Price aside...

Would you choose Speed Engineering or Hooker Blackheart headers? Fit and function wise...

I know there are so many factors that can sway that might that might influence the decision. I ask b/c I had planned on buying some SE headers and having them ceramic coated for heat and appearance longevity. However, after purchasing the headers, shipping, etc. the price is inching closer to the cost of Hooker's ceramic coated headers. Either way, I'd love to hear some opinions on the subject...

Thanks

 

I used the Speed Engineering on my project and am very happy with them. I have V-bands on the flanges and they are ceramic coated by a local shop. I was into them for under $600 at the time, which has probably increased since then, but at the time CC Blackhearts were $1500, so less then half for well built 309 SS headers. The only other advise I have is that I would not use V-bands on long tube headers for these cars, as you lose a half of an inch of ground clearance. Although they now act as skid plates. There maybe some opinions as to the Blackhearts fitting better, but I do not have any real world Comparisions.

 

The hooker headers are made higher quality materials but you can't beat the SE headers for the money. I bought a set of the Hooker headers and wasn't happy with the fitment but I'm using the hawks engine mounts so maybe that was causing the clearance issues? In my case the SE headers fit better so I went with them and returned the Hooker headers. The SE headers have been on the car for about 3 years now with no issues. I took a few pics of the headers stacked on top of each other for comparison. The SE headers slide in extremely easy with no hassle at all. The hooker headers were a battle, one side hit the k-member badly.

FYI - I used this ball/socket type of connection on the SE headers, they are small so clearance is very good.
https://www.jegs.com/i/JEGS/555/31934/10002/-1

The SE headers are almost a direct copy of the Stainless Works headers as you can see in the last two pics. Of the 3 sets of headers that I've tried on my car the SE ones fit the best overall. The only fitment issue with them was the shift linkage. I welded and ground down the nut that attaches to the bracket on the trans shift lever to make it clear. The SE headers clear the frame rails much better than the SW headers. The SW headers were extremely close to the frame rails on one side, I had a slight bend welded on one side for extra clearance before the flange. The SW headers are nice though and overall fit well, I would have no issues using them either.

Good luck, hope this info helps.



SE vs Hooker headers

SE vs Hooker Headers

SE vs SW headers

SE vs SW headers



Interference with nut on shift linkage nut with the SE headers.

 

Agreed with everything said above. I really like my blackheart headers. It is a higher cost of entry than the Speed Engineering Headers, but they are just so well made and the fitment was perfect. They are designed to be used with their motor mounts and corresponding trans cross member which should alleviate any fitment issues.

 

I believe that you are using a UMI Engine Cross-Member...

Do you know if fitment with an Original/ Stock Engine Cross-Member is decent?

 

Yes, they were designed with the stock kmember in mind.

The DSE camaro is running the stock k member with these headers.

 

Has anyone tried the Speed Engineering mid lengths?

https://speed-engineering.com/produc...wap-conversion

 

I've used both, Hooker on my 92 and Speed Engineering on a 87 gutted Lucky Dog endurance car.The Speed Engineering China stuff seemed to be higher quality than the hooker stuff; especially with weld quality.not surprising as 90% of Holley's catalog is China junk. (The reason I refuse to buy anything made or owned by Holley)Can't say anything about longevity though.Both headers haven't been through torture tests yet.

As far as I'm aware, Holley stopped selling them due to Cali emissions laws.

 

I am so sorry to the OP, I can not hold back any longer!

I am currently so fed up with the Automotive Performance Aftermarket!


For the longest time, the Automotive Performance Aftermarket was full of many, many diverse and mostly excellent Brands/ Companies.
Hooker Headers were a Company of a large product base from inexpensive to high quality and mild to wild Headers/ Exhaust Components.

Need something quick and cheap... no problem. Need an excellent performing, long lasting Header... no problem.

Ever since the 2008/ 2009 US-Market turn World Economy Financial Disaster...
The Motorsports, Performance Auto Aftermarket, and regular Automotive Aftermarket industries have never been the same.

Monopolistic Massive Companies like Federal-Mogul and Holley Performance Products have bought-up everything that they can get their hands on...
And has made the Industry significantly worse and worse, year after year.

Instead of a very wide range of products (and Brands from different Companies)...
You get 2 choices for a Product...
The Cheapest Junk possible (Quality wise), or the Uber Expensive stuff that 85% of people do not want nor need.
However, with those choices... one quickly realizes that there is actually only one choice, as the cheap option will just fall apart in your hands.

It has just gotten to the point now that is beyond ridiculous.

You need customer service for B&M, because the Oil-Cooler that you purchased will not hold a vacuum and is unusable.
Well with Holley owning B&M...
They laid-off all of the B&M Customer Service Personnel...
And now they just want you to purchase an Earl's Oil Cooler that is comparable (Honestly is a very nice Part) but is Triple the Price.

This has become a detriment to smaller Businesses that use or sell these Parts.
Places like Jegs or Summit Racing (who I love) can handle loosing customers that can only afford a reasonably priced, quality Part.

I have tried writing to SEMA...
You would think that they might at the least pretend to care about the Customers...
NOPE!

 

Toddoky, our former engineering contact for many things Holley, Hooker, Blackheart 3rd gen related has chimed in in this thread I started regarding the apparent demise of our headers, etc.
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/exha...eaders-no.html

 

Thanks Skinny!