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Hooker LT's Vs. MAC Midlength

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Old Aug 29, 2002 | 01:06 PM
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Default Hooker LT's Vs. MAC Midlength

Can I get some Pro's and Cons of both headers? Dyno #'s would be awesome. I know that LT's give better Gains, but I've read somewhere that the gains over Midlenghts are minimal, and that Midlenghts can actually have better gains up top. I'm going to be running cats so that I dont have rasp or emissions problems.

Basic stuff I'd like to know:
1)Performance Gains from each Header.
2)Ground Clearance Issues, if any.
3)Jet Hot Coating, would it be worth it on the MAC's?
4)If I were to go Hooker LT's, which Ypipe would be the best? I've heard alot about the Mufflex Ypipe.
5)I'm going to be running Cats with my headers, should I get Carsound Cats or Random Tech cats?
6)Will a MAFT be neccesary after headers are installed, even if I have an aftermarket MAF already?
7) any important info I, or anyone looking at headers, should know.

TIA for any input.
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Old Aug 29, 2002 | 02:45 PM
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Default Re: Hooker LT's Vs. MAC Midlength

This is for Hooker LT's.

1)Performance Gains from each Header.

As much as any other LT on the market.

2)Ground Clearance Issues, if any.

Stock ride height for me with Mufflex y-pipe and I have ZERO ground clearance issues.

4)If I were to go Hooker LT's, which Ypipe would be the best? I've heard alot about the Mufflex Ypipe.

Mufflex y-pipe is EXTREMELY high flowing, and much better than the hooker y-pipe, just look at the collector on the hooker one. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Roll Eyes]" src="images/icons/rolleyes.gif" />

BUT, mufflex didn't get me the clamps on time (lots required). . .and I have my stock cross member with heater hose cramming my y-pipe up in place, and a small piece of hose on the driver's side. Not alot of work to do those, but I guess some may consider it Ghetto. My exhaust is tight though, and ZERO rattles now.

5)I'm going to be running Cats with my headers, should I get Carsound Cats or Random Tech cats?

CATS? Well, rule out the mufflex y-pipe.

6)Will a MAFT be neccesary after headers are installed, even if I have an aftermarket MAF already?

IMO, no. . .people will tell you that your car will richen up, but in reality it's just that your 02 sensors are farther down stream, thus cooler, thus showing slightly higher values.

7) any important info I, or anyone looking at headers, should know.

Hookers are awesome bang/buck & easy to install.

Get them, do a custom dual exhaust with 3" cats, then you have a nice high flow exhaust and cats still. (although, nobody does that, maybe there's a reason ????)
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Old Aug 29, 2002 | 02:54 PM
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Default Re: Hooker LT's Vs. MAC Midlength

See below for hp gains.

I have no clearance issues with my FLP's, I have the older style so they ride up higher.

<small>[ August 29, 2002, 02:54 PM: Message edited by: I8COBRA ]</small>
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Old Aug 29, 2002 | 03:21 PM
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Default Re: Hooker LT's Vs. MAC Midlength

ok so if the mufflex ypipe is ruled out with cats. what could I put in there? does hooker make a catalytic ypipe? if the collector sux, could i put a flowmaster collector on it?
oh and my car is lowered.... thats why ground clearance is an issue.

<small>[ August 29, 2002, 03:23 PM: Message edited by: Ballistic Z ]</small>
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Old Aug 29, 2002 | 03:30 PM
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Default Re: Hooker LT's Vs. MAC Midlength

With the Hooker Y-pipe you gotta rule out cats, with the Mufflex you have the choice. I don't know why mgreen said you gotta rule cats out, him being a Mufflex Y owner. Contact Mufflex and they'll tell you your options regarding cats.
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Old Aug 29, 2002 | 03:47 PM
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Default Re: Hooker LT's Vs. MAC Midlength

I gained 3 to 3 1/2 mph at the traps with MACs and the ORP and that was on a day when it was about 15* warmer at the track!
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Old Aug 29, 2002 | 05:47 PM
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Default Re: Hooker LT's Vs. MAC Midlength

I'll chime in here also.

If you want cats with the Hooker LT's you have a few options:
1. You can buy the mufflex y-pipe and have the carsound or Random Tech cats welded in. The y-pipe will need to be cut in order for them to fit. Also Carsound offers 2 styles of cats for the 3"in/3"out. One is 16" in length, which are about $70 a piece and the other is the 13" version which is the new shorty cat from Carsound. The price on the newer 13" cats are roughly $105 each.
2. I have never seen the hooker ORY up close so with these new Carsound cats they might work, but don't quote me on that. The Random Techs cats are a nice cat, they may even be shorter than 13" in length but you will pay more for them too. I can't remember the price though.
3. If you know a good muffler shop in town that can fabricate a y-pipe with cats, this could be a good route to go also.

I am installing the Hooker LT's on my 2002 WS6 this weekend and I am going to have the local muffler shop weld in the 16" in length carsound cats into the mufflex y-pipe. I will post pics/results later next Wednesday when everything is complete.
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Old Aug 29, 2002 | 08:35 PM
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Default Re: Hooker LT's Vs. MAC Midlength

ok, would there be any benefit to the 13" over the 16" cats?
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Old Aug 30, 2002 | 06:48 AM
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Default Re: Hooker LT's Vs. MAC Midlength

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by MRZ28HO:
<strong>With the Hooker Y-pipe you gotta rule out cats, with the Mufflex you have the choice. I don't know why mgreen said you gotta rule cats out, him being a Mufflex Y owner. Contact Mufflex and they'll tell you your options regarding cats.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Well, up until a month or 2 ago, Mufflex would not build their y-pipe with cats.

I was under the impression that this guy was looking for a y-pipe built with cats.

I apologize if I put him in the wrong direction.

Anyways, if you do cats, do the 13" cats.
Scott (aka 2MCHPWR) has the mufflex y with cats, and it's a tight fit.
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Old Aug 30, 2002 | 05:41 PM
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Default Re: Hooker LT's Vs. MAC Midlength

ttt
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Old Aug 31, 2002 | 02:58 PM
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Default Re: Hooker LT's Vs. MAC Midlength

ttt
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Old Sep 1, 2002 | 10:59 AM
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Default Re: Hooker LT's Vs. MAC Midlength

T T T
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Old Sep 1, 2002 | 04:05 PM
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Default Re: Hooker LT's Vs. MAC Midlength

I gained 22rwhp and 16rwtq with my MACs and offroad y-pipe on a bolton car. This isn't a bad gain imo and I haven't seen many longtubes on a bolton car gain more than this. The guy I bought my used MACs from had installed some longtubes on his heads/cam car and he gained very little rwhp (1-3) and no rwtq. The headers had the welds smoothed out and the y-pipe had a Flowmaster collector in it.

Chris G
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Old Sep 3, 2002 | 10:28 AM
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Default Re: Hooker LT's Vs. MAC Midlength

I have MAC's(C-coated). IMO, the gains are probably close for a bolt-on car. I know of only one local bolt-on car running Hooker's that has run faster than me - and we're pretty close.

Other's, I routinely beat. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />

Now, when I do a cam and later heads, I'll most likely go with LT's.
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Old Sep 3, 2002 | 10:48 AM
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Default Re: Hooker LT's Vs. MAC Midlength

If you plan on doing the install yourself; I'd stay far away from the MACs! They are harder to install than FLP longtubes. I know from experience on the same car. The Hookers shouldn't be any harder to install than the FLPs that I did. <img border="0" alt="[Firebird]" title="" src="graemlins/formula.gif" />
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Old Sep 3, 2002 | 11:22 AM
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Default Re: Hooker LT's Vs. MAC Midlength

I hate to do this after I thought I'd made up my mind on the Hookers, but how are the FLP's? I've heard taht they block off the Oil Drain Plug, and cannot be used on a car with SFC's. Also heard that they have issues banging the floor board.
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Old Sep 3, 2002 | 04:47 PM
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Default Re: Hooker LT's Vs. MAC Midlength

1-The oil drain plug on The Emperor of Darkness' car was close; but I don't know if he's had his oil changed since we did the install.
2-Can't comment about the SFCs as his car did not have any.
3-I think they redesidned the Y-pipe to stop the banging. If you have banging, buy a poly tranny mount and then do the torque strap thing. <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_cheers.gif" />
Oh, the Hookers are WAY CHEAPER than the FLPs.
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Old Sep 9, 2002 | 04:22 PM
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Default Re: Hooker LT's Vs. MAC Midlength

Macs are an easy install period! Excellent gains!!
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Old Sep 9, 2002 | 05:17 PM
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Default Re: Hooker LT's Vs. MAC Midlength

Got Macs. I grinded the welds on the inside of the tubes when I got them. 4 out of 8, my welds were really clean. Sent them to Jet Hot and had them coated, a must do by the way. Don't have dyno numbers but check sig for ET's on a bolt on car with a dead clutch. McLoed single disk Kevlar goes in early next week so bolt on 11's won't be far behind with Macs. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" /> ET was last weekend without the benefit of "mine shaft air". <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_cheers.gif" />
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