Well, I just got done putting Hooker chrome sidepipe headers on my 73 and what a pain in the @$$. It took me 2 whole days to get them to fit. The lower body panel behind the front wheel had to be cut on both sides. The driver's side is touching the steering box, the passenger side is touching the frame, the engine had to be moved back 3/4 inch and to the pasenger side 1/2 inch. All the bolt holes had to be oversized due to the fact that the factory did no drill them correctly. The header flanges had to be ground on the bottom side to clear the newer style head bolts on the 502. I had them in and out 7 times before they finally fit. The passenger side sidetube is only 1/16 inch from the rear tire.
The aluminum side mouldings (lower) had to be removed and will have to be cut or replaced with something else. The instructions said the moulding would be left in place and not have to be cut. WRONG!! I am wondering if anyone at the factory ever even measured anything on a vette or if they just went off the blueprints. I'll have some choice words for them when I call to express my disapointment with their product. After I get the rest of the project done and painted, I will post new pics of my baby.
On the bright side they do look very good and sound awsome.

Woody:

Sounds like a major piece of work there! I'm sure the result will be beautiful, but I need to ask why you decided on Hookers? And did you buy them to fit the '73 or the 502 under the hood? I know they're like an industry leader, but did you look at Jet-Hot (www.Jet-Hot.com)? They have customer photos of a 79 corvette with sidepipes that looks awesome and the quote I got from them for the same setup was only $1175.00. I didn't think that was too bad for something that stands up to corrosion better than chrome, and doesn't require the "clean freak mentality" to keep them looking good. Not to mention the reduced heat transferance they offer (afterall, you're clearances are pretty close it sounds like all around, so I'm suspecting you're going to have some issues with thermal breakdown somewhere down the road).

Once again, just curious what you based your decision on, and possibly what made you decide to make all of those alterations just to fit up a set of sidepipes?

Look forward to seeing your new pics!

Hi Mark, my name is also Mark. The reason I went with these headers was because I got them off Ebay for 600 bucks brand new. They were purchased new in 1969 by a guy who was going to put them on his 69 but then turned it into a drag car and never used them. The headers on the 79 at jethot are the exact same set. Hooker is the only company that makes them. The customer buys them and sends them to jethot for coating. Jethot will also buy them for you and coat them, but you will pay more for the headers before coating than if you buy them yourself and send them in. As far as fitment, they sell the same set for big block vettes from 1966 through 1974. All big block chevy engines made between 1966 and 2000 have the same dimensions and exhaut bolt pattern. So the headers should fit anything from a 366 to a 502. Maybe the reason I had so much trouble is that these were actually made in 69 before there was cnc machining. Or, maybe there are some subtle differences in the frames between 69 and 73. As for cutting the body to fit, a freind of mine put them on his 78 and had to do the same thing. He had his coated by jethot and the side tubes barley fit over the collectors, he had to grind a little of the coating on the inside of the tubes to get them on the collectors. He also had to move his steering box back a little to clear the #3 tube. Mine did not have any play in the mounting bolts and had to be left where it was. My vette is nowhere near stock original, so I do not have a problem making modifications to it. It is/was a numbers matching car and I have kept everything that was replaced so that, if I ever sell it, I still have the numbers matching engine and parts to go with it. Please consider that, if you decide on the sidepipe headers, you will most likely have the same fitment problems and probably will have to cut the lower body panel.

Thanks for the advice, Mark. That makes me think more about sticking with just plain ole headers and taking the exhaust back to duals. Should be able to re-use some of the parts I just put on when it went back to the Y setup a couple years ago. Was thinking of shorty headers, but now I think the standard (?) headers would be a better choice HP wise.

When I get ready I'll contact Jet-Hot and see what they want to charge to coat the pieces before they go back on.

Oh, the joy of Headers! I got mine in the painted format, then fit the to the car (yes, heated, banged, pounded, oversize drilled, etc.). After I beat them into submission, I sent them to a local ceramic coat specialist. He does great quick work.

I went with chome on the side pipe.

I too had to notch the lower rocker trim panel.

I think this is only a big block issue. If you notice the sb hookers are much smaller and have more than enough room to come out around the rocker.

I think they are the single best mod on the whole car!

Burn youself yet? You will--just once, then it won't ever happen again. I got a nasty burn on my thigh!

Hi Chris, No I haven't burned myself yet because I haven't even had time to seat the rings and take it for a ride yet. I read your thread about the baffles. Are they the "spiralturbo" baffles? I have been considering getting a set. We, my daughters and I, are almost finished with major "upgrades" on the 73 and are trying to decide wether to go with the glass packs or the baffles. Sounds you like the baffles better. Here's a sneak peek at the 502 after rebuilding it to 700 HP.
http://www.c3vr.com/member_uploads/501_600/580/vette_029.jpg

Yep, JCL turbo style spiral baffles. Very sweet. I would recommend them to anyone.

Not to get off the subject but I'm interested in your headlights. I have just got a set of buckets and covers from Gulstrand in LA. Do you have the same set-up? What lights and brackets did you use? Someone suggested the Corvette lights will work while Gulstrand suggested Toyota headlights and brackets. I also noticed that your lights are not covered all the way. How did you accomplish that. Thanks for any help you can provide. I'm also interested in seeing your car with the side pipes.

WOW, I would have to believe that the fitment problems are because of when they were made. Now, I have a small block, but the went in pretty easy, and fit nicely, the only real trouble I had was that I installed them with the car on ramps, and left the muffler tubes attached to the headers(I bought mine used).
Vette was just barely high enough to wiggle them in.

2706madrone said: Not to get off the subject but I'm interested in your headlights. I have just got a set of buckets and covers from Gulstrand in LA. Do you have the same set-up? What lights and brackets did you use? Someone suggested the Corvette lights will work while Gulstrand suggested Toyota headlights and brackets. I also noticed that your lights are not covered all the way. How did you accomplish that. Thanks for any help you can provide. I'm also interested in seeing your car with the side pipes.

I really don't know anything about the headlights. This is the way it was when I bought it. Sorry. I think they are part of the front end because it is all one peice, not added in. I have tried to find an aftermarket glass company that makes a frontend like mine, but can"t find a similar frontend anywhere. Therefore, I think someone must have made it themself. As for the sidepipes, I'm waiting for my turbo baffles to arrive before I put the side tubes on. After they are installed, I will post a pic.
Mark