Long tubes newbie question

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

Earthworm

Newbie
Joined
Oct 21, 2019
Messages
22
Reaction score
2
Location
CT
Hello all,

I have a 1988 k1500 4x4 w/ 350 automatic

questions: does someone make LT headers that bolt to the stock y pipe? If not, what h or y pipe can I buy?

Do I need to hook oxygen sensors up? I am removing smog system if this is important to know in answering.

Thank you all. I searched but did not find anything pertaining to this. Forgive me if I missed
 

df2x4

4L60E Destroyer
Staff member
Super Moderator
Joined
Mar 1, 2012
Messages
11,159
Reaction score
12,702
Location
Missouri
No long tube header will bolt up to a factory Y pipe. Usually people who want to use long tubes custom make the rest of the exhaust system.
 

Earthworm

Newbie
Joined
Oct 21, 2019
Messages
22
Reaction score
2
Location
CT
No long tube header will bolt up to a factory Y pipe. Usually people who want to use long tubes custom make the rest of the exhaust system.

gotcha. I may get Hooker 2462 the silver ceramic coated ones. I cannot find an h pipe that specifically says it will bolt to these
 

kennythewelder

Officially Retired, B31-3 (6-G) certified welder.
Staff member
Super Moderator
Joined
Jul 14, 2014
Messages
6,500
Reaction score
9,100
Location
Louisiana
gotcha. I may get Hooker 2462 the silver ceramic coated ones. I cannot find an h pipe that specifically says it will bolt to these
H pipe does not go rite to headers. It goes farther down stream. A X pipe is more effective than a H pipe BTW. When installing long tube headers, most of them come with a flange that gets welded to the exhaust pipe so that the headers bolt up and line up to the engine, and exhaust pipe. As for your 02 sensor, if your not going to a carburator, and a HEI distributor, then you will need the 02 sensor for the ECM so that it can adjust fuel trim ratio. The 02 sensor needs to read both sides of the exhaust to adjust fuel trim. So your best option IMO, is long tube headers, into a Y pipe, and them your 02 sensor, then high flow cat, then a free flowing muffler ( NOT FLOWASTER) that you can look straight through, and then your tail pipe, or down pipe, or dual pipes for the dual exhaust look. There is a lot to be said for a Y pipe exhaust system. It is what was used on Trans Ams, Camaros, and Corvettes for years. The original performance muffler was old school glass packs. I have 2 on my 97. There are no restrictions in them. Master flows are based on this design. There are other options out there also.
 
Last edited:

PlayingWithTBI

2022 Truck of the Year
Supporting Member
Joined
Jan 3, 2019
Messages
9,552
Reaction score
14,679
Location
Tonopah, AZ
As Kenny said the better the flow the better your engine will breathe. Your 88 uses just 1 O2 sensor on the driver's side exhaust manifold. If you get long tube headers try to install it in the collector on that side and go with a heated O2 sensor since you're further away from the head and, with less back pressure, it may not stay hot enough to give good feedback and keep you in closed loop. On some high performance tunes guys will delay the response of the short term (INT) fuel trims giving it enough time to respond to the feedback from the O2 sensor or you may experience stumbling at idle.
 

Earthworm

Newbie
Joined
Oct 21, 2019
Messages
22
Reaction score
2
Location
CT
As Kenny said the better the flow the better your engine will breathe. Your 88 uses just 1 O2 sensor on the driver's side exhaust manifold. If you get long tube headers try to install it in the collector on that side and go with a heated O2 sensor since you're further away from the head and, with less back pressure, it may not stay hot enough to give good feedback and keep you in closed loop. On some high performance tunes guys will delay the response of the short term (INT) fuel trims giving it enough time to respond to the feedback from the O2 sensor or you may experience stumbling at idle.

thanks for the info all. I may have to bring this to shop to do, I know I can do the header install, but since it would be first time mocking up exhaust after the fact, someone who has done this before will cause me less swearing. And I live in apartment complex so I cant run headers until I can get to shop lol
 

Earthworm

Newbie
Joined
Oct 21, 2019
Messages
22
Reaction score
2
Location
CT
Okay so after more research, I am going to get hooker LT 2462-1HKR headers. This is my DD

Are there specific bolts that I need for the headers to the block? I found hooker
10984HKR bolts

Can I lengthen my ac delco o2 sensor(new). Or does anyone have a link to one that will work? Someone mentioned a 3 wire one.

Also what gaskets will work well?

I found this header back exhaust hooker
16533HKR

and 2 hooker
21005HKR mufflers.

thank you everyone
 
Last edited:

Erik the Awful

Supporting Member
Supporting Member
Joined
Aug 9, 2019
Messages
7,613
Reaction score
15,528
Location
Choctaw, OK
My Hedman headers came with bolts nearly identical to the Hookers you posted. YMMV.

If your headers don't come with hardware DO NOT use grade 8 or hardened bolts. Use regular grade 5. If your header bolts rust through and break, as they're prone to do, you'd much rather be drilling out unhardened bolts. Feel free to ask me how I know.
 

Earthworm

Newbie
Joined
Oct 21, 2019
Messages
22
Reaction score
2
Location
CT
My Hedman headers came with bolts nearly identical to the Hookers you posted. YMMV.

If your headers don't come with hardware DO NOT use grade 8 or hardened bolts. Use regular grade 5. If your header bolts rust through and break, as they're prone to do, you'd much rather be drilling out unhardened bolts. Feel free to ask me how I know.

I will use the grade 5s, ha. Thanks.
 

Earthworm

Newbie
Joined
Oct 21, 2019
Messages
22
Reaction score
2
Location
CT
Looking at the 3rd gen forum, someone used AC Delco 3 wire
AFS74. Will this work with the hooker headers?

And does the hooker 10808HKR gasket work for my 1988 k1500 350?


thank you just trying to make sure I get everything as I have a weekend to do this
 
Top