Hooker Exhaust install tips

[HairDrier]

I am about to put my Hooker catback on and this will only be the second exhaust I have done. Any tips on making this as painless as possible?

[GONE N SIXTY]

I found out by raising the car high on jackstands helps alot...

[HairDrier]

ok :joint:

[redwolf]

I installed the hooker cat-back on my car last summer. I'd test fit everything on the ground before putting anything on the car. Once its on there, don't tighten anything till you have everything in place, and the holes drilled for the flowtubes to mount to. Just be real careful checking clearances, and don't get frustrated when pulling the cat off the downpipe if those are original, cause thats a pita, and ya dont wanna break nothing.

[HairDrier]

I have a test pipe which should make things easier. What is a flow tube?

[jmidolo]

Going w/the dual muff setup? One thing I do now on all my exhausts is use the stainless steel band clamps. On MOST exh systems, you're going to get a bit of a rattle, whether it's a tail pipe, or an intermidediate pipe hitting the floorpan or the over the axle pipe hitting a spring. Every car has a different ride height and geometry to to age, wear etc.... Most likely you'll be back under there after a few miles trying to figure out what's making all the noise. With the band clamps, it's very easy to loosen them up and reposition things to fix any noises. If you use a reg exh clamp and put a crimp in the metal it's TOUGH depending on how tight your sinched them down, you could use a torch to heat things up to move them. They are not cheap, but I think a great investment.

Another benefit is that if you decide to upgrade or change things in a year or two, you can take the exh down in 30 mins and not have to cut anything or and could sell it for a few bucks towards your upgrade too!

[redwolf]

the flow tube is just the piece of tubing that goes from the muffler to wherever your exhaust exits. (with the hookers, it'll still be behind the tires.) It's the part thats shaped like a U and goes over your rear axle.

[HairDrier]

Yeah I did an exhaust system on my truck and used exhaust U clamps, and it is very tough to get anything to move once they are cinched down. I am not familiar with the type of clamps you are referring to though

[GrndNatnl]

Anyone have problems with the Hooker pipes rubbing the driveshaft?

My car had the Hooker system on it by previous owner, and there are tell tale marks on the driveshaft. He put that system on there a long time ago, so I dont know if its changed configuration at all over the years. It has new exhaust now, since the old Hooker rotted out. Now I'm running the stock Y-pipe with dual mufflers. I'm looking into the Hooker again for the future, but I dont want anything clanging or hitting my driveshaft.

[HairDrier]

the flow tube is just the piece of tubing that goes from the muffler to wherever your exhaust exits. (with the hookers, it'll still be behind the tires.) It's the part thats shaped like a U and goes over your rear axle.

So why do any holes need to be drilled? For the hangers?

[redwolf]

I haven't had a problem with it hitting the driveshaft. It comes with the rubber hangers that have multiple holes so you can pick how far from the ground the mufflers are, maybe he just went to high.

[GrndNatnl]

That's possible. And like I said, it was an old system, so it may have changed since then.

It's said that there are holes to drill for this system as well. Where exactly are these holes supposed to be drilled? I might crawl under the car and check for them.

Sorry for hijacking the thread! I've just been looking into this exhaust myself.

[redwolf]

you have to drill two holes in the frame, one on each side of the car. There are L shaped hangers close to the exit end of each flow tube with holes in 'em, you just have to mark where the holes are and drill a hole in that spot. There's a big hole at the back of the frame on each side, close to where you will be drilling at, its enough for most people to get their hands in their, I had a little trouble cause my hands are kinda big, but it can be done. Just stick your hand in, drop the supplied bolt through the hole you drilled, slide the L bracket onto the bolt, and use the supplied nut to hold it to the frame. Alternately, if you have access to a welder, or want to take it somewhere, i reckon you could get the brackets welded to the frame.

[GrndNatnl]

There's a couple good exhaust places around here that might be able to do some welding.

Thanks for the insight!

[HairDrier]

Just make sure everything is just right before you have it welded. No rattles, etc

[jmidolo]

When I bought the Limted, it has the Hooker exhaust on it which I removed. The fit was great though and it was welded. Only thing I didnt' like that they did was that they welded the hangers to the tailpipes to the frame behind the rear tires. Still need to grind them welds flat..pissed me off. But the fit was great and the performance was OK I guess. I was a heavy system, those muffs have some weight to them. I went to a ATR 3" Xflow system that I've had before and love it.

[GrndNatnl]

I would go with Dynomax Race Magnums. Shouldnt be too awful heavy, and they sound awsome. (Straight-thru)

[HairDrier]

I am going to try the Hooker muffs first and see how I like it. I am pretty pick about exhaust tone

[Reaper]

have a shop do it.. the local shop charges 40 to install and weld it on.. i found that on when i had mine welded! never will put an other exhaust on!


live and learn!

[HairDrier]

have a shop do it.. the local shop charges 40 to install and weld it on.. i found that on when i had mine welded! never will put an other exhaust on!


live and learn!

It takes $40 just to get the locals to ignore the test pipe!!!!!

I will figure it out

[GONE N SIXTY]

I like the exhaust tone from the Super Turbo :zahn:

[HairDrier]

I had Super Turbos on a 350 and they were pretty quiet until you stepped on it. How are they on a 231?

[jmidolo]

I had Super Turbos on a 350 and they were pretty quiet until you stepped on it. How are they on a 231?


Raspy is the only way I could describe it.

[Reaper]

jim.... whats a test pipe? i had a cat on the car :)


they dont seem to care i have had it on their lifts several times :)

Mighty M'fler kicks ass!


Dathan