I just got my Hooker Catback Exhaust System and want/need a cat now as I was looking I came across a few same 3" but different lengths. Which is my question... What is the difference?
16.5"
14"

And another 'dumb' question since I have you here. If the pipes don't exactly 'slip on' how could I get them to? Rubber mallet it in? Ballpeen and sandbag the ends?

Also what if by chance the y-pipe was 2.5" and the new exhaust pipes are 3" is there a sort of adapter out there? I'm not sure what my size is and can't measure right now.

Thank you.

 

Your Hooker catback pipe SHOULD be 3". If so, you can buy a Catco direct-fit converter, part# CTO-9118. Since you have a 305 according to you info, you might have the smaller y-pipe, which is either 2.5" or 2.75". I can't remember which size it is for sure. However, some of the 305 TPI's, and all the 350 TPI's got the 3" y-pipe stock. If you have the smaller y-pipe you could have a muffler shop weld or clamp a reducer to the end of your y-pipe. A 2.5" to 3" reducer is very common and easy to find. They have them on the shelf at Pep Boys. I just recently installed a new "slip-fit" 3" cat on the end of my Hooker 3" y-pipe, and I had to use a tailpipe expander on the inlet of the cat to get it to slip on easier. It was just a tad too tight to just slip on there. Also I highly recommend using band style exhaust clamps instead of the common u-bolt type. Band clamps don't crimp the pipe or the cat inlet, making it WAY easier to take them back apart if you ever need to. Walker makes the band clamps and I ordered them through Summit. I can't remember the exact length of the stock cat off the top of my head, but the Catco 9118 is the same as factory. Actually, don't let the smog ***** that dwell on this site see this, but instead of a cat I installed the Mac 3" offroad "test pipe" in place of the cat on my car.

 

Thanks, I think I am going to wait because i am almost certain the y pipe is not 3". So I am going to order hooker headers, y pipe, and better clamps like you sid, before i install.

 

Sounds like a good plan. I just installed Hooker 2055 headers on mine last week, with the 3" test pipe and the Edelbrock 3" RPM series catback, and it turned out really nice! Flows great and sounds good too.

 

Here's the direct-fit three-inch system I use: Hooker 2055's (Jeg's 520-2055). Catco high-flow converter (Summit CTO-9118). Hooker catback (Summit HOK-16823HKR).

Peaceful at idle or cruise, nasty at WOT.

JamesC

 

All the parts James mentioned make for a super-nice exhaust system on a 3rd gen. In fact, when my Edelbrock catback rusts out eventually, I'm gonna try the Hooker catback system next time around, since lots of members here say it sounds pretty mean at WOT.