What are indeed the best headers that money can buy AND be street legal? i dont know much of anything about headers so help would be appreciated. Im not worried about money, as long as i get the best i can get ill be happy. I have a 350 Carb which is basically stock except some chrome tips on my exhaust. Also, i would love to get all new exhaust. So go ahead and throw in ur opinion on the best exhaust system money can buy as well!

 

I have SLP headers on my car, and I am very happy with them. However, they are not cheap. (Stainless steel)
My other choice would be Hooker #2055, which are less expensive. (Mild steel)
All headers have pros and cons when compared to each other, you might want to do a search on this topic. There are tons of info available.
Also, I like my Hooker catback....Spooky - I'm starting to sound like Mark

 

Gotta love a Hooker.

I'd go with the Hooker cat-back. As far as headers, if Iwere to buy shorties it would be Hooker 2055s

 

custom....

 

Well, if money is no problem, then custom stainless steel headers are the way to go, but they're exspensive.

If that's a little too exspensive for you then I would reccomend Hooker 2055's for shorties, or 2210's for long tubes. I would reccomend you buy them directly from Jet Hot since thier coating is far superior to the Hooker coating. With that coating they should last almost forever.

If you want to go the cheap route Hedman has shorties for $100 and the corresponding y-pipe (must better design than the stock t-pipe) for $100. That comes out to $200 for both, and you can get those coated also and they'll last almost forever. Hedman also has longtube headers for about $120, which is what I will be purchasing in about a month or so.

If you plan on getting shorty headers, I would reccomend using the stock exhaust design, remove the cat (or get a hi-flow one if you have emmisions testing) and using a quality 3" mandrel bent catback exhaust system. I personally would reccomend the Hooker Aerochamber setup, but Flowmaster and Dynomax have good systems as well (to only name a few).

For longtubes you can get the mufflex y-pipe and 4" catback designed for Hooker 2210's, or you can do a custom dual exhaust setup. If you are wanting dual exhaust, do a search and you'll find everything you need to know. If you have any questions about it, ask me. I'm running a custom built 3" dual exhaust with Hooker 2460 shorty (Competition) headers and aerochamber mufflers that was hand built by me and my dad.

I hope this covers everything, but if not let me know. I'm tired of typing right now...

 

pretty good explanation!

i have custom lt's with 4" mendrel bent running a polished spintech all in stainless. i love it! a little loud at night, but nothing abnoxious and definatley gets attention.

 

I may be mistaken, but I'd guess that custom made headers are not smog legal, even if they have air provisions, because they aren't ok'd by the government.

 

hooker all the way!

 

I would imagine you are correct. It would have to have an EO or CARB number to be legal. (Not an expert on this though since we don't have emmisions in Indiana) Then again if you are getting custom built headers it's probably a race application. I don't know of many people with custom built headers on a daily driver with all smog equipment.

 

wow thanks for all the great info guys! i think i will be going with the Hooker 2055 Shorties. BTW what is jet hot?

 

Jet Hot is a place where u can get ur headers ceramic coated. Which keeps headers cool and pretty

 

do they have a web site?

 

www.jethot.com, I think

 

check in your area for local powder coaters....might find one who works with ceramic coat to do it for cheaper.

 

Well since you have a 350 you may want to consider the slp headers with 1 3/4 primaries. They are the only smog legal 1 3/4 primary header for our cars. If you cant afford that or dont plan on doing to many mods to the motor you should be fine with the hooker 1 5/8 headers. 1 5/8 primaries will support a decent amount of power, but I guess it just depends on how much you plan on doing to the car.

Ben

 

slp headers cermanic coated is what i went with.

i hope they perform as well as they look.

 

lt's couldn't be legal even with air provisions unless they keep the cat in the the stock position . The only ones that would do this are some that posted a pic of last week but i don't even think anyone knew who made them maybe arizona speed and marine? They still didn't have air on them either, if you could get them to custom make you another set with air and use a super ram you could have one sweet running smog legal car, of course i doubt they have carb numbers for thos headers.

 

There are several headers that keep the cat in the stock positon and are smog legal. The SLP's and the hooker 2055's both do have the cat in the stock position and are smog legal. The pic of the SLP's above is the non AIR version which is not smog legal, but they sell them that are exactly like that but with the AIR provisions.

 

i definately need to keep it smog legal. So i should go with the Hooker 1 3/4 SLP's? Money doesnt matter at all, just need to get the most power and keep it legal at the same time.

 

Sorry, I think I confused you. If money doesnt matter I would go with the SLP 1 3/4 w AIR provisions. The hooker 2055's are a completely different header made by hooker. They are a good header also, but if I had my choice I would go with the SLP's.

Ben

 

A lot of people have had issues getting thier SLP's installed. - just a note. I think I'd do the Hookers(literally too ). That is if I had to play the emissions game. Lt's in Florida baby!

 

coated hooker longtubes is the only way to go. If you need the air tubes, a good exhaust shop can plum them in.

 

i agree. hookers are the best if u dont need a.i.r. tubes.. i thought i did and got my SLP's with A.I.R. only to go through emissions with no cat or any emissiosn stuff hooked up at all and my A.I.R. was capped..and still pass. so now im looking for soem new hooker headers.. to bad the dotn make the long tubes for 4rd gens like they do for 4th gens...

 

SLP 1.75" are the best for any 3rdGen. period.

 

I am going to assume that you mean that they dont have long tubes for thirdgens. I would hope your wrong though because if they dont I dont know whats on my car. Hooker 2210's.

Ben

 

holy crap.. they do make LTs for 3rd gens.. woohoo .. ok. now im off to get me a set

 

Care to explain? Haveing 1.75 primaries, yet only a 2.5 inch collector, which is more like 2.2 inches, and 2 1/4 inch y pipe kind of defeats the purpose doesnt it? Besides there are major fitment issues with them and they stick out into the wheel well. That doesn't sound too good to me. Besides the 1.75 primaries are too big for a 305, not to mention a mild 350;

 

thats what im saying. fully coated :hail:

 

Ok, first of all the guy asking the question does have a 350. Also, as far as the collector being smaller, it doesnt have to be as large as the primaries. This is because not every cylinder fires at one time. Therefore, the primaries are the section that has to flow the most. After that, the pulses are spread out and will kind of fill in. One pulse will create a vacuum and therefore scavenging. I am not saying that there wouldnt be a benifit of larger collectors, especially if you were making quite a bit of power, but I think that they will still do better than the other shorties out there for our cars. How would they stick out into the wheel wells? could you explain?

Ben

 

Yes I can explain. Also, if you have an engine that requires the use of 1.75 inch primaries, the 2.5(more like 2.2 inch) collectors of the SLP's and small 2.25 inch piping will be too small for that motor anyways. The SLP's are a rip. They are by no means as good as people claim them to be, especially not for the money and fitment problems they seem to have with the majority of cars that have them. That money would be much better spent on a set of Hooker 2055's.

https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...ght=wheel+well

 

According to slp you should use the 1 5/8 on a 305 and the 1 3/4 on 350. As far as the small piping, I explained that to an extend so its not as bad as it sounds. Also, the 2 2.25" pipes are approximately equal to single 3" so unless you were going to have a larger catback than 3" then there really is no point to having larger y pipe.

Ben

 

Just because SLP recommends that doesnt mean it's right. SLP products are crap and their service is even more crap in my opinion. You not only have to spend the outragous amount of money on the inferior SLP's, you also have to buy their install kit and even further get ripped off by having to buy a cat adaptor as well. If you like modifying steering shafts and haveing exhaust pipes stick out into the wheel well and possibly melt part of your car, and getting ripped off in the process, then by all means buy SLP. It's your opinion. To anyone else that is willing to listen, the Hooker 2055's are far, far better. They have 1 5/8 primaries, which are good for anything will less than 400 hp, 3 inch collectors, 2.5 inch piping into a 3 inch collector, and best of all they have no fitment issues what so ever and are 50 state smog legal if you care about that. Everything you need comes with the Hookers. Another thing to realize is if your motor requires the use of 1 3/4 primaries then 2 1/4 exhaust just aint gonna cut it.

 

Well, from what I have heard the hooker 2055's gasket for the collector only has about a 2" opening. Did you open yours up any? If not I dont see what good the 3" collector or 2.5 inch piping do you? Also, what good do those do if you have a 3" catback? notta, zilch. Also, as I mentioned, as far as the 2 1/4 exhaust you are talking about on each side before the y right? If so the 2 2 1/4" pipes actually have a slighly larger voluum than 3" pipe so you really arent gaining anything from having anything bigger unless you have a catback larger than 3". I am not saying the hookers are bad, but there are downfalls to each. I have hooker long tubes myself and am glad I went that route, but a lot of people have to deal with emissions so not everyone can go this route.

Ben

 

Yes they have small collectors for "sealing" as hooker claims. That is an easy fix with a few minutes and a die grinder or dremel. My point was that the main reason I see people going with the SLP's are because of the larger 1.75 inch primaries. What good do large primaries do if the rest of the exhaust is dinky? If I had an engine that needed primaries that big I would just go with what you have. Hooker long tubes with dual 3 inch exhaust probably. The big thing you seem to be overlooking though is the fitment issues the SLP's have that the hookers do not have. On every hooker 2055 install I have seen they fit perfect. The only complaint I have ever heard is having to stretch the wire for the 02 sensor. SLP's on the other hand have clearance problems with the steering shaft and wheel well. They cost a lot more too and dont even come with everything you need, which the hookers do. The only advantage I see that the SLP's have over the hookers are that they are stainless steel, but that means nothing if you have them coated. Ive done a lot of research, i mean a lot, on all the different header and exhaust setups and I truly believe the Hooker 2055's are the best headers period on a third gen for power, ease of installation, fitment, etc. Hooker outweighs them all.

 

I have a pair of hooker 1 5/8 and a pair of SLP 1 3/4 in my garage both shorties with the air provisions and I would have to say that the overall quality of the SLPs are far superior, the SLPs seem to be a little strange with the smaller pipes to the Y, but Hookers have their downfall as well with their collectors and a Y-pipe that overall does not seem as good as the SLP design. When you look at them side by side the SLPs make the hookers which are a nice set of headers look like garbage. I would think that anyone that has owned both would have to agree to this statement.

 

well now gentlemen.... lets get back to the basics shall we? lol. So basically its a decision between the Hooker 2055's W/ AIR provisions.... and the SLP's 1 3/4 also with AIR provisions? Is this the basic idea now?

 

How much hp do you think you are making?

 

68hp

 

Oh yeah, well I am making 69, so eat that.

 

ur using nos i aint

 

lol, I plan on stepping up to a 2hp shot soon to so you better watch out.

 

Syxx613, check this recent thread out. Might help you make your decision. Just trying to be of some help is all.

https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...84#post1319984

 

Yes, but only some people have a proplem with the shaft. It seems to have to do with how worn your motor mounts are. You can also loosen the steering column bolts and slide it over a little bit(you can elongate the holes a bit if needed too). If you are afraid to do a little work or fabrication I dont know that its a good thing for you to be modding cars. lol

Ben

 

It's not a matter of fabricating anything. If you're gonna spend close to $500 on a set of headers they better damn well be perfect.

 

I would be more worried about how well they perform then if I have to do a litttle work to make them fit, but thats just me I guess.

 

Then get the hookers

 

I did, the long tubes. 1.75 inch primaries, 3" collector, no necking down. But, if I were to go with shorties I would probbly use the slp's.

Ben

 

The whole purpose of shorties is better fitment in a third gen. If you are looking for purely performance and nothing else then the long tubes would be your best choice. As far as shorties go, hooker 2055 all the way. He has a "stock 350" which I would assume isn't making much over 200 hp. 1 5/8 inch primaries would be best for his application. I really dont think 1 3/4 would be ideal unless you are making over 350 hp atleast.

 

Here are a few more posts to read.

https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...steering+shaft

https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...steering+shaft

https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...steering+shaft

https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...steering+shaft

https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...steering+shaft

https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...steering+shaft

 

Well, shorties are also used because of emissions, and if there would be a loss in performance from one to the other and I had emissions tests and had to use shorties I would still go with whichever performed better. I am also not going to argue that he needs 1 3/4 primaries for a stock motor. That is why I asked earlier, what his plans were for the motor but never got a response. I think that buying a more expensive set now would be better than buying a cheaper set if you were going to get to the point where you were going to need/want bigger ones and have to spend the money on both sets. If he plans on leaving it pretty much stock then sure go with the 1 5/8 primaries, but depending on what he plans on doing to it the larger primaries could be benificial.

Ben