Hi Gang,

I just finished installing my Hooker Aerochamber cat-back exhaust and all I can say is SWEEEEEEEEEETTT!!!!

The 3" pipes are huge compared to the 2 1/4 that was on there. I did run into some minor gotcha's that I thought I might share with everyone in the event this might help those who preform the same during late night hours won't have to wait until the next day when the parts store open to get needed items.

First, background on the old setup. 89 305TBI, stock exhuast throughout (2 1/2" ball in the cat, 2 1/4" exhaust pipe with dual 2 1/4" tails.

The Hooker system I ordered was for a 305TBI Non-HO (This has the 2 1/2" ball flare on the pipe but the rest of the pipe is 3". The tails are 2 1/2 each with chrome tips.

The first problem was the two bolts holding the exhaust pipe to the cat. One came out no problem, the other was twisting bad. I soaked it with what-ever I had lying around, but the bolt was not gonna come lose. After 30 minutes, I said the heck with it and just snapped it off. I could tell by the way it was twisting, it was gonna snap in the middle so there would be something left for a pair of vise-graps to grab onto later. The best solution for frozen bolts on an exhaust system is heat. A little propane torch will not do it though. You need an Oxy/Acy torch to heat up the cat flange so that the bolt(s) will twist out. One thing nice about the Hooker pipe was that the flange on the pipe is very snug, so that in the event you DO snap a bolt, the other bolt can be tighten enough to hold and make a good seal on the ball until you can drive it to an exhaust shop and have it fixed (which is what I will do this weekend).

After that, the rest of the system came off just fine. My main pipe was rotted right above the rear axle, all I had to do was twist the pipe a bit a bit and it broke into two pieces.

Next, undo the driver's side hanger and you'll be able to pull the muffler/tail pipe assy out of the pass. side hanger. You'll probably have the bend the bracket which is welded to the pipe, but she'll come down.

Now, before you attempt to install the system, you'll notice that the over-the-axle pipe (the one with the 3-blot flange that the muffler bolts to) has a straight, two hole bracket welded to the pipe. Do yourself a BIG favor and go to NAPA and get their part number 35463. This is a Walker brand exhaust braket used a lot on the older Grand Prix's, Citations (if you can remember them) and other X-Body GM cars. The cost is $5.00 plus tax. This hanger will be used for the rear-pass side mount. While you are there, you'll need to get two (2) 5/16" x 1 1/4" bolts (coarse thread), two 5/16"x18 (coarse) nuts, four flat washers and two lock washers. Use one set of the above to mount the new bracket to the exhaust pipe and the other for the driver's side tail pipe. (The OEM hanger setup has only a bolt while the hanger which is welded to the tail pipe is threaded).

Once you have the above hardware, it'll make the install go very easily (and it'll be very secure!!!). With the 3" pipe coming over the axle, it's VERY tight between the body of the car and the rear-axle cross members, so having that Napa bracket will give you a good mount and prevent any rattles. A universal bracket just would not do it in this case and with the Napa bracket, it's a mch cleaner look.

Hope this info helps anyone about ready to install this system.

Later,
Mike

 

Hooker huh, never heard of that.

 

There's a ball buster in every group!!!!