We have been deep into the development of the next LS swap system of components to be offered by Hooker for some time and are at the stage where I can begin previewing what is coming for those that are interested in using a system of components for their G-body swap project that are on par, quality and compatibility wise, with what we've recently released for swapping an LS into 1st and 2nd-gen F-bodies and 3rd-gen X-body vehicles. As such, you will have access to engine mounting brackets, long-tube and mid-length headers, a transmission crossmember and 2.5" and 3" exhaust systems that are all designed together in a CAD environment to ensure full compatibility between the components and an elevated level of fitment. The transmissions that will be possible to install with these new components are the 4l60-4L75, 2004R, TH400, T56, T56 Magnum and 4L80E/4L85E. Let me know if you have more specific questions related to the geometry of the components and I'll be glad to provide the answers to you.

 

Are the headers going to be offered in stainless?

What are the planned header primary sizes?

 

Price for longtubes? The $600+ prices are a huge deterrent for most people.

 

x2..... I am wanting headers that will work with 1in setback swap plates.. emissions "legal" would also help! or at least pretend to be...

 

Yes, the headers will be offered in both mild steel and stainless steel versions.

The mid-length and long-tube headers will both be available with 1-3/4" or 1-7/8" primaries.

 

My estimate is that the painted mild steel versions of the long-tubes will sell at around $550 and the high-end stainless versions at around $850.

 

All the headers were designed proper fitment and function around the new Hooker engine mounting brackets also being released. As the Hooker brackets install the engine at a lower height in the chassis than any swap plates do to provide optimized clearances and driveline angles, their compatibility with any other type of engine mounts will be questionable.

As with all long-tube headers made for these swap applications, they are not street legal and are intended for racing use only.

 

I'm glad to hear that there will be a more affordable stainless header option than ARH. I have know doubt that ARH are great headers but $1200+ headers are just more than I want to spend. How will the motor mounts locate the motor in relation to stock. I was planning to use 1 inch setback mounts so I could keep my stock transmission, drive shaft, and rear diff to start with.

Also.....

 

In order to provide adequate accessory drive clearance up front, coil pack-to-A/C housing clearance in the back and trans case-to-tunnel clearance with optimized U-joint working angles, the engine is positioned with a 1/4" setback, which means you will have to move a stock 2004R or TH350 forward by 3/4" and lengthen your driveshaft accordingly. If you are dead set on reusing your stock trans and driveshaft then this new system of components would not be an ideal choice for you.

Product and install pics will be forthcoming over the next few weeks as the pre-production samples go through the final validation process prior to being released. At this stage in the project, all components other than the engine mounts exist only as CAD models and are working their way through the production tooling process.

 

When is the release date going to be. LS Fest? I'm looking to be one of the first to have your full kit. Are these new kits going to be compatible with factory accessory drive systems or is it just to use with your system only, as I wanted to use my truck accessories first. I want to have my 85 monte carlo ss done before winter hits.

 

What oil pan will have to be used with this kit?

 

Id like to know this too

 

The components will have staggered release dates, with the first being the engine swap brackets in a couple of weeks. Following that will be the headers, then the transmission crossmember and finally the exhaust systems. Our own 86 Monte SS will be loaded up with all the parts and be on display (and on the track) at the LS Fest for anyone to check over. It will be equipped with a 6.0L/4L80 combination, but I'm not sure what accessory drive set-up it will be set-up with. The geometry of the parts are configured to accommodate either an F-body or truck accessory drive set-up with the exception of the A/C compressor, which will be recommended to be taken care of by upper-mounting it on the passenger side of the engine with either of the Holley R4, or Sanden A/C compressor brackets. For the greatest ease of providing compatibility with the stock A/C system, the R4 is the way to go as you can raid factory parts (lines, condenser etc...) off a late model G-body and bolt everything right up.

 

The exterior geometry of the new Holley 302-2 pan was taken full advantage of for this project, which means its combined use with the new Hooker engine swap brackets gets the front of the engine lower to be able to provide optimized engine inclination and U-joint working angles. This is an area where typical swap plates fall short as their discrete installed height is very often not what is required for optimized engine positioning to be achieved.

There are possibly some other aftermarket pans that will also be compatible with these new Hooker mounts, but they will have to be discovered through trial and error as no attempts were made to fit anything other than the Holley 302-1 and 302-2 pans into the car. Incidentally, the 302-1 is too tall at its front end profile to fit with the new mounts unless clearance for it is provided by carving into the engine crossmember.

 

In for pics!

 

Looking forward to this. Glad to see companies finally looking at the g bodies .

 

Any updates or pictures

 

I should have more info up by the end of the week.

 

Its the end of the week.....

 

Yep, somehow I knew you were going to hold me to that promise...I'm working on something now for you and will have it up within the hour.