I've decided to upgrade my exhaust system from the "quick resale" one the previous owner had installed.

I will be buying this Magnaflow package and have been looking at the ceramic coated Hooker headers.

Any suggestions?

While I really like Hooker headers, I highly recommend you do NOT buy them ceramic coated. Buy them uncoated and have a thermal barrier coating applied by a professional coating shop instead of the cheesy ceramic coating Hooker applies. We've seen them rust away in less than 2 years. The thermal barrier, if properly applied, will protect your headers virtually forever. We use Thermal Tech in Hopewell, Virginia. Jet Hot and Swain are two others that come to mind. We've had dirt-track racers using the thermally coated headers for 10 years, rinse them off and they still shine!

FWIW

Jim

Thanks Jim.

I did look at some of the archived posts since and noticed a similar thread where you suggested this. I also see you recommended Mad Dog. Any first-hand experience with these guys and, if so, how's their ceramic coating?

Same with Dougs coating.
Mine stated rust'n after 2-3.

Mad Dog doesn't offer coatings (last I checked). Again, purge the word "ceramic" and insert "thermal barrier". They (MDs) are excellent fitting and well made. Nothing makes more power "out of the box" than Hooker SuperComps.

Jim

LBMs! LOL

I have that same magnaflow kit on my 69 convertible. I have RARE long branch manifolds instead of headers. I had to have the muffler shop fabricate the head pipes to reach the manifolds but it sounds awesome.

Ya, I hear you Steve and Earlybird. I'd like to get original manifolds but there are other components that aren't original equipment like the intake, carb and air cleaner. Adding headers at this point is really no harm. If everything else was OE, then I would look to get original exhaust manifolds.

I may go that route one day and am always on the look-out for stuff in decent shape if I ever wanted to put it back.

Good to hear this system is on another FGF on this site and that it gets a seal of approval. I can't wait to hear how it'll sound.

I bought the super comp headers, but was not happy with the ground clearance on the driver side. They dragged on everything.

Sounds like you no longer have them on your car. True? If so, what did you replace them with?

You can purchase Hooker headers from Jet Hot Coatings. Thats what I did...

Which Hooker model? And did you get Jet Hot to coat them for you? Do you have any issues with ground clearance?

With the feedback received here and with some convincing from a friend of mine, I've decided to go with stock manifolds instead of headers, though I did order the Magnaflow package yesterday, so I'll need the connectors too.

Any suggestions as to where I should get the manifolds?

I've started to look for some as well. Here's where I've been looking:

Ram Air Restoration
Performance Years
Pontiacengines.net
CI
Ames

From what I can tell Ram Air says their manifolds are stock with a 2-1/2" outlet and all the others come from the same supplier. Don't know how true this is.

Would also like to know where the best place to get them from before I make the plunge.

I just bought mine a couple weeks ago from RARE: http://www.ramairrestoration.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=31_2_21&products_id=51
Shipping was reasonable. Very good quality. I also picked up the down pipes and flanges. Coated them with Por-20 and they look great. Highly recommend these LBM's.

R.A.R.E. is the way to go IMO. You'll be happier in the long run, I just bit the bullet and ordered the complete exhaust kit from them yesterday... Mainly because you can drop the center section of the exhaust in a matter of minutes rather than deal with hanging pipe.....

I am a magnaflow fan, and may still put on their cases, but we'll see what the spin techs sound like!

Here's my LBM from RARE after 1 year.
http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc265/oildrop/LBM1.jpg
http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc265/oildrop/LBM3.jpg
http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc265/oildrop/LBM4.jpg
I ordered them with the silver ceramic coating.

I've had several people say not to order them with the ceramic coating. Have you contacted RARE to see if they will warrant the coating?

For what I'm planning, I managed to get a contact on the weekend for a local shop that'll coat.

Yes, I contacted Paul at RARE before Christmas and sent him these pictures. He said they would re-coat them for me if I paid shipping. I got him to agree to pick up the shipping (one way).
Unfortunately, shipping from Canada with duties, brokerage, etc. would still be quite expensive... I'm still debating what to do.
Paul has always been very good to deal with. This is an unfortunate situation.
Trevor

They are still on, but the drivers side header was damaged when my son ran over something, then further when he had an accident. Car is currently being (slowly)semi-restored, and if I can find a replacement for the drivers side header, I'll keep them on. If not, I'll most likely go for the LBMs.