Is anyone using these? What do you think about them? I am considering getting the ceramic coated ones. I know long tubes give more hp, but I need to have cats on my car. I already have better flowing exhaust from the cats back. Does it make it any easier to change plugs? How much of a PITA are they to install? Thanks.
:seeya

 

Big PITA to install. So I had someone else do it for me. I do love them though, they make a noticable difference in power at higher rpm's. They do provide more room to change plugs but you will have to ding one or two exhaust runners in order to provide clearance for the socket to fit over the plug.

Over all they are terriffic!

 

Granted I have long tubes but I can't imagine the shorties would be very hard to install. I've unbolted the passenger side cat from the mainfold with it on the car, not much fun. Here's how I would do it.

First step is to drop the cat back and get it out of the way. Second remove the dipstick from the passenger side and anything on the driver's side that the manifold would catch on. Unbolt the manifolds from the heads and watch them drop, along with the cats as an assembly. From there you can proceed to the work bench and save some major headaches. Remove the manifolds from the cats and bolt the shorties up. Then installation is the reverse of removal.

I can tell you that if you try to leave the cats / cat back in place and just remove the manifolds you will not be happy. The manifold to cat bolts are VERY difficult to get to while on the car.

Remove from the manifolds and cats at the same time from the bottom and re-install the shorties and cats from the bottom and it will actually go fairly smoothly :cheers:


[Modified by Nathan Plemons, 9:05 AM 8/12/2003]

 

And about how much time will need to be set aside for this?

 

In a perfect world I would like to say that I could get it done in a good solid 12 hour day. Only because I've spent a lot of time wrenching on the car. That also assumes you don't have to replace any rusted bolts, etc. Those trips to the hardware / parts stor kill your productivity.

In a more realistic world I would say a 3 day weekend would be nice, and don't make any other plans.

 

Wow! My cat back system took me about 3 hours to install. I figured with your suggestion about unbolting the cats from the rest of the exhaust that it would take around 6 hours to do the headers. Guess that time estimate is way off. I haven't done much of my own wrenching on my Vette. I haven't had the access to a garage until now. I have done this type of work on my last car, 92 Rustang GT. At times I miss that car...it was so easy to work on. A full tune up: plugs, cap, rotor, wires, oil change, fuel filter, pcv valve, clean the air filter, all took me 1/2 hour to 45 minutes. I think I will be lucky to get the 4 plugs out in 45 minutes. Looks like I will have my work cut out for me next month when I receive all my parts. :smash:
Thanks for the tips!

 

You'll have to spend some time grinding down the a/c braces and the dipstick mounting tab. You also have to shorten the hard EGR tube on the passenger side (cut/weld). It's not a simple bolt on like they lead you to believe...

 

Are you sure this is correct on the hooker shorties specifically for the LT1? I know there are issues installing long tubes because hooker's long tubes are not actually made for the LT1, rather the L98. Seems like the shorties would bolt right up. Again I don't have any experience with them so you may well be correct. Holley's fit and finish can be found lacking sometimes.

 

Yup, Hooker Corvette LT-1 shorty's, p/n 2061-1. The part about shortening the egr tube is part of the instructions.

 

I have them, wanted shorties to keep emission legal. Get them you won't be sorry. LPE installed, LT1's headers are a tough to put in.

:thumbs:

 

I installed them on my 1995. I did have to shorten the tube, and the AC braces on the drivers side had to ground where the tabs go onto the studs you will re-use.

If you want ceramic coating, I STRONGLY suggest you order the regular ones, get them to fit on the car first, then send them out for coating. The reason is that you WILL have to dimple the primary tubes to be able to get any type of wrench on the header bolts (yes, even with a special ground thin wrench), and this will probably damage the coating.

I would say it took me a good 7 hours including the cutting and welding, and I am very experienced working on cars, although I was taking my time because I had all of Saturday to do it.

Also, I was not expecting any gain from the shorties, but they did actually improve the top end performance. I think I might have lost some low-end though. Not sure until I race my friend again to compare. I put them on initially because my exhaust manifold cracked. (in two places, all the way around!)

-Dave

PS: Oh yea, and please use the big silver bolts in the kit in place of your manifold studs. Even though the manifold studs act like they screw into the collector threads fine, they will come out. The collector flange is drilled for the larger bolt in the kit rather then the original stud. (Don't ask me how I know this. :) )




[Modified by Dave C. '97 Z28, 1:37 PM 8/13/2003]

 

Great installation info guys. Thanks!

 

Yeah, I decided that I will look around for a custom exhaust place here in Palm Beach County and purchase the headers from them and have them install the headers. I wasn't planning on doing any cutting and welding. I have never done any type of welding, so I will stick to the stuff I know how to do. Thanks again for everyone's input on this.

:seeya