Hooker Headers & Exhaust
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 35
Likes: 1
From: TN
Hooker Headers & Exhaust
I have an opportunity to get some hooker headers and exhaust for my 98 C5 and was wondering if anyone has had any experience with these parts.
My plan for my car is to get K&N cold air, Hooker Headers, Hooker Exhaust, and a Mail Tune.
Thanks
-Phil
My plan for my car is to get K&N cold air, Hooker Headers, Hooker Exhaust, and a Mail Tune.
Thanks
-Phil
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 6,366
Likes: 249
From: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
I wasn't aware that Hooker made headers for C5's, but if they are shorty headers, unless they're dirt cheap or free, they probably aren't worth the expense or effort. If they are long tubes then that's a different story. The only other thing is that I recall that their exhausts were painted tubing, not stainless steel, which wouldn't last as long or stay good looking for long either. Personally, I'd pass get a long tube and exhaust system from another more well-known for C5 exhaust systems company, like LG (which I have), ARH or another.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 5,375
Likes: 328
From: CA.
St. Jude Donor '13-'14-'15
Depending where you live (calif for example) LT's are NOT smog legal--so you are stuck with shorties---As mentioned shorties are really only good for about 8-10 RWHP---Whereas a set on LT's can produce Hp in the 18-28 range---ALSO---Without proper tuning you may in fact get little or NO HP gains with the LT's---It's almost mandatory to get it tuned after a LT install to get the full benefit of them---
ALSO---In a smog state the LT's are illegal because they change the "closed loop" or part throttle AFR----The commanded AFR in CL is 14.68-1 BUT because of the now further back locations of your 02 bungs you get erroneous 02 readings---It makes the engine run richer--I've seen something in the 14.1 to 14.4 range-- Shories use the stock 02 bung locations that's why some of them are smog legal IF they went thru the cerification process which is very expensive--
ALSO---In a smog state the LT's are illegal because they change the "closed loop" or part throttle AFR----The commanded AFR in CL is 14.68-1 BUT because of the now further back locations of your 02 bungs you get erroneous 02 readings---It makes the engine run richer--I've seen something in the 14.1 to 14.4 range-- Shories use the stock 02 bung locations that's why some of them are smog legal IF they went thru the cerification process which is very expensive--
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 189
Likes: 2
From: Tulsa ok
You will get a good gain with long tubes even without a tune. A tune is not manditory.
I went from a 13.33 to a 12.93 at the track with just long tubes no tune with my Stock auto SS.
I got American racing headers on my vette and noticed a big gain and i have no tune yet.
Personally I would stay away from hookers do to quality. There ceramic coat will rust quickly down by the collector. If you are looking for a bargain on headers try the used section or pacesetters over the hookers.
I went from a 13.33 to a 12.93 at the track with just long tubes no tune with my Stock auto SS.
I got American racing headers on my vette and noticed a big gain and i have no tune yet.
Personally I would stay away from hookers do to quality. There ceramic coat will rust quickly down by the collector. If you are looking for a bargain on headers try the used section or pacesetters over the hookers.
Last edited by billymz28; Jan 19, 2010 at 06:28 PM.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 35
Likes: 1
From: TN
Yeah I found some more.. I ended up getting a Borla Exhaust. and I don't know what kind of headers yet.. any suggestions??
The auto parts store I'm getting my parts from can only get certain parts.. someone suggested LG but they can't get them..
hows B&B Long Tube Headers?
or what else should I look into?
The auto parts store I'm getting my parts from can only get certain parts.. someone suggested LG but they can't get them..
hows B&B Long Tube Headers?
or what else should I look into?
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 6,366
Likes: 249
From: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Don't limit yourself to what your auto parts store can get you, you might be passing up better parts and good opportunities. There is mail order and the better companies are good to deal with and no problems getting your parts. For instance, LG sometimes runs sales on their header systems complete with the entire exhaust system minus the catback muffler part, even occasionally free shipping. Since you don't show where you live it's hard for anyone to refer good vendors that might be convenient to you. American Racing headers and Kooks also have excellent reputations. You also haven't mentioned if you can run long tubes where you live. If you can, they are definetely worth the difference in price over shorties for the difference in performance they offer. You install a good total exhaust system, get a top quality intake and have your car tuned and you will really feel the difference in the *** meter. Spend right and spend once!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 5,375
Likes: 328
From: CA.
St. Jude Donor '13-'14-'15
You will get a good gain with long tubes even without a tune. A tune is not manditory.
I went from a 13.33 to a 12.93 at the track with just long tubes no tune with my Stock auto SS.
I got American racing headers on my vette and noticed a big gain and i have no tune yet.
Personally I would stay away from hookers do to quality. There ceramic coat will rust quickly down by the collector. If you are looking for a bargain on headers try the used section or pacesetters over the hookers.
I went from a 13.33 to a 12.93 at the track with just long tubes no tune with my Stock auto SS.
I got American racing headers on my vette and noticed a big gain and i have no tune yet.
Personally I would stay away from hookers do to quality. There ceramic coat will rust quickly down by the collector. If you are looking for a bargain on headers try the used section or pacesetters over the hookers.
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Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,450
Likes: 1,155
From: Dyer, IN
I assume you mean a SS camaro ?? If so, an f-body doesn't have very good factory cast exh manifolds--- a C5 has mush better flowing STOCK exh manifolds----SO a set of LT's would respond better to an F body "untuned" then they would to a C5 "untuned"---I have tuned a stockish C5 with New TSP LT's on a dyno----Untuned it only made 8 RWHP over stock----after 2-3 hours of tuning the fuel and timing we got an awsome 31 RWHP gain-----
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,060
Likes: 291
From: Pasco WA
My C5 made over 20 HP more with LTs, and it was completely untuned. I recommend to the OP LG Street system, or ARH. Third choice would be Dynatech or Kooks. Your Borla exhaust is merely for sound quality/quantity, and won't affect your power output much.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 5,375
Likes: 328
From: CA.
St. Jude Donor '13-'14-'15
Remember that whatever the LTFT's are just BEFORE going into PE or WOT is ADDED to your WOT fueling usually around 10-15 %--- A negative fuel trim locks on "0" and will never subtract fuel at PE or WOT---So it's always best to get all the trims "0" or slightly negative---I can't remember exactly but i think before correcting the LTFT's it was in the 11.9 range ( checked with a wideband) And after the trims were fixed the fuel at WOT was rich----around 12.2--So I leaned the PE table to compensate and endind up with a finall street frinedly 12.6 or 12.7
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,702
Likes: 1
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,450
Likes: 1,155
From: Dyer, IN
What typically happens is that the closed loop fueling (part throttle) goes way lean so the ECM ADDS fuel when going to PE or WOT---
Remember that whatever the LTFT's are just BEFORE going into PE or WOT is ADDED to your WOT fueling usually around 10-15 %--- A negative fuel trim locks on "0" and will never subtract fuel at PE or WOT---So it's always best to get all the trims "0" or slightly negative---I can't remember exactly but i think before correcting the LTFT's it was in the 11.9 range ( checked with a wideband) And after the trims were fixed the fuel at WOT was rich----around 12.2--So I leaned the PE table to compensate and endind up with a finall street frinedly 12.6 or 12.7
Remember that whatever the LTFT's are just BEFORE going into PE or WOT is ADDED to your WOT fueling usually around 10-15 %--- A negative fuel trim locks on "0" and will never subtract fuel at PE or WOT---So it's always best to get all the trims "0" or slightly negative---I can't remember exactly but i think before correcting the LTFT's it was in the 11.9 range ( checked with a wideband) And after the trims were fixed the fuel at WOT was rich----around 12.2--So I leaned the PE table to compensate and endind up with a finall street frinedly 12.6 or 12.7
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 6,366
Likes: 249
From: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
BTW, if you have a tuner near you it's always better than a mail-tune. If you must do a mail-order I'd recommend East Coast Supercharging.
