Sidepipe Covers
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From: Waterville Maine
Sidepipe Covers
Brian and all. Just purchased the sidepipe covers advertised here in the forum from Corvette Specialties of Maryland. They are IMHO perfect and were a great price. I ordered them Monday and received them today (Weds), great turn around. I have one question though, do I have to purchase the retainer that goes on before the cover or will the upper trim molding slide down on top of the sidepipe cover and stay with just the two end screws. It is shown in the assembly manual but not shown as a part of the sidepipe cover kits shown on some of the sites. Zip is the only one that I can find it advertised. The covers that were on there were not original and the previous owner must have removed them (retainers).
I found an old post that mentioned putting washers behind the retainer to assist with sliding the upper molding down. Can I put the washers behind the sidepipe covers and just eliminate the retainer all together?
Thanks in advance.
Chris
I found an old post that mentioned putting washers behind the retainer to assist with sliding the upper molding down. Can I put the washers behind the sidepipe covers and just eliminate the retainer all together?
Thanks in advance.
Chris
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 5,214
Likes: 447
From: NJ Hockey beer league
The retainers provide all the mounting strength once attached and the screws just basically hold them in place. You need the retainers, in the long run you will be glad you put them on correctly. 
Pilot Dan
Pilot Dan
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,345
Likes: 87
From: Northern MN
St. Jude Donor '13-'14-'15-'16-'17
My car has run without the retainers for over 30 years. Some how they got lost when the previous owner decided to weld cherry bombs into the exhaust system under the covers. But that's anther story. You can run them without the retainers. I did not notice any substantial extra noise from the mouldings. The problem with the retainers, and I do now have them, is that they fit real snug to the body. It is hard to get the edge of the moulding to slip over the retainer. I used washers on the back side of mine. Easiest way to do this is to use something like JB Weld and adhere the washers to the retainer by bolting them up and letting them set for a day to cure. Then they are always in place when and if you ever have to remove the covers for any reason.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,864
Likes: 5
From: OZ City, Kansas, The Land of AHHHHHHS!
On somewhat of a side note, now that you've spent a nice sum for new side pipe covers, I would strongly recommend you go one step further, and buy a set of plastic snap on shields that will help protect that shiny new metal finish from road rash. They're kind of expensive for just molded pieces of plastic, but are barely visible and well worth it.
You'll be glad you did down the road (good pun).
(Eckler's Item# 44713 $76.99 pr)
You'll be glad you did down the road (good pun).
(Eckler's Item# 44713 $76.99 pr)
Last edited by Tom E.; Apr 30, 2009 at 05:57 PM. Reason: wording
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From: Waterville Maine
I have seen the covers and will get them as the pipecovers are nice and would like to keep them that way. The roads here in Maine would surely do a number on them without the plastic covers. Thanks for the responses.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From: Waterville Maine
does anyone have pictures of the front mounts to their sidepipe covers that I could look at. I am interested in how the speed nut is attached to the splash shield. Assembly manual says something about drilling a certain diameter hole??? Looking at a finshed product would do more for me.
