Well, I went and did it now... I bought a set of Hooker Super Comp Side Pipes/headers for my 82! They are used but in very good condition and will be shipped to me next week.
  From all that I have read, they will go on with no major issues, but any advice available from those that have installed these - let me know please.
I can hardly wait!
Phill's Vette2008-12-29 20:47:07

Phill, you'll love them. Which ones did you order (chrome, black, stainless, coated)? What mufflers are you going to insert into the side pipes? You will have to mount the side pipes to the frame under the side rocker moldings. There are holes already in the frame. Also you need to consider covers for the hot pipes. You and your wife don't want Corvette tattoo's. Have fun!

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Sidepipes Rock!

  They are the coated pipes. I don't know what kind of mufflers are in them yet. I really like the bare (No covers) look for the side pipes; but I'm sure that will change after a few burns.....

 Recently, I finally got my current dual exhaust system just where I wanted it - H-pipe, headers, Flowmaster 40's. Oh well, I will just moth ball the old and save it for future Vette #2.
Thanks!

  Hey, how do you guys jack up a vette with side pipes without damage?? Just now thought about that! I have a good low profile floor jack but would I need to use blocks or something? I have always used the side frame rails when jacking, never from the front or rear. Just when I thought I knew everything...

You can still use the side frame rails to jack the car. The bottom of the side pipes are about the same height as the frame except where they come out. make sure you have a bung to mount your O2 sensor into. You need the O2 sensor for your computer. You will most likely loose some low end torque because those headers are so much bigger than the stock ones. The sound and look of them is worth it though. DaveM2008-12-13 06:21:24

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Lifetime Member #116
Dave's '82

   

So Phill, what does your wife think......now that you are very interested in "HOOKERS"?

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The Hookers are for both me AND my wife.....
My "wife" I should mention, is 4 feet tall, age 26, dark skinned and sexy as all hell even though she weights over 3,000 pounds.....
That IS the only girl in my life right now and I can only afford one at a time

Dave,
  Thanks for the reminder for the O2 sensor, I didn't even think about that!
I would have had everything all ready to take out and would have seen the sensor, then I would have remembered.....
Beautiful 82 you have Dave!!!

So this leads to another question: Where do I weld in the O2 sensor bung??
Thanks!
Phill's Vette2008-12-14 01:56:05

It can go on one of the tubes, it does not have to be on the collector. Pick a spot that does not hang down where it can be hit by road junk. Make sure it's in a spot that you can remove the sensor after the headers are in the car. If you reuse the old sensor put anti-seize on the threads, a new one has it on there already.

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Lifetime Member #116
Dave's '82

   

[QUOTE=Phill's Vette] The Hookers are for both me AND my wife.....
My "wife" I should mention, is 4 feet tall, age 26, dark skinned and sexy as all hell even though she weights over 3,000 pounds.....
[/QUOTE]

Dave is probably the resident expert on installation. He has pictures and threads from his install that should help anyone.

One thing that might be worthy of mentioning is that the frame access holes are behind the rocker moldings. You will need to drop the moldings down to locate them..

Tuxblacray2008-12-14 06:34:53

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Tuxblacray: She's Back In Black! Check out my pics @ My Link


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Depends on the State, I have Historic plates and do not have to go thru inspection. I've driven about 6K miles and never been stopped. The side pipes are not illegal, it's the fact that their's no Cat. converter anymore.

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Lifetime Member #116
Dave's '82

   

For Arizona, you have to qualify for and have Classic Car insurance to be emissions exempt, which I have. I also have Historical plates, but in AZ this only means your car is 25+ years old. The plate is cool though - solid shiny copper which I also keep polished...

The emission laws here state you cannot modify ANY emissions equipment that came stock on the car, regardless of the age of the vehicle. Most all muffler/exhaust shops here abide by this and will NOT do any mods to the cats etc. I have not heard of anyone having problems with this yet in my local vette circles.

If the Air Nazi's find me, they will not take me alive!

   

I was asked by a Trooper once if my dual exhaust had cats on it. KDADDY792008-12-14 13:40:29

[QUOTE=KDADDY79]I was asked by a Trooper once if my dual exhaust had cats on it. [/QUOTE] Great answer from both of you!

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Please get a bath mat to lay over the pipe to get out or yes you will get the Hooker TATTOO ( My wife gas a leg to prove it ).

Received the Hookers yesterday and today...WHOA!
I've spent the day cleaning and polishing them up in preparation for the install tomorrow. I also went to my favorite muffler shop in Phoenix today and had them weld in an O2 bung on the right side collector, it should be totally up and out of the way.
  I will get some pics up tomorrow and if all goes well, I'll post up some before and after sound bites.

I just cannot think of anything else I'd like to be doing on Christmas day than this!!  It will be like playing with my train set I got when I was 8 years old.

I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas also!

[QUOTE=Phill's Vette]Received the Hookers yesterday and today...WHOA!
I just cannot think of anything else I'd like to be doing on Christmas day than this!!  It will be like playing .


[/QUOTE] Messing with "hookers"...........I can't say as I blame you....

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I like mine they add to the classic look of the car.

After getting past the wrong motor mounts and the correct mounts installed, I was able to get the right side header in today. Then spent the rest of the evening reconnecting everything - power steering pump, compressor and heater hoses.

  I was able to do all this while getting my Mom's car towed to my house after she rear ended a pickup this morning. She is okay, her car is not. (2002 Neon) That will be my project for this coming week - trying to pull out the front so I can replace the radiator and see if anything else is damaged and can be fixed by me. She just canceled her full coverage insurance last month when she finished paying it off..... 

Anyway, here are a few pics of the progress so far....






I will post the again when finished. I'm starting to get excited now!!

Looking great so far Phil!!  Very sorry to hear about your Mom's accident and very happy that she was OK.

[QUOTE=Phill's Vette]


[/QUOTE] Phil, that is the same place that I put the bung in for my Hookers. I put it at what I call the 4:30 postion, but on an upward angle to actually center it in tht collector chamber. It can be removed without any problems and doesn't hit the frame. It's safe from anything hitting it. I centered it between the tubes and the muffler. I have stainless headers, so I used a stainless bung. After installing it I polished out the completed area........it looks like it came from the factory. Sorry about your mom. I hope it works out for her. Good luck!  

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My o2 sensor is on an angle upward.......so if you look inside it's centered between the four tubes, to get a mix of the right engine side. Hooker wants it to keep condensation out. I  HOOKERS..........(just don't tell my wife)  

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Phil, ......SWEEET.

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LIFETIME MEMBER 151

Ebo,
  No blood yet, but the day is still young.... and NO, mom will NOT be driving the Vette while I am fixing her car! How could you EVEN think such a though - your a bad man

Back to my Hookers.... Update later.

Looking good so far. Wait till you hear it, Sweet

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Lifetime Member #116
Dave's '82

   

Thanks for the update & the photos!

I put side pipes on my '78 Chevy Van back in the '80s, so I know how anxious you are to git 'er done and hear that baby roar. Was your mom text messaging when she rear ended the truck?

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Finished the install last night and then new sound....
OMG...What a beautiful sound comes from this Corvette now! The pipes have the stockish inserts in them now and it idles and runs half way quiet though louder and deeper than my Flowmaster 40's dual exhaust -  but at WOT the world changes!!

  I drove a good 80 miles today between my stores and I didn't want to stop, didn't want to park it and didn't want to turn it off!
I have been in hooker heaven today....
  I also received my first and hopefully last "Hooker Tattoo".... On the back of my ankle, right across the Achilles Tendon. It is sore now, but tomorrow I'm sure I will REALLY feel! You guys warned me..... I will have shields ordered by the end of the week! Please post any company info that sells them!

  Anyway, here are some picture. I still have to install the rocker panels which I am painting a stock black. I will also need to drill out the side pipe mount holes on the frame as I have a 1/4" gap between the headers and the side pipes. The side pipes did not go all the way into the headers because the frame holes need to be a bit longer for more adjustment. You can see what I mean from the pics.
Thanks a TON for all the help guys!

Congrats Phil! looks great and I know you will enjoy them. Maybe someday

See....that wasn't so bad, was it?

Glad yer mom isn't hurt. The car can be fixed.

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Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56    
My Link


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"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

Phil, nice job dude.

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LIFETIME MEMBER 151

This is where I got my shields  http://www.steelshields.com/products.html#corvettes

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Lifetime Member #116
Dave's '82

   

Phil, to get my sidepipes to come out right, I made new mountings more forward and a little bit downward from the frame slots. I used 316 stainless steel all thread. I went all the way thru the frame to give more stength. The mounts are strong enough that you could stand on the sidepipes.  

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[QUOTE=ebo] [/QUOTE]

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LIFETIME MEMBER 151

Sidepipes rule! Nice job!

[QUOTE=corvette440hp]Phil, to get my sidepipes to come out right, I made new mountings more forward and a little bit downward from the frame slots. I used 316 stainless steel all thread. I went all the way thru the frame to give more stength. The mounts are strong enough that you could stand on the sidepipes.  [/QUOTE]

Larry,
  This is kinda what I was thinking, now I know it can be done....
Thanks!

Update On Mom:
 Her wrists and shoulder are all good now!!
We got $1000 trade in for the wreck and this went towards a 2003 PT Cruiser with 70K miles on it (Metallic Candy Apple Red). I have always heard mixed reviews for the PT's, but I was half way impressed with this one. I already bought the shop manuals for it so I will know what I'm doing when it breaks.
  They actually sell headers for this thing... but why stop there, side pipes on a PT Cruiser baby! She has already told me that I can only fix it if it breaks - NO MODS! So, the 20" slicks are out of the picture....

My next big mods/repair/restore will be motor. I have 130K on the stock OEM 350 CFI now, but still runs very nicely. I will be upgrading it to 383 stroker, but not too extreme. After the motor this year, it will be time for another Vette - I hope #2 will be a 70 to 74 Stingray - a barn find type of builder.

Next month I will be installing a new differential with 3:73 gears...If I donlt like it that high, I will have the stock diff rebuilt with the gears I like. I shall see on this on.  

2007/8 Mods were:
Aluminum radiator, cs130 100 amp alternator, VanSteel T-arms, complete front suspension rebuild, SharkBar w/5-point restraints, 1000w audio system and the Hookers.
It was a good year!

Hope you all had a good year and have a better one in 2009!

Phill, what I did was to tap the frame for the all thread. I ran the rod through the both sides and backed it up with stainless steel washers and stainless steel jam nuts. It is beyond strong. I don't believe that you can over-do anything. You sound like me.........you have to modify everything (ie your mom's new car). Good luck with the "hookers"! 

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Phil, thanks for the update on mom. Moms are great even if they are a pain

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LIFETIME MEMBER 151

Hi Phil, Rafterman2009-03-09 15:22:02