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The quality of Hooker products: Where did it go?

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Old 12-08-2010, 11:39 AM
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Seriously, my car came with an aerochamber catback when i got it and I got compliments all the time. It was raspy as **** though but the average joe did not care. To them it was raw and mean sounding. I got the true dual itch after a few months on here and took the hooker off.
Old 12-08-2010, 01:00 PM
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i think he called you a hooker man!!

but any how i was thinking of getting a max flow muffler for my wife aviator so should i worry?
Old 12-08-2010, 01:16 PM
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Wow...I hate to hear about a change in quality. I paid $319 for my Hooker catback with aerochamber muffler in June 2006 and it's been one of the best bangs for the buck IMO. I've had zero problems with this exhaust...super quiet at idle and roars at WOT!
Old 12-08-2010, 07:39 PM
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Bought my Hooker CB June 07. Loved it but in 09 started what Rob Zombie (Josh) on here describes as " Hooker death rattle". I can hear it at idle but with any pedal at all the exhaust drowns it out.. Not enough to to toatally bug me yet but enough to make me start thinking my next move... It sounds GREAT though and get all kinds of comps...
Old 12-08-2010, 08:07 PM
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My Aerochamber made a rattle noise for a while. We cut it open and everything was rusted and falling apart. We gutted the muffler, welded it back up, been fine ever since lol.
Old 12-08-2010, 10:43 PM
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Originally Posted by Damian
If anyone searches through the archives, you'll find that I've always been a HUGE supporter of Hooker, namely the Aerochamber catback. I've been pushing that catback for 10 years.

However, as of late I'm extremely disappointed with their drop in quality. Just within the last 6 months I've had 2 Hooker mufflers fall apart on the inside, and now they're shipping catbacks without flared ends on the over-axle pipe?!? I'm not sure how Hooker expects people to install the catback when both mating pipes are the same size.

From what I understand, Hooker was bought out by Holley. This could be the issue, who knows. Either way, I'm sending out a courtesy warning about Hooker products from now on. Hopefully somebody from their team will see it and make a change. If not, at the very least I would look elsewhere for a catback from now on. Especially since there is about to be a price increase on that CB. Good idea, lets drop build quality and increase the price.

Over and out.
So you've only experienced issues with their catbacks lately? How about their headers? I was looking at a set of Hooker stainless LT's, but now I'm thinking I should hold off for a bit.
Old 12-09-2010, 10:59 AM
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Originally Posted by MI-Z/28
So you've only experienced issues with their catbacks lately? How about their headers? I was looking at a set of Hooker stainless LT's, but now I'm thinking I should hold off for a bit.
Hooker headers are a PAIN IN THE *** to install. If you can get by that, they're fine.

I'd order Pacesetters ALL DAY over a set of Hooker headers, just for the ease of installation alone.
Old 12-09-2010, 12:33 PM
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Damn I was under the impression Hooker headers werent that bad to get in..
Old 12-09-2010, 01:37 PM
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Just got my Hooker cat. and i am in the process of installing it, and yes it is a pain in the a--. Fitment is bad!!!! And yes the ota pipe was just cut (3" to 3"). Gotta love it.
Old 12-09-2010, 01:37 PM
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Originally Posted by Damian
Hooker headers are a PAIN IN THE *** to install. If you can get by that, they're fine.

I'd order Pacesetters ALL DAY over a set of Hooker headers, just for the ease of installation alone.
Thanks for the heads up.
Old 12-09-2010, 02:13 PM
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I personally can't say that there headers are a pita to install.. Because I haven't installed mine yet but some ppl say there a breeze some not.. Guess it depends what day of the week they were made
Old 12-09-2010, 03:10 PM
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My headers installed no problem. Only ones I have installed on an ls1 car though.
Old 12-09-2010, 05:05 PM
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I bought some jet hot coated headers and in less than 10k miles they rusted out from the inside. My aluminized flowmaster exhaust pipes are still on the car and look new. What does that tell you? I can be had once but not twice. Too bad Hooker was the name for motorcycle products in the 70's and 80's. Their stuff back when was second to none.....
Old 12-18-2010, 01:16 PM
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I bought myhooker catback used and it works great. The hooker long tubes are ****. The egr tube came apart on me so I had to remove it and weld a cover over the huge hole it left . I won't buy their headers again.
Old 12-18-2010, 09:49 PM
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Good info, I'm in the process of researching which catback to buy and now i can scratch Hooker off the list. thanx Guy's.
Old 12-18-2010, 10:30 PM
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Well damn, I've had the Hooker cat back on for a couple summers with no regrets yet. I've only put around 5k on it since and the only complaint is that the tips stuck out way too far. Guess I'll have to wait and see.
Old 12-18-2010, 10:48 PM
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Originally Posted by '00_Z
Well damn, I've had the Hooker cat back on for a couple summers with no regrets yet. I've only put around 5k on it since and the only complaint is that the tips stuck out way too far. Guess I'll have to wait and see.
You can fix/adjust that very easily.
Old 12-18-2010, 11:02 PM
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well **** i got a new hooker CB for Christmas. guess we will see what i run into
Old 12-18-2010, 11:37 PM
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Originally Posted by SexyTransAm
well **** i got a new hooker CB for Christmas. guess we will see what i run into
The latest one I had trouble with was being installed on an LT1 T/A as a matter of fact. Look for these things:

-Over axle pipe won't be flared to fit (f-cking morons )
-Driver side pipe coming out of the muffler has the incorrect hanger. I had to tack weld it to the stock hanger to make it work
-Pass side pipe coming out of the muffler did not line up with the hole in the T/A bumper one bit. Not even close. Had to heat it up with a torch and bend it to fit.

Good luck. That'll be the last Hooker CB I install until they get their heads out of their asses.
Old 12-18-2010, 11:46 PM
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well that all sounds like fun.


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