I remember reading a while back about problem with the 16720 y-pipes being manufactured wrong, but I though they fixed that. Here's the problem I'm having: the pipe is about 3/4" too narrow, it hits the transmission pan on the passenger side, and the flange is all screwed up on the driver side (bottom touches, 1/4" gap at the top, has a weird curve to it, kinda like a pringle) I'm going to be sending it back, as I can't use it, but are they all like this? I have no idea when it was made, but it came from Jegs so I don't think the stock should be too old.

 

Mine was a tight fit, but not THAT bad. Hmmm....

 

My cars a 6spd so I didn't have a clearance problem. But the flange was a little out of wack on the drivers side, doesn't sound as bad as yours however.

I think its because they create the flange and then stamp the pipe for clearing the automatic oil pan and that pulls the flange in. Pringle shape is a pretty good description for it. I managed to work the flange a bit and it worked out fine. Let us know if the next one is any better.

 

I picked up a Ypipe from summit about 1 month ago and it fits ok.

It is a tight fit and a struggle to put on, but I did get it on.

You should send it back and get another one.

Vic




[Modified by Vic'89, 8:33 PM 8/30/2003]

 

I think I was the one that brought it to Hooker's attention about a tooling problem, but that was about 2 years ago. It bolted up OK, but then it laid my exhaust system on the ground from the cat back. It was when Holley first bought Hooker and I think they were just shifting production to Mexico. Maybe sabetoge by disgruntled workers? Let me ask the stupid questions? You are trying to bolt up to Hooker Headers? not some other brand? It is possible they are having quality problems again? I hope not, but you never know, with all the cut backs companies are makeing to try to shave every penny off produciton costs, it is realy scarey what you might get any more. Next thing you know you Hookers will be made in China, Korea, or anywhere else to save $0.50 on production costs. Good Luck getting it fixed.

 

Yes I'm trying to bolt them up to a set of Hookers 2149s, the main problems are there is no way to get a good drivers side seal with them, and it will not clear my transmission pan on the passenger side, even with the little tab ground off of it. It is an auto trans with the stock pan. I didn't want to pound on it because I'm sending it back for another one. It was hard enough getting the paint off of it.

 

I had a local exhaust shop remanufacture the Hooker piece. Good Luck

 

My Y-pipe did not line up by 1/2 inch and I had to ding the pipe to clear the tranny on the passenger side

 

I had the same problem. At first I tried pulling the header collectors
together to get it to line up so I could bolt it up, but I couldn't get a good
seal on the drivers side. It would blow out exhaust onto the transmission.
So I took a hack saw to the left side about 15-18 inches behind the collector
and cut about two thirds through the pipe, bolted it to the header collectors
to get the flanges mated, tacked welded where I had cut it in about 3 places,
took it back off and finished welding up the cut. Now if fits great and no
leaks.

Dan

 

Replacement pipe ordered today, hope it fits better.

 

Replacement Y came today, it clears a little better but still hits the trans pan and the driver's side flange is actually worse than the last one. Even after tightening all the bolts down, the gap is way larger than my gaskets would be able to fill, and I'm using the thick aluminium ones. I called Hooker tech support, they said they'd be willing to send me a replacement y-pipe but they had none in stock and would have to check with the factory to see when they could get them. They should call me tomorrow and let me know. Some pictures are attached of the new one. Why can't they just make these things right? If the third pipe doesn't fit either, I'm tempted to pull the headers and find another company that can make something right for this car. I'm sure they come off the car much faster than they went on.



That's the best I can do with the pictures, I can't use a flash because the glare off the headers is too much.


[Modified by shotchkiss, 7:00 PM 9/4/2003]

 

Wow! That is some serious misalignment. Mine was a tight fit, but nothing like that. I wonder if you could take it down to a muffler shop and say "make me one".

 

My Y pipe was a bloody nightmare, drivers side too short by 3", rear exit too low by 2", - mine is cut and shut to buggery!

 

Sorry...hope you can get it worked out...

 

I have one on my 89 auto. It wasn't a perfect fit, but not that bad either.

 

I guess I got lucky, mine was an ok fit. I still had to work it a little.

Vic

 

Should hear back from Holly tech support this PM, when I talked to them, the tech said he needed to call the plant in Tijuana to see when they would have more pipes available. If it takes too long, I'll just order another y-pipe from Summit. The last 2 came from Jegs, maybe they just got a bad batch of them? The tech guy thought the pipes were made at the beginning of this year because of the code on them. If this third pipe doesn't fit, I'm pulling the headers back off and selling them because there is no place near me that does custom exhaust work, and I can't make a pipe myself. Also I think the local police might frown upon me running open headers on the street.

If you got a pipe that fits better than mine, where did you guys order it from?


Update: Holley tech support won't have any pipes available until 9/16, so I ordered one from Summit today, I'll know if it works better middle of next week when it gets here. This is just so aggravating, this should be the easy part, just slip on the cat, bolt the collectors up and I'm done. I hope it's worth it when I get done with this.



[Modified by shotchkiss, 4:12 PM 9/5/2003]

 

My Y-pipe hit the tranny OD pan so I pulled it off and "dinged/flattened" that out a bit.

My holes lined up OK but I still ahd to "persuade" the passenger side to line up.

This winter I may cut mine to relieve the stress and have the gap TIG welded so it is not in so much of a bind.

My other thougth ios to go to true duals and forget about the y-pipe, I was quite disapointed in the quality ofhtis piece, but since you mentioned it was made in Mexico, I guess that explains it. QC/quality control down there is terrible.

 

i just installed my y-pipe last saturday and was having the same problems that you are having. i had to use 2 sets of collector gaskets to get it to seal. the easiest way to install the y-pipe is to bolt up the drivers side first then do the passenger side then tighten all the bolts up. hope this helps.

 

Sorry to hear of your problems, I bought mine from Summit and it fit on there great. ITs tight, and you always have to work it a little, but it ended up perfect. Make sure to use the copper gaskets or you will be dropping them with leaks very soon.