Those of you using Hooker Blackheart systems, how do you like them? I am looking at a LS swap next year and the mild steel coated headers and stainless exhaust systems are on sale and I am thinking of picking them up. I know there are other cheaper options for headers, but want a system that fits nice and tight and not have to do much fab work.

Thanks
Mike

 

I've been struggling with engine position and have tried various mounts, bushings, and cross members. The Hooker headers fit perfectly through all my various combos', and still do now that I have the engine position dialed in. The collectors tuck up nicely and the flanges are perfectly welded. They are incredibly well made. Expensive, but you get what you pay for. It is a well engineered piece as documented by Holley Tech Todkey on this site.




Image of them on the motor outside of the car with black ceramic coating.

 

What cross member is that? I have AJE racing, looks somewhat similar
,and will be T-56 as well. Are you running the entire system?

Thanks
Mike

 

I'm using the UMI road race K-member, Their engine side solid mounts and k-member mounts. I'm not going to run the entire blackheart system. The dual 2.5" might be a bottleneck for me.

 

Can you use the Holley trans crossmember with Spohn mount brackets? I have the Hawks xmember but am not happy with the fitment.

 

Maybe but I doubt it. Holley designed their stuff to be used together which places the engine forward a touch. Just buy the Holley mounts if you're using the stock kmember. They are around $100.

 

I have there hole kit on my car from front to back its the best fitting exhaust i have seen on these cars period! Also gives the best ground clearance far as i can tell and Hawks is running it on there project Moe Dirt 850-1000hp camaro. With that out of the way the sound from the blackheart cans is some what mild Bruce even said this to me in person when i was looking over there car.

 

I decided to buy the Hooker cross member and it's associated bracket to mount the 4L60E trans. I am using Spohn mount stands and the Hooker cross member fit perfectly. This has to be one of the best design frame pieces I've seen, no modifications to anything to make it fit. The engine position is good, the powertrain angle looks good. This certainly beats the Hawks piece I had to grind on to make it bolt up. I am using Speed Engineering 1 7/8" headers and they route good but having a 3" collector the pipes will be tight going by the cross member but they were tight with the Hawks piece too.

 

I don't like what I would call "belching" at idle I hear. I'd like to see an X-pipe in place to even out the pulses on a larger cam'd car. Love the system overall though!
My engine sits in fine with Moroso lower motor mounts and energy suspension poly SBC upper attached to the adapter plates.