X2, I have the Hooker exhaust on the car now with the Aero chamber mufflers, it's a nice exhaust but if I had to buy right now, I would go with the stainless Pypes system for about the same price.
I'll put it to you in a simple manor. If you're paying for the same results but 1 will rust out much faster if you drive the car a lot, why aren't you using the stainless exhaust system. The one on my 89 Olds Royal has been on it since new and I lived in TN where they use salt on the roads and it's still my daily driver. I've never had an issue with the exhaust on that car so why are you even thinking about the Hookers.
i have the pypes system, and it is great, it sounds nice and mean at idle. and its 409 stainless for ~300 bucks. my only complaint is its not loud enough haha!
I installed the pypes kit with the race mufflers, high quality system, definitly do this over anything else! car was quiet at first but does get louder as the mufflers burn out a little.
I've read several Pypes threads, and most people indicated the piece over the axle was too far to the rear. I have an El Camino and the wheelbase is 6 inchers or so (maybe 8) longer. Any guesses if it would fit?
On the exhuast systems....we used to offer both however in the last 2-3 motnhs we had to stop carrying the Hooker as we can't get them. I am not 100% sure why from our distributor but I believe Hooker may have been sold to another company.
Pypes is local to us and actually the guy who started that business also does Performance Years GTOs so him and I have known each other personally for over a dozen or so years now.
My point being...if you decide to go with Hooker make sure whoever you get it from has it in stock.
We usually have the Pypes system in stock and yes it is stainless. Not polished but it is a grade of stainless.