Hooker Header Problems - kinda long
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 4,723
Likes: 11
From: Winnipeg Manitoba, Canada
Hooker Header Problems - kinda long
A few weeks ago I purchased some Hooker 2151's from Summit to be used on my rebuilt engine. I went down to the garage today to see how the build was going, and they told me the headers would not work with my engine. They said Hooker Headers would not work with the L98 engine because it has angle plug heads. Now i'm pretty mad because I called Summit and told them what engine I had, and they told me about these. I called Summit today and told them what happened, and this time the guy tells me they won't work. Now I've seen threads about people on here running these headers. Can anyone explain to me what the heck is going on? My mechanic said the only way the Hookers would work, is if he drilled holes for the spark plugs. We ordered some Hedman headers instead. Sorry about the length.
I'm going to the cabin later this evening so I apologize that I won't answer back over the weekend. Long weekends are great!
I'm going to the cabin later this evening so I apologize that I won't answer back over the weekend. Long weekends are great!
Last edited by jimmers; May 18, 2007 at 07:25 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 17,298
Likes: 33
From: The Top of Utah
Something is either seriously wrong or not being divulged. The 2151s work with straight plug heads and heads with the L98 angle. They don't work with AFR heads with the proprietary AFR angle plugs. You lead us to assume you have L98 heads. That makes me wonder what your mechanic is smoking. Have him mock up a header to one of your heads and show you how they don't work. They ARE the correct 2151s, aren't they?
RACE ON!!!
RACE ON!!!
Large Impressive Member
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 65,811
Likes: 71
From: Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
That's pretty odd since the Hookers are made for the L98 C4. They're also commonly used on the LT1/4 cars with few major issues reported in either case. Now I'm even more suspect of your installer after the issues that he had with the Doug Thorley headers that I sold to you. They were reportedly nearly dragging the ground. But after I got them back, they have only one inch less ground clearance than my SWs or my DRM headers have. This would still be over 5" of clearance and not the 2" of clearance that he claimed. Something is very wrong here.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 4,723
Likes: 11
From: Winnipeg Manitoba, Canada
On the Summit site it says they will fit 84-91 Corvettes, but just not with AFR angle plug heads. I called around to a few part places around here and they also said the hookers would not fit with my engine. My heads do have GM casting numbers, but I don't have a clue if they are originals. They are angled. The problem is that the header will be covering some of the spark plug holes.
They are the hooker 2151's, atleast according to my bill.
The part number is HOK-2151-1HKR.
Thanks guys!
They are the hooker 2151's, atleast according to my bill.
The part number is HOK-2151-1HKR.
Thanks guys!
Large Impressive Member
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 65,811
Likes: 71
From: Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
On the Summit site it says they will fit 84-91 Corvettes, but just not with AFR angle plug heads. I called around to a few part places around here and they also said the hookers would not fit with my engine. My heads do have GM casting numbers, but I don't have a clue if they are originals. They are angled. The problem is that the header will be covering some of the spark plug holes.
They are the hooker 2151's, atleast according to my bill.
The part number is HOK-2151-1HKR.
Thanks guys!
They are the hooker 2151's, atleast according to my bill.
The part number is HOK-2151-1HKR.
Thanks guys!
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 4,723
Likes: 11
From: Winnipeg Manitoba, Canada
I have a 90 so it should be the same. Is there anyway to tell if they are 113's? Even though they are angle plugs the headers should still work right? Is there anyway to tell which headers I have? Are there markings of some sort? The only thing I can think of is that I either have different heads, or the wrong headers.
Large Impressive Member
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 65,811
Likes: 71
From: Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
I have a 90 so it should be the same. Is there anyway to tell if they are 113's? Even though they are angle plugs the headers should still work right? Is there anyway to tell which headers I have? Are there markings of some sort? The only thing I can think of is that I either have different heads, or the wrong headers.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 5,146
Likes: 3
From: The Motor City
What drilling to fit plugs ????? that's insane, you have the right number and many here have those on l98's and lt's, mine are the 2149, same header, same year, difference is these are w/air, egr, I can't imagine where the problem could be.
Your 90 should have 113's unless someone did a swap.
Did someone put a diferent motor in the car, or relocated it in some fashion? Did the guy actually try and fit them on the car or can he just "tell from looking" at it ?
I don't remember if the number is on the flange, but if you seen they don't fit for yourself call and get another set sent out. I guess it's possible someone packaged them wrong.
Your 90 should have 113's unless someone did a swap.
Did someone put a diferent motor in the car, or relocated it in some fashion? Did the guy actually try and fit them on the car or can he just "tell from looking" at it ?
I don't remember if the number is on the flange, but if you seen they don't fit for yourself call and get another set sent out. I guess it's possible someone packaged them wrong.
Last edited by mseven; May 18, 2007 at 08:53 PM.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 4,723
Likes: 11
From: Winnipeg Manitoba, Canada
What drilling to fit plugs ????? that's insane, you have the right number and many here have those on l98's and lt's, mine are the 2149, same header, same year, difference is these are w/air, egr, I can't imagine where the problem could be.
Your 90 should have 113's unless someone did a swap.
Did someone put a diferent motor in the car, or relocated it in some fashion? Did the guy actually try and fit them on the car or can he just "tell from looking" at it ?
I don't remember if the number is on the flange, but if you seen they don't fit for yourself call and get another set sent out. I guess it's possible someone packaged them wrong.
Your 90 should have 113's unless someone did a swap.
Did someone put a diferent motor in the car, or relocated it in some fashion? Did the guy actually try and fit them on the car or can he just "tell from looking" at it ?
I don't remember if the number is on the flange, but if you seen they don't fit for yourself call and get another set sent out. I guess it's possible someone packaged them wrong.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 5,146
Likes: 3
From: The Motor City
I have a pic in my pics you can see but they are the 2149's, if it helps. I do my own work so I can tell you they fit fairly easliy, the drivers side in fact can be put in from the top of the car once everything is out of the way.
Forum member -=jeff=- comes to mind with 2151's and 113 heads if that helps. The guy trying "to fix" them I hope you will still be able to send them back and get another set. If you can see the spark plug being at an angle they should have been alright. The only place mine were tight at was near the heat shields located on the lower floorboards.
Forum member -=jeff=- comes to mind with 2151's and 113 heads if that helps. The guy trying "to fix" them I hope you will still be able to send them back and get another set. If you can see the spark plug being at an angle they should have been alright. The only place mine were tight at was near the heat shields located on the lower floorboards.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 4,723
Likes: 11
From: Winnipeg Manitoba, Canada
I have a pic in my pics you can see but they are the 2149's, if it helps. I do my own work so I can tell you they fit fairly easliy, the drivers side in fact can be put in from the top of the car once everything is out of the way.
Forum member -=jeff=- comes to mind with 2151's and 113 heads if that helps. The guy trying "to fix" them I hope you will still be able to send them back and get another set. If you can see the spark plug being at an angle they should have been alright. The only place mine were tight at was near the heat shields located on the lower floorboards.
Forum member -=jeff=- comes to mind with 2151's and 113 heads if that helps. The guy trying "to fix" them I hope you will still be able to send them back and get another set. If you can see the spark plug being at an angle they should have been alright. The only place mine were tight at was near the heat shields located on the lower floorboards.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,313
Likes: 2
From: High Ridge Missouri
I have a '91 w 113 heads and 2151 headers-no problems here.
Is there anyway you can get pictures of the fitment issues? I'd be curious to see what the problem is.
If you click on My Corvette Photos you can see a couple of pictures.
Is there anyway you can get pictures of the fitment issues? I'd be curious to see what the problem is.
If you click on My Corvette Photos you can see a couple of pictures.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 4,723
Likes: 11
From: Winnipeg Manitoba, Canada
Thanks your pictures are alot easier to see. I'm going down there on Tuesday and am going to make him show me.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 4,723
Likes: 11
From: Winnipeg Manitoba, Canada
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 5,146
Likes: 3
From: The Motor City
Hopefully it is just the guy working on it...I'm going out to do some work on mine I will look to see if there is a visable# if so I will take some shots for you.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,799
Likes: 2
From: Cape Coral FL
Your "mechanic" is smoking crack, methinks...
The ONLY problem I've ever seen with Hookers (2151's or 2149's) with regard to any sort of fitment problem on a C4 is the engine mount bolts hitting the tubes, causing lineup problems. This is a simple fix.... support the engine, remove the bolt and put it back in place from the opposite way (placing the bolt head at the back of the mount instead of the front). You have to be a complete moron with 7 thumbs on your hands for these not to fit... The "drilling for spark plugs" issue most likely relates to the plug wire brackets.... again, easy fix. Grind off the offending metal (on the BRACKET, not the HEADER FLANGE), and secure as necessary.
The ONLY problem I've ever seen with Hookers (2151's or 2149's) with regard to any sort of fitment problem on a C4 is the engine mount bolts hitting the tubes, causing lineup problems. This is a simple fix.... support the engine, remove the bolt and put it back in place from the opposite way (placing the bolt head at the back of the mount instead of the front). You have to be a complete moron with 7 thumbs on your hands for these not to fit... The "drilling for spark plugs" issue most likely relates to the plug wire brackets.... again, easy fix. Grind off the offending metal (on the BRACKET, not the HEADER FLANGE), and secure as necessary.