Best way to fit Hooker Competition headers

[slumbers]

Greetings from the UK  Is it easier to fit Hooker Super Comp long tube exhaust headers from above with the heads off or from underneath. My Car has power steering and column shift auto. The engine block is already bolted in the mounts with gearbox attached .

[Kern Dog]

Unbolt the engine.
Set aside 9 to 350 hours of free time.
Have hammers handy.
Trial fit.
Remove and add dents.
Trial fit.
remove and add dents.
Trial fit.
Remove and add dents.
Go take a shower. Eat something. Get some sleep and try again the next day.
Trial fit.
remove and add dents.
Trial fit.
Remove and add dents.
Trial fit.
remove and add dents.
Trial fit.
Remove and add dents.
Trial fit.
Start drinking Ale.
Remove and add dents.
Trial fit.
Remove and add dents.
Trial fit.
remove and add dents.
Trial fit.
Remove while cussing and throwing things.
Call TTI and order a set from them.    

[XH29N0G]

I eventually managed to get mine in.  I did not pull the heads and that probably would have helped. I ran into issues with the steering linkages.  The time is probably pretty close to what Kern Dog said.  It took me several years in all.  Yes years.  the car wasn't running so I did things little bit at a time.   

[will]

remove complete drive train, unbolt k frame. install headers, bolt up k frame, re-install drivetrain.

[BSB67]

Unbolt the engine.
Set aside 9 to 350 hours of free time.
Have hammers handy.
Trial fit.
Remove and add dents.
Trial fit.
remove and add dents.
Trial fit.
Remove and add dents.
Go take a shower. Eat something. Get some sleep and try again the next day.
Trial fit.
remove and add dents.
Trial fit.
Remove and add dents.
Trial fit.
remove and add dents.
Trial fit.
Remove and add dents.
Trial fit.
Start drinking Ale.
Remove and add dents.
Trial fit.
Remove and add dents.
Trial fit.
remove and add dents.
Trial fit.
Remove while cussing and throwing things.
Call TTI and order a set from them.    

You made me laugh with this one

[birdsandbees]

You made me laugh with this one

x 2   

[Finn]

I jack the front of the car WAY up, lose the mini-start, and work them up from the bottom. Only required one hammer by the frame rails. I also had a shop cut and re-weld a tube so it would be easier to get to one of the mounting bolts on the drivers side.

[RallyeMike]

I agree with Finn - from the bottom typically works best, and with a cherry picker supporting the engine unbolted from the mounts and lifted. The difficulty with fitment really depends on what body and what engine. The Supercomps on my B engined 72 Charger slid in with not a single hammer hit. Really, the best way, especially if you are trying to preserve special coatings, etc. is to have the engine out, lay them in there, and drop the engine on top of them.

The PS and column shift are going to make things hard for you. In fact, the column shift linkage will likely need to be removed and then modified to function.

Have fun.

[Kern Dog]

When my budget was tighter, I had the 5209 and the 5903 set. I can't recall which was the Super comps. The worst were the ones with the 3 and 1 setup with the slip fit separate tube.
No kidding, it took me over 9 hours to remove one set and install these. TTIs are not perfect but they did fit a whole lot better.

[heyoldguy]

From the bottom, using dynamite and tire tools.

[slumbers]

Thanks for the Advice ...
Well I spent a couple of hours this afternoon fighting everything in the engine bay and decided to give up !
This was just the drivers side , so can anyone give me a definitive answer , will the TTI headers go straight in with power steering and column change or would it just be easier to fit Mancini Shorty Headers with downpipes ? 

[justcruisin]

I have fitted the 5903 headers which are the 1 7/8 size. Best way to fit them is to drop your steering linkage that sits under the sump, remove one engine mount bolt while leaving the other side in place, lift the engine so it rolls over and fit the header from underneath for that side, you will need at least two feet under the sump. Lower the engine - refit the bolt and do the same for the other side. The starter and left header need to go in together as you can't fit one with the other in place. Remove your radiator shroud before install if you have one. Most likely a few dings will be needed.

[Bad B-rad]

I had the Hooker Super Comp, in a 66 B-body(Charger) with a 383, and then a 440, PS car, floor shift, and I just jacked the car WAY,WAY up and did it from under the car, no issues. I do recall one side was a little bit harder to angle in then the other, but they went in easy. Maybe I got lucky and ended up with a super well built set or the floor shift on the 66 Charger made the difference? I don't know but I had no issues as long as the car was jacked four feet in the air!!!!!

[slumbers]

Thanks for the Tips !
        I had another go today and rolled the engine in the mounts as advised, the drivers side then went in but....... seems to hit just about everything especially the torque rod . I was unable to get it to line up unmodified with the head to even get one bolt in so rather than spend 350 hours under here at my age  I have ordered some Ceramic TTI exhausts from Mancini Racing and put the Hookers on EBay   Hopefully these will be easier ! Cheers Everyone 😀

[68CoronetRT]

Random question but if you go from the hooker headers(long tube) to the TTI's, does the collector bolt right up? Or will it require a little bit of exhaust work to connect to your pipes?

[slumbers]

As my car arrived from the US with no exhaust system at all To speak of apart from some rusty tail pipes I have purchased some stainless  Pypes 3" to 2 1/2" collector adaptors and complete system with an x pipe and Flowmaster 40 stainless mufflers so I 'll have to adapt it to fit TTI headers . The TTI headers are long tube looking at the pictures similar to the hookers .....

[Kern Dog]

Another great thing about TTIs, the collectors point slightly toward the middle of the car. This allows the exhaust pipes to run below the stock indentations of the lateral crossmember. This saves 2 pipe bends as you'd need with other headers. Most header companies just build theirs with the collectors pointing straight back. With those, you have to form a zig-zag to pass under those indentations. See photo of my car with TTIs and see the crossmember.

[cdr]

Unbolt the engine.
Set aside 9 to 350 hours of free time.
Have hammers handy.
Trial fit.
Remove and add dents.
Trial fit.
remove and add dents.
Trial fit.
Remove and add dents.
Go take a shower. Eat something. Get some sleep and try again the next day.
Trial fit.
remove and add dents.
Trial fit.
Remove and add dents.
Trial fit.
remove and add dents.
Trial fit.
Remove and add dents.
Trial fit.
Start drinking Ale.
Remove and add dents.
Trial fit.
Remove and add dents.
Trial fit.
remove and add dents.
Trial fit.
Remove while cussing and throwing things.
Call TTI and order a set from them.    

WOW, I finally got one of his jokes. 

[slumbers]

Another great thing about TTIs, the collectors point slightly toward the middle of the car. This allows the exhaust pipes to run below the stock indentations of the lateral crossmember. This saves 2 pipe bends as you'd need with other headers. Most header companies just build theirs with the collectors pointing straight back. With those, you have to form a zig-zag to pass under those indentations. See photo of my car with TTIs and see the crossmember.

Thanks for the photo that's just what I needed to see 😀😀😀

[Kern Dog]

Wooooo!

[XH29N0G]

1st photo good.  

2nd photo  

[Highbanked Hauler]

    These were super comps,  I had to unbolt both motor mounts and the trans mount also so I could slide it motor forward enough and lift with an engine hoist and yes I did part of Kern Dog's installation routine    but I did use them..

[Kern Dog]

1st photo good.  

2nd photo  

Just testing the boundaries here, having some fun. 

[cdr]

 

[XH29N0G]

    
I forget tone doesn't convey in text.

1st photo good.  

2nd photo  

Just testing the boundaries here, having some fun.  

[Kern Dog]

Wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo !!

[cdr]

what, that wasn't funny? guess my sense of humor is different .      

[Kern Dog]

I was agreeing.
Ever see a drunk guy yell WOOOooooooo when something goes their way?
Picture that only I am not drunk.

[cdr]

   I got drunk once , well more than that.

[XH29N0G]

 

[c00nhunterjoe]

Pull motor mount bolts, car on stands, jack motor up, passenger side slides in with ease. Driver may require torsion bar removal for ease depending on if they are 1 3/4 or 1 7/8. Still not hatefull.

[vegasmike]

I went through the same problem,,took them to the machine shop had them mill the flange on an angle to keep them from hitting the torsion bars..tell you what if i have to pull the motor out they will end up in the garbage can

[Kern Dog]

 

[slumbers]

Just a follow up to all your help previously ...
I have now fitted the TTI headers and a full stainless Pypes stainless steel system with an X pipe and Flowmaster 40 Mufflers . The TTI 's fit perfectly with power steering and a Column change auto with no modifications at all . I only had to rotate the engine on the mounts on the drivers side about 2" up to get the TTI manifold in , the passenger side went straight in . Some pictures here to show how good and tight these headers are .

Thanks for all your help the engine fired up after 2 years of hard work and I'm hoping to have the car on the road in the next month or so 

[alfaitalia]

Nice...certainly is tight in there!

[Kern Dog]

Alright! SCORE !

[slumbers]

Nice...certainly is tight in there!

Sure is ,note to self , next time  make sure you fit the lokar kick down linkage before fitting the exhaust manifolds otherwise you will swear a lot and cut your only one hand you can get in there to shreds   

[BDF]

Have you fit plug wires yet? #5 looks very close.

[slumbers]

Have you fit plug wires yet? #5 looks very close.

Yes , They are angled and all clear the exhaust manifolds , I have Stealth Heads . I have fitted high temp heat proof boots over all 8 plug caps as an extra precaution.

[Draco]

      Are those mufflers going to clear the drive shaft. Looks like they might need to be turned 180 degrees. Awful tight.

[slumbers]

      Are those mufflers going to clear the drive shaft. Looks like they might need to be turned 180 degrees. Awful tight.

The car is on axle stands under the Back axle so it should only go up unless I go Dukes of Hazzard jumping but you may be right I will rotate them a bit , there is about 1" clearance at the moment , the picture is deceptive 😎

[Draco]

   This the clearance with TTI pipe's

[slumbers]

I'll try turning my mufflers around the other way , Thanks for the last picture 

[BDF]

Have you fit plug wires yet? #5 looks very close.

Yes , They are angled and all clear the exhaust manifolds , I have Stealth Heads . I have fitted high temp heat proof boots over all 8 plug caps as an extra precaution.

Excellent!