Im looking for experience in the field of exhaust layout for a 97 trans am. I bought hooker shorties, decided that was the biggest waste of money ever.

I cant afford to burn more cash as college is an expensive ordeal.

Im on summit racing and looking at longtube headers and y pipes, and i have no idea what to do. Should i match brands? hooker longtubes with hooker y pipe? or should i got for hooker longtubes straight into 2 bullet mufflers and dump the exhaust halfway? i dont mind a rumble cuz my cutout already rattles the car when i open it. I just dont know which way to go.

If anyone could maybe put up their setup in terms of, brand, what part etc, and how pleased they are with it?

Thanks guys

I've found that as long as the pipe output size the headers works with the input pipe size of the y-pipe what you get doesn't really matter. But I've also found that making the two fit together is much easier if you get a matching set from the same manufacturer rather then getting the headers from one and the y-pipe from another.

As for what brand, that's really up to you and what you want to pay. Myself I'm running Pacesetter long tubes with a Pacesetter off road y-pipe (ORY for short). I've had them on my 99 for over 3 years now without any problems.

what is an off road y pipe?

and looking at the pacesetter headers, they dont have flanges, so how do you connect them to the y pipe?

On off road y-pipe is a y-pipe that doesn't have any cats in it and is only supposed to be used for off road use but I know lots of people who use it for street use too, myself included.

As for how they fit together, you slide the end of the header pipes into the ends of the y-pipe (header pipes slide over the outside of the y-pipe) and then you use "crimp" style exhaust pipe connectors to crimp the two pipes together (like with the I-pipe (ie intermediate/long straight pipe) where it goes into the pipe that goes into the muffler) or you have the headers and the y-pipe welded together where they meet. Myself I did both on my 99, had it welded and then put the "crimp" connectors on just for good measure.

I am looking at the same combination you have after I get my car fixed soon. Tell me something, do you have to tighten up the bolts now and then? or does that just depends how you drive like if you scrape the street when going fast then yeah right

If you have anything bolted in the exhaust system, like bolts that hold the header to the head, use GM part # 12346004, Teflon pipe sealant (for high heat), or Locktite 272 (hi heat), to hold the bolts in place. The factory used both of those on the LT1 and maybe even on the LS1. Just make sure the threads in the heads and the bolts are clean.

thanks alot sure thing, is the GM part number like special bolts or something. never thought of using that tape but makes sense. might have to buy a y-pipe cause the stock one got bent a little and hence If I get headers and the y-pipe it will complete my exhaust. Have a magnaflow high cat, flowmaster with dual 3.5 inch chrome tips already. can't wait to hear how it sounds. by reading the previous blogs, installing them in the passenger's side appears to be a hassle. looks like getting matching sets, Pacesetter i think seems to be the brand and ceramic coated for that matter

that brings me to my next question, classicindustries.com at least shows some special tape or fabric that you can wrap around your header to reduce heat inside the engine bay. but not allowing the heat to escape off the headers means they are retaining it, does that not spell disaster?

header wrap supposedly reduces the life of the header for that exact reason...the heat cannot escape. but thats just what ive heard

has anyone ever heard of using custom square or rectangular tubing for exhaust? does it hinder the flow?

I have a welder friend who said he'd teach me how if i got the material, maybe 1" x 3" ? and come from the header, custom build a piece to go from circle to square? that would give plenty of ground clearance...but would it work?

Just go with regular round tubing for the headers, no angles/corners or anything like that for the exhaust to get hung up in like you'd have with square or rectangluar tubing. Think a bent straw and air flowing through it (or trying to flow through it) with this.

With the header wrap, it doesn't reduce the life of the headers really. What it does is it helps to keep the heat that is given off by the headers from soaking the engine bay with the extra heat that aftermarket headers can and do give off. It can also keep the headers from rusting as quickly just like having them cermanic coated does.

As for the bolts where the headers meet the heads, it is recommended that after approximately 500 miles and again at 1000 miles after install that you go back in and check to make sure they are still tight since the heat cycling of the headers can make them loosen up some.