Man I have had my hooker headers for 5 years. They were the ceramic chrome looking ones. There rusted as all hell and dented from speed bumps but the install wasnt bad at all just that damn lower middle bolt.I actually should touch them up whats a good brand for paint? Id like to keep them that aluminum/chrome color.
For the street a very good combo is 2.5" duals with the stock manifolds... It sounds good, gives good clearance and best of all it lets the engine breath enough.
As far as the install, how many of you guys run 1 3/4" and how many run 1 5/8"? I honestly think the smaller primary size made the install easier. Literally all I had to do was slightly angle the headers in from the bottom while a friend up top helped twist the headers slightly to clear the frame. Maybe because I have a no air car it was easier but still I was impressed. I was expecting to have dented scratched up headers by the time I was done:TU: I notice a power difference going from the old headers to the new ones but that is because my old headers were severely damaged. I wish I knew how the car felt with manifolds so I could compare but I expect to notice a difference once I have the exhaust re done. I would imagine over the years the old flowmaster mufflers have baffles that are damaged and plugged up with carbon deposits
I have had ceramic coated Hookers for about 4 years. Probably have 35k miles on them. The bottom half of the headers are a little rusty but looking from the engine compartment, they still look nice.