Hello everyone,

I just dropped a ZZ4 in my 69, finally. I just gotta get the headers now. I'm looking at Hooker full length ceramic coated. They have two kinds that will fit, the Compitition and the Super Comp. The Super Comp is over two hundred dollars more than the Comp headers. I dont plan on racing the car but I want to put the  right ones on. Does anyone recommend the Super comp or are the Compititions good enough. Any info is welcome.  Thanks, Steve

The Comp headers are made of slightly thicker steel compared to the Super Comps, so they'll last longer. The Comps are also designed for stock or mildly modified engines, the Super Comps for more highly modified setups. I'm guessing the Super Comps with thinner gauge steel have a somewhat bigger inside diameter for better breathing and reduced back pressure, and that normally reduces low end a bit, but since it's for built up engines, it expects the motor to be putting out lots of torque anyway and allows for lots of top ending breathing.

Considering you've installed a ZZ4 that has lots of power, the Super Comps may well be the way to go.

Ya know what the say about bigger and better I read an artical about a 383 and some tests they did swaping out different parts OEM and aftermarket, they used hookers on all the tests comp and super, the comp beat out the super most of the way until the last test when a big cam, carb, heads were used, but not much, the comp's made better torque #'s, a 350 doesn't make the torque a 383 does thats why I would go with the comp's, what you feel is what you get, I like low and mid range torque. anips38596.6102546296

Thanks fellas, I think I'll go with the comps. The car isnt going to be raced and the comps should be fine.

Good choice, I think you will be happy, I failed to mention that I run Comps on my 72, when I installed the headers I flanged the reducer at the primary pipe also so that if I had to do trans or clutch work all that I had to do is unbolt and drop the reducer to slde the primary pipes out without removing the headers or cutting the primary pipes out.

Thats one of our product lines and gunslinger hit the nail on the head, except for the gauge of the pipes

The super comps use a thinner gauge to save weight for the drag racer.  If they are ceramic coated they will last as long as any gauge material.

The Super comp headers are True equal primary tube lengthed headers.  The Comp line is not.  The super comp line has many more part numbers then the comp line due to this option.  The comp headers tend to have one part number that fits many more applications.  That is one reason for the price difference.  On headers such as the super comps we sell small numbers since they only cover less applications so cost of manufacturing is much higher because it is costly due to the fact that in most cases we only build 10 to 15 pieces at a time.  With a comp header where a single part fits many applications we might build as a many as 300 units at a time.

Thats a big reason for the cost variance.  We also build many more versions of the super comps.  In many cases we will build a header with a 1-5/8",1-3/4", or a 1-7/8" primary tube.  In the comp line the header for a small block application will only have a 1-5/8" tube.

For that zz4 the 1-5/8" tube comp header is fine. 

For anyone that might be reading this the primary tube size will affect the power curve, just as changing from a smaller carb to a larger carb or vise versa will affect the power curve.  Even colllector length will affect the power curve on an engine, but that is where the engineers at Hooker spend time trying to build the best headers possible for the most common or combination of power adders for the enthusiast.  Not an easy task.

Anyway if your wondering what size header to put on what size engine, I typically base it arund horsepower for the guys with engines they will be using it on the street.

Small Block engines:

A 1-5/8" primary tube header is good for up to 450 HP for best all around performance

A 1-3/4" header is good for  engines in the 450 to around 700 HP for best all around performance.

A 1-7/8" header is good for engines in the 575 HP to around 850 HP range.

A 2" header is good for engine in the 650 HP to 1000 HP range.

You just have to think about where you want the power curve to be.

Aftershark;

   I drive my 74 stocker as my daily (200+ miles a week), and with the current crisis, want to increase milage as much as possible with no permant mods. Power isnt an issue, my 75 covers that.  Would I be right then i want comps or would you recommend something else? Thanks :)

Itsdave9257038599.8311805556

Thanks everyone, you guys always give good advice and good ideas. I'm going with Hooker Compitition 2456-1HKR. going to order them this week. After Shark, it sounds like you work for Hooker, do they make an exhaust system that connects to the headers and goes out the back through mufflers.

Comps would be choice, or if money is an issue the flowtech pieces will do the job as well.

Sorry, but hooker USE to make a header back exhaust system.  Its no longer available, only the side pipe systems.

I would buy a popular under car system and have an exaust shop tweak it to fix or just have them bend you up a system.

I have the Hooker Ceramic headers, and AeroChambers mufflers.  A very nice combination.  Yes they did increase my performance, along with a Weiand intake installed at the same time.

I got my exhaust system for my 75 with a turbo 400 from Allen Stainless Exhaust.  I got the alum, not the stainless. Granted it took some tweaking.  This is to be expected. They don't have the spec for every header, so they come close.  The rest fit very well.  You might check with them.