Holley Performance, Blackheart Hooker Headers
 

Ok, I'm not sure if I just got an early Christmas present but I was having dinner and someone with a Hooker shirt approached me and asked if I owned the red FR-S. Not sure how to react, I said I suppose so....LOL!!!!

Well it turns out he worked for Holley Performance and Blackheart Hooker Headers. I wasn't sure where it was headed because I had assumed they were a hot rod performance company but he expressed a lot of interest in the FR-S.

Long story short, they asked to use my car for development. I am still uncertain since I've only had possession of my car for only about a month. The guy offered to take me for a tour tomorrow so I'm gonna check it out on my lunch break!!!! At least I hope to see some awesome project cars.

I'll report back after my tour tomorrow!!!! Hoping for great FRIDAY 👍😄

What if he doesn't work for them and want to take you to a back ally and beat you up so he can steal your awesome car then sell it for parts so he can buy drugs because plot twist he is a crack head!!!

Hahahaha jk!

In for updates!!!

LMAO!!!! We will find out tomorrow, he gave me his business card but he did say he would compensate with free product in exchange for letting them use my car....I'll make my decision after the tour and share my experience!!!

They're a little late to the game, but cool that they're interested in the platform I suppose.

If I were you I would request a document signed by both you and them that outlines the expectations of the R&D including how long they're planning to keep your vehicle.

Anyone else want to chime in regarding experiences of letting a company use your car for product development? Curious to hear both good and bad.

Thanks for the feedback. I have not yet agreed though, I would like to take the tour, meet the engineer who will be responsible and I'm sure I will ask all of the above suggestions you had made if they don't' point it out. The guy did briefly say my car would be on the dyno but I'll get all the details tomorrow.

If they or for real and developing headers it not going to be a five minute job. They are going to need considerable dyno time and need to tune car as well as no doubt try several differt variations of header.

for example shiv at openflash just spent two weeks with a guy on dyno and he was just doing further develpment on an existing tunes for his already tested and proven header.

Seems like they are trying to keep up with the Jones...or in this case Edelbrock. Funny how they are interested now that hot rodding big dog Edelbrock is in the mix. I like it, more options!

I would be suspicious. Why would a company that size need to recruit people with cars for product development in a restaurant outside of a normal business environment. Most companies buy the car they want to do R&D with and eliminate any liability associated with borrowing someones car. On the other hand you live in Bowling Green KY where their R&D facility is.

That's what I understood, I'll find out exact details when I go there on my lunch today.

Definitely like the options, I did some research and went on their website and I was shocked how many companies Holley owns. From what it looks like, they seem to be the "Big Dogs" as you called it ;)


Can't wait for the tour!!!

Actually, almost everyone borrows, I have seen posts on FB, social media and other's websites stating looking for vehicles for product development.


YES!!!! I do believe I got an early Christmas present living in Bowling Green. I've past by the facility a few times on passing and never thought I'd get a chance to tour inside. I'm going to have high expectations :)

Ok guys, I took the tour on my lunch and of course had high expectations. All I can say is WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!! Long story short, expectations exceeded, I met with the engineer in charge of the project, did the tour and discussed plans.
Starting Monday I will drop off my car and be replaced by a rental car they are providing.
Now I have to see if they will let me shoot photos.

Looks like they came out of bankruptcy a few years ago and were bought out by private equity in 2012. Definitely a big dog though. Will be interesting if they can leverage that expertise and develop a product that can compete with the Ace 4-2-1 header.

Meanwhile in the process, ask about to make catback also

Ther new Blackheart Hooker line was launched in 2014 to cater their premium line. The engineer in charge of the FR-S that I had met was actually one of the original engineers from DC Sports. I remember having DC Sports headers on my 1993 Honda Civic and if I remember, they were the leaders in quality and performance in the 90's.
Yes, I hope to post pics if they let me.

They will be doing a complete product list. Headers, axle backs, cat backs, front pipes, maybe even possibly a tuner since they also own DiabloSport tuners (not for sure).
From my understanding, they are going to be developing exhaust dual set up, single outlet set up for total weight reduction, headers w/ and w/o cats, front pipes w/ and w/o cats, mid pipes w/ & w/o resonators (these r options if a guy w/ an axle back decides to upgrade to a cat back.

I would definitely buy a header if it was CARB legal... not happening in ten years at least for me though...

Is it just me, or does Blackheart Hooker sound like it's related to prostitution?

10 years???? Why....LOL.....

Blackheart "Hooker" that's what drew my attention and why I'm participating...👌😎👌

I can't recall the specifics but I believe it is California law dictates that a car must have an OEM header for the first ten years of its lifetime.

Not an expert, but I'm not so sure about that, even for California. I believe the header just has to be CARB approved.

Dropped off my FR-S this morning at Holley. I got a sweet Chevrolet Sonic from the rental place as my loaner.....LOL!!!!!
Anyhow, they said it would be on the dyno this afternoon to perform a baseline. I hope to sneak away a little early from work to check it out.

HAHA The Sonic RS is kinda fun to be honest.

Subscribing to follow another option. Please mention to them this forum and thread so they can contribute if possible.

Sorry, I'm a complete newbie here, not sure I understand what you're trying to say????

Here we go!!!!! Got a sneak peak of the engineers strapping my whip to the dyno. So happy to be a part of this!!!!

He means tell them to get on the forums and post what they are working on in this thread so the community can be involved with their development process and provide feedback.

Tell them:
1. About this forum
2. To make a vendor account
3. To post here confirming development
3. To post up development thread

thanks guys, I'll be back there Friday to see how things are going to I'll let them know about this forum.

Yeah maybe they could do something rearly different and release an opensource tune to go with their header, unique marketing pitch :-) assist breaking into the established market

It's nice to see the big name domestic companies sticking their toes into the import market, brings a fresh perspective and more R&D to things.

Next on their list after headers :D

https://eb9239d2b3c1bda1d53d-6b4eb89...0-82851_v3.jpg

:lol: ^ :clap:

An old-school 350 (read no fuel injection) with dual carbs and a tunnel ram!

Exactly! Glad everyone is on the same page. This is really exciting to me. I think that it's important for them to understand all the really cool options for this car seem to have decent community involvement from start to finish of the R&D process. At the end of the day they are the big company, but we are the ones with the money to buy their products.

I'd absolutely LOVE to see a package deal with a competitive header on the market that includes an OS tune, something like the Ace 4-2-1 that gobbles up the overpipe, but allows us unique options or flexibility. (Bolt in/out test pipe/cat/resonator available to help adjust and tune sound and emissions, for example.)

I'd never run it.... but I think it'd be hilarious to see a carbed brz on the dyno.

Thank you for letting them borrow your car! Having some domestic header options should really start to bring other header prices down in the coming months...

do we know the ballpark for pricing on these headers?

Guys, I sent an email with everyone's suggestions earlier today and just got a response.

Holley is very welcoming to the community and suggested a cars and coffee at their facility. This would include a factory tour and an up and close discussion of my car in development and will take ideas into consideration as many people here wanted to be involved. They are very eager to be involved with the FR-S/BRZ platform.

Who would be interested?

Please ask about headers el and uel, overpipe, and axleback muffler

I'll ask when I go there Friday to check on my car. Do u just want to know if they are planning on developing them?