Hooker Sidepipe Insert Update

[Sky65]

Thought I would update those who were interested in my Hooker sidepipe muffler insert fabrication. I am still on hold. I got the sidetubes off but I cannot get the Hooker reverse flow inserts out. I soaked them with WD40, let them sit overnight and used an oak dowell to try and drive them out. No luck. I decided to stop pounding on the inserts before I broke something. I can still put them back on the car if it takes much longer to finish the new set up. I ordered new chrome sidetubes today and should have them by week end. I hope to get back on it next weekend. As most projects go, this is turning out to take longer and cost more than I expected. I hope it is worth it in the end....

 

[vette]

Sky65 what inserts are you going to use now? i need to make up my mind and i am not sure what ones to use.

 

[Sky65]

I am still planning to try the Powerstick chambered mufflers. I hope the new sidetubes will be in this week and if so, I can get back on it this weekend. I still have to modify and fit the the new mufflers to the tubes as well.

If you need to do something now you have only a few of choices that I know of.
1) Sidetubes only with no mufflers. I know this is done but I think it would be too loud for me.
2) Hooker inserts. Glasspacks, SB or BB reverse flow mufflers. You can get them from JEG's or Summit. Not sure what I would do here. Probably glasspacks and hope they don't burn out too fast. http://www.jegs.com/
http://store.summitracing.com/main.asp
3) Spiral Turbo Baffles. I think they are bit pricey but the BB guys seem to really like them. http://www.spiralturbobaffles.com/

I will keep you updated as I make progress but frabrication can be slow, especially when you only have the weekends to do it!

Sky

 

[1BAD69]

i have the jcl's in mine and i will tell you , this is the way to go...when i first put them in the car really woke up..there was a noticeable gain in performance...unfortuneately i did not have a dyno on the car before i removed the garbage glasspacks that were in there...but the difference was very noticeable...i then decided to cut off the cap at the front of the baffle tube...this one thing had my car go from 320rwhp and 394rwtq to 350rwhp and 420rwtq...

the sound for me is nice...i like my Vette to sound like a mean machine...i do not think it is too loud at idle and light driving...when you go wot, it is loud....

 

[bossvette]

i have the jcl's in mine and i will tell you , this is the way to go

what do you mean by jcl's?
thanks
Craig sr

 

[Sky65]

i have the jcl's in mine and i will tell you , this is the way to go...when i first put them in the car really woke up.

These sound like the Spiral Turbo baffles. Are they?
If they are you are another BB guy that loves them. I only know of one SB guy that has them and he did not seem impressed with performance or sound. That led me down the fabricate road. If my chambered inserts do not workout, I still may give the STB a try.

Great looking car by the way...

 

[1BAD69]

yes they are the spiral turbo baffles....worked great for me...it is a BB too..454...

 

[vette]

one bad 69.The spiral turbos are my first choice. they wont blow out but i have never heard or talked to anyone who has them. loud is good im fine with that but do they have that cracking sound like a shot gun going off when you take your foot out of the gas? thats when the cops get on you around here .

 

[1BAD69]

no...i have not heard anything like that when i take my foot off the gas...

 

[GreaseMonkey]

Any updates Sky?

 

[Sky65]

I just installed them over the weekend. I do not have any dyno numbers but the car definitely runs better. It felt sluggish with the Hooker inserts, now it cranks right up. The sound is low and throaty, no popping or any of that nonsense, but it won't sneak up on anyone! It is a bit loud. I had my son drive down the street and I could follow it like a Harley with open pipes. I drove over to friends house, he has a 77 and an 81, and took him for a ride. He loved it. I need to put some miles on the car to make a final jugment on the noise level for me. It does sound good though and runs much better. I took a couple pictures of the inserts but the web site I used before is down so I cannot post them. If someone will post them for me I will email them.

Sky

 

[Tom Bryant]

Can you post them as attachments? What media are you using?

Tom

 

[Sky65]

Let's see if this works.

 

[GreaseMonkey]

:cool Did you take measurements of the inserts? What did you use for the ends?

Once I get my stuck pipe off I'm going to ebay my new inserts and go this route..

 

[Tom Bryant]

Nice Job. I'll bet you could sell those.

 

[Sky65]

OK. Here is the whole deal in one post.
1) Purchased a pair of "Powersticks" part #3032SB. Here is a link to their site. You must purchace from a local speed shop. http://www.classicchambered.com/
2) Purchased four 3"OD to 4"OD reducers from local parts store.

3) The inlet and outlet on the mufflers are 3" ID about 3 1/2" long. I shortened them to about 1". I shortened the reducer 3" ends to about 1". I then cut the 4" end of the reducer at the beginning of the taper. This gave me with four cones, 4" at the mouth of the taper and a short 3" tube on the other end. I used a grinding wheel to reduce the size of the taper to just fit inside the sidepipe past the expanded inlet section on two of the reducers. I left the other two with the 4" taper. I had the smaller cones welded to the outlet ends, cone out, and the 4" cones welded to the inlet ends, cone out, of the mufflers. The inserts then slipped inside the sidetubes and stopped at the end of the expansion by the 4" cones. (See the pics a few posts back.) It took most of the morning and into the afternoon to get it all together and on the car.

Allot of work, but it does run better and sounds good. I just hope it is not too loud on a trip. We'll see....

 

[bossvette]

Nice Job. I'll bet you could sell those.

I'd be interested if I can get my old ones apart

 

[Sky65]

I'd be interested if I can get my old ones apart

Yeah, I know what you mean. It got ugly taking ths sidetubes off. Then I could not get the Hooker inserts out. I ended up buying new sidetubes from JEGS to get it done. Hopefully I can sell the old, slightly abused, sidetubes and inserts to recoup some of my expense.

 

[bossvette]

I'll probably wait until I have to replace them anyway, I don't race my car and use it for a driver so giving up a few ponys is not as big a deal as taking apart a set of 4 year old sidepipes.

 

[Sky65]

I just installed them over the weekend. I do not have any dyno numbers but the car definitely runs better. It felt sluggish with the Hooker inserts, now it cranks right up. The sound is low and throaty, no popping or any of that nonsense, but it won't sneak up on anyone! It is a bit loud. I had my son drive down the street and I could follow it like a Harley with open pipes. I drove over to friends house, he has a 77 and an 81, and took him for a ride. He loved it. I need to put some miles on the car to make a final jugment on the noise level for me. It does sound good though and runs much better.

Well I've put a few more miles on the car since the insert install. End result, they are staying in. I had the hard top on the car at first and the exhaust noise kinda hung in the car and I thought in may be too loud. I took the top off this weekend and it is quieter at cruising speed now. Not too loud and it still lets you know when you put your foot down. Performance is much improved over the stock Hooker inserts. I find myself into the throttle much more. It just feels and sounds so good....