Alright, I've decided headers are probably next for my '88. I have a few questions though.

What part number for the Hooker's for an '88?

Is there any modifications to be done to the car, besides modifying the front y-pipe(I'm using a MAD 2.5" one right now)?

In a dry climate, like Colorado, and on a fair weather car, is it worth spending the extra $200 to get the coated headers? The car rarely sees high humidity and won'y be driven in rain very often, if at all.

Where on the y-pipe would I cut? I want to do all the work myself and I don't want to buy Hooker's y-pipe because some have complained of fitment problems and my current y-pipe is brand new. I have access to a cutting tool, but i may have to bring the y-pipe to someone to have them expand the pipe for the slip fittings.

Also, what gasket part number and hardware should I use?

Thanks and sorry for some of the repeat questions, the search on this site doesn't work for me. Also, I'd like to hear from some of the guys with '88s since headers that fit on earlier L98's don't always fit the newer ones. I had a set of used long tubes for an '85 and couldn't get it to clear my starter.
Chris


[Modified by okinawa86vette, 8:26 AM 1/9/2004]

 

Please do your self a favor and have the headers ceramic coated. They will last much longer and look better. I suggest Jet-Hot Sterling coating. They sell Hookers, too. :thumbs:

 

Hooker 2149 is the header number, with emissions and O2 fittings. You can order it in either 1.75" or 1 5/8".

16720 is their Y-pipe. The pipe you have now will have to be cut and welded into place if you plan to continue using it. No way to say exactly where you have to cut until you get the primaries on the car and can measure.

Yes get them coated, 2149s usually come coated depending on where you get them.

 

vader86,
Sorry to rain on your parade, but 2149 is a PART number. Not a model number. There are NO options. They are 1.75" primary tubes, and they are coated. Hooker doesn't make a 1 5/8" primary tubed header for the L98, C4s.

Hooker has three part numbers for headers for all 1984 through 1991, L83 and L98, C4s.
2149 has provisions for all smog hook ups; 1 3/4" primary tubes, and are coated.
2151 is the same header as the 2149, less smog hookups and coating.
2151-1 is a coated 2151.

All reports say that Hooker only coats the outside of their headers. This MAY be sufficient for a dry climate. Rust and corrosion are accelerated by heat. Headers will rust in the Sahara. Besides inhibiting rust, a coating will deaden some sound and retain heat, keeping your under hood temps down. Unless you plan to sell your car, soon, get coated headers, or have the headers you get, coated. It WILL be cheaper in the long run. Good luck, and...

RACE ON!!!

 

CFI-EFI is 100% accurate :thumbs:

I'm going thru this route right now. I have the 2149's + 16720 Y pipe (both mate flange 3"), and since I have zero interest in skimping (mine's a daily driver and will keep it until every bolt disintegrates), I bought the headers from Jegs.com (y pipe remains uncoated, from summitracing.com) and had them drop-shipped to HPC coatings to have them re-coated, professionally - inside & out. Don't mess with Hooker's own coating, they use a mickey mouse outfit down in Mexico and the coating will more than likely flake off in a couple years. I also had HPC weld in an o2 fitting relocate (for a Bosch heated sensor setup) at the passenger side collector at the 11:00 position. They even added 2 extra coats inside & out - on the house (Matt Holm & I got along very well).

When I received the headers from HPC I was astounded by the job they did.
I just went to the shop where they have been installed, and the whole setup is amazing......not to mention the freakin' sound now - its like night & day vs. stock, it kicks butt :D

Bottom line - if you have no emissions in your area, get the 2151....If you do, get the 2149. Either way, get them coated (or I should say, re-coated if they are #2149), this is not a drill :D

Other items, from summitracing.com:
Header bolts...Stage 8 locking, 1" SS, #STG8911A (these are ****!)
Collector gaskets: Percy's soft aluminum (reusable), 3", #PHP-66002
Header gaskets: if you have D-113 alum heads, get Fel-Pro, #FPP-1406



[Modified by bradvette, 12:19 PM 1/9/2004]

 

Great Info on everything.... I love this forum!
:grouphug:

Now where's my wallet..... :nonod: :sad:

 

What about the TPIS LT headers?

Are their headers coated on the inside and out?

 

I think TPIS is coated inside and out or atleast they say they are in the advertisement..... Someone with 1st hand info should chime in
:cheers:

 

I may not be accurate at the moment, but Hooker DID make a 1 5/8" size primary 2149 header for the L98. I saw it on the Summit website and their own site around 2mos ago.

I know that 2149 is a part number :confused: And you CAN order 2149s uncoated, or at least you could a couple months ago.

 

I have the tpis longtubes which are coated. Fitment and install was perfect. Nothing is modified or altered in any way. BUT, the coating they use will look like total butt matter within a year.......mine do. Around all the welds on the primaries near the flange, surface rust is appearing. My car is not exposed to rain, I can't imagine what they would look like it was a daily driver.

 

I say again, Sterling coating from Jet-Hot. :yesnod:

 

If someone (Summit) showed a 1 5/8ths 2149, it was a typo or misprint. 2149s are 1 3/4", ONLY. If Hooker EVER (I doubt it) made a 1 5/8ths header, it would have HAD to carry a different part number.They may sell those headers, uncoated, to the independent coaters, but it would HAVE to be under a different part number. How else would they know what to ship to who? If they so readily do this, why is there a 2151 AND a 2151-1???

It didn't happen, my friend. Not now! Not two months ago! Not a two years ago!


[Modified by CFI-EFI, 6:47 PM 1/9/2004]

 

Forget ceramic coating!!!

Jet-Hot wanted $305 to coat my $172 Heddman Headers. They are insane!!!

Log on to Eastwood Company and get their Stainless Steel header paint. A couple of coats for $14 or so and it looks great.

Ceramic coated headers are the biggest rip-off you can put on your car next to the airfoil, IMO.

BIG JIM

 

How about buying a set of ceramic coated and then painting them over with high temp paint, maybe 3 or 4 applications.

Do you guys think this would help with the rust ?

 

WHAT rust???

 

Well look at AS84's post... he says he is getting rust close the to flange welding.

I think I would go with TPIS LT headers since there is not problem with fitment, but if there is a change they might rust "especially since I'm from Canada and do drive my car in the rain and drive it every day during summer" then I just want to know if painting coated headers is possible?





[Modified by TheStef, 7:18 PM 1/12/2004]

 

I think one has a couple of choices, here. If the tpis coating is that fragile, selecting a different brand header, might be worth considering. If the tpis is THE brand, it might be worthwhile to have them recoated by a premium coater. On the subject of painting over the coating, try a little logic. If the paint is on the coating, and the coating flakes off, where, might you guess, is the paint going to go?

RACE ON!!!

 

Good point about the paint

TPIS isn't "THE" company like you said, its just because I keep earring about these two company's all the time on the forum and that TPIS has no fitment problem.

What company would you recommend me? I would like the fit to be good, and have a good quality ceramic coating that will last! and I don't' really want to buy, receive and then have to sent my headers to be recoated. I just want to buy them and have a good quality product that will last.

Ps: I have the stock heads on my car

Thanks!

:cheers:

 

My personal favorite, is Hooker. But they don't win any coating awasrd, either. Besides, if you don't have many mods, the 1 3/4" primaries are too large. My favorite coater, is HPC. Some of the coaters, sell new headers with their coating. I don't know if HPC is one of those or not. Check 'em out.

 

I bought my Hookers from jegs.com - had them drop shipped directly to HPC (coordinating with them first of course & putting the order thru with them via fax) - then shipped to me. HPC charged $220 for the coating job (externally + internally all the way thru). To me its a no-brainer. For those who get a kick out of living on the cheap...then thats just super too. Example: uncoated Hedmans, wrapped and/or painted.....now that would make me laugh my azz off. You can pay nothing - and get nothing, and you'll be doing it all over again :rolleyes:


[Modified by bradvette, 9:07 PM 1/12/2004]