Just installed my Hooker cat-back, it's SWEET!!
 

My 92 RS 305 just got it's brand new exhaust, hooker cat-back, got it from summit p/n HOK 16820. I LOVE it! It's a full 3-inch intermediate (over-the-axle) pipe, it has a short little adapter to neck down to the stock 2.25-inch cat (but whenever I go to a 3-inch cat, just cut off the adapter, weld on a short extension, and I'm good to go!). It has one tailpipe on each side, with tips.

Now, I was a little worried about the tips at first. The guy at summit said it came with DUAL CHROME 3-inch TIPS ON EACH SIDE. Can you say RICE? But once I got them on there, they actually look pretty nice. I installed them so they sit about 1-inch back from the ground effect, so they aren't too glaring, and Ron (84ZZ4) agreed they don't look ***** at all.

The Aero Chamber muffler was painted black, which kind of suprised me (figured it would just be alumized steel like the pipes). But hot DAMN does it sound good. My stock exhaust sounded like CRAP (turned out the entire intermediate pipe had rusted out at the seam, I had a 4-foot-long by 1/8 inch wide hole in my exhaust pointing at the floor pan... no wonder it was so loud inside the car!) but with the Hooker on there, it now has a nice growl at part and full throttle, while still being very demure at idle. And since it's a chamber muffler, the sound shouldn't change at all as it gets older.

Installation was pretty straight forward, the only problem was I seemed to be missing the passenger side hanger for the muffler (the hanger is actually off the intermediate pipe). There was a bracket with two bolt holes, but no hanger to bolt to it. Ron and I solved this by sawing the stock hanger off the old pipe, drilling some holes in it, and bolting it to the new pipe, but I'm going to give Hooker a call and see if I can't get the correct part. We didn't have any trouble with clearances... everything lined up nicely after a couple tries. On my first test drive I had a bad rattling, I thought something was hitting. Turned out to just be the spare tire jack handle wasn't clipped in place very tightly. A short piece of duct tape later my car is rattle free!

I haven't driven the car enough to really say if there was much performance gain. I've been so impressed with the sound that I haven't worried about it yet :-).

Anyway I would HIGHLY recommend this cat-back to anyone with a stock 2.25 inch single cat (I think they sell the same cat-back for the L03s and LG4s).

What would you think about that same exhaust for my setup? Check my sig.

-Lars

I'm glad to hear that! Mine is sitting on the floor and I can wait to put it on this weekend! I finnally got it running right and fixed the antifreeze leak(cleaned up the runners and manifold also)I've been running the stock exhaust with the headers while I've been waiting for the Hooker to come in from Summit I ordered it in April and got it yesterday...For the price you cant beat it!

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85T\A 305 TPI Auto WS6 3:43 Edelbrock TES headers Jet Hot Coated,Air Foil,Hooker Cat Back,SFC's,B&M Mega Shifter
STB,AFPR,50000 org miles

Sorry abotu the last post. Well, I orderd it today and it should be at my place Monday. Sorry to hear it took them so long to get yours to you. Here's my sig. Tell me what you think. it's not gonna matter at this point I'm just looking for input.

Thanks,
lars

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'92 RS 305 TBI
K&N Open Element
Ultimate TBI mod's (thanks Pablo)
Cam[.442"/.465"] x 218*/224* @ .050", 10:1 Hypereutectic Pistons
Performer Manifold
Shift Kit, Corvette servo,
and 2800 Stall Trans Specialties Converter,
Gutted Cat, IAT Resistor
MSD Blaster Coil, Accel Cap and Rotor

Eggplant Jeff: Just wondering if you found out about that missing hangar. I just opened up my Hooker exhaust this morning and found that I'm missing a hangar to bolt to that bracket as well. Problem is...I no longer have the stock exhaust, so I don't have anything to cut off! I suppose I could fabricate something...just wondering if there is actually a part that is supposed to fit there.

85T\A I was thinking of getting the exact same exhaust setup as yours, I would love to hear how it sounds since i have an 85 tpi as well. Is there any way you can get some clips up? Thanks

oh yeah 85T\A what times do you run?

i am extremely glad i went with the Hooker system! I never liked flowmaster, personally i think they sound like a$$, the one think about the hooker system that you MUST know.. KEEP THE TAILPIPES CLEAN!!!!!! put polish on them and clean them like everyday in the winter if you are near an area that gets snow. I really do a good job cleaning them, but they still have significant rust between the exit of the twin pipes.
well, you will love the system..goodluck! steve

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91 RS convertible
Check out my WiCkEd RiDe http://members.aol.com/wasboy1/cam.html
Break on the edgeCRUSHER!!

Eggplant Jeff: it WILL get louder and deeper within the next few months https://www.thirdgen.org/messgboard/smile.gif

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1985 Z28, Jasper Class 1 350, Edelbrock Performer intake, Dual snorkel air cleaner, K&N, Edelbrock headers, Catco 3" cat, Hooker 3" cat-back, Richmond 3.73's, built 700r4 w/Darrell Young 2400 stall TC, JET Stage 2 chip, Hypertech coil, Lakewood LCA's, Powertrax locker, SSM subframes, Centerline Auto Drag's

Yes, the Hooker system is a nice piece!! The sound is very pleasing no matter what motor you have sitting in front of it. You should hear a 10.5:1 406 with full length 1 3/4" headers though https://www.thirdgen.org/messgboard/biggrin.gif

BTW, that kit doesn't come with that hanger for some odd reason....I just fabbed up somthing out of some scrape aluminum I had around the garage.

Yes, it is a very nice system. I helped install one on a friends TPI 383 engine, and it sounds sweet.

We just got some galvanized steel from the hardware store and fabricated a bracket. It works great and doesn't look too rigged.

Next time I'm in the market for exhaust, Hooker has my vote. I was really impressed by the one that helped install.

P.S. Quad 2.5" tips don't look *****, one chrome coffee can does.

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If you live in Southeastern US, check us out!
South East Thirdgen

GM Master Tech
ASE Master Tech + L1
Savannah, GA

'87 Trans Am
S/D TPI retrofit including functional PassKey,
22# injectors,
Whatever chip I feel like burning,
JET AFPR, Ported Plenum,
TB Coolant Bypass, Custom Cold Air,
SSM SFC, KYB Shocks, Boxed LCAs, Wonder Bar,
8mm Accel wires,
Flowmaster Exhaust,
16" GTA rims,
Corvette Servo,
3.73 Posi
4wheel Disc Brakes

'97 Bonneville SSE

[This message has been edited by GMTech (edited June 03, 2001).]

I know, they're pretty tight. I love mine, it was some of the best money I ever spent on my car.

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1987 Chevy Camaro IROC-Z
L98 TPI 350 (5.7L)
TH 700R-4 Transmission
Borg Warner 7.75" 9 Bolt Rear End with 2.77:1 Gears.

Current Mods: LT4 HOT Cam, Comp Cams 1.52:1 Roller Rocker Arms, Edelbrock TES 1 5/8" Headers, Catco High-Flow Catalytic Converter, Hooker 3" Aerochamber Cat-Back System, Performance Resource Chip, Accel Ignition, K&N Filters, JET TPI Air Foil, All Free Mods, Falken ZIEX Z-Rated Tires.

Best ET (w/o LT4 cam): 14.32 @ 97.7mph
(corrected for elevation)

Soon to Come: 7.625" 10 Bolt with 3.42s and Accel TPI Intake Base

Ok I got it installed and yes it does sound sweat! kinda quite at idle but when you stomp on it it growls very nice! I'm happy. I just used the rubber strap from the old pipe and it worked fine! Now if I can only get my header pipe to stop hitting the SFC'S!
I have not had a chance to take it to the track yet kinda sucks since it's only about 2 miles away! Next weekend for sure also I will get some sound bytes posted tomorrow I just put it away for the night!
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85T\A 305 TPI Auto WS6 3:43 Edelbrock TES headers Jet Hot Coated,Air Foil,Hooker CatBack,SFC's,STB,AFPR,B&M Mega Shifter Ported Plenum&Manifold,High OutputCoil,Accel8.8,wires,180 deg stst,53000 org miles

[This message has been edited by 85T\A (edited June 03, 2001).]

ToplesZ, I didn't get around to calling them yet, sounds like the kit just doesn't come with the hanger though. Pretty easy to fab one up, get a flat piece of steel, bend it 90 degrees, drill two holes, bolt it up :-). Might help to angle it out a bit to the passenger side, I only have about 1 inch of clearance on that side between the tailpipe and spare tire well, if my hanger were any closer in clearance would be a problem.