I see lots of posts commenting on the sound level of sidepipes. Is the sound level high only with big block engines or is this true for small block engines as well.

Thanks,
-- Steve

 

Oh small blocks also have " the rumble". At least mine does with the 350HP.

 

When you think about it the side pipe is just a straight pipe with a few pinches in it, it would be loud even on a six banger...!

 

I put the GM stuff on my 63 FI coupe when it first became available over the counter and it was one noisy bitchen Vette....I dont know if a roadster would be any different but the noise level increases with the different horsepower engines, those solid lifter performance engines are nasty without side-pipes....and the noise is right at your side...I would imagine the hydraulic cam engines to be much quieter

 

I have a 383 stroker motor with 2 1/2" (now 3") Allen's sidepipes that were too loud so I sent them to Masterdave to change them from 2 1/2" to 3" and add a layer of glass around the inner baffle. Gave the sound about 30% less annoying and mellower. I also added a crossover pipe that took the bark out.

 

That's a nice sound!

Thanks!
-- Steve

 

Very nice sound.....I'm glad you're satisfied with it.

 

I put 2” pipes from Paragon on my stock ’66 327/300. As soon as I started it up for the first time I immediately had an ‘oh ****’ moment and thought I had made an expensive mistake. After I drove it a few times I began to realize that outside the car it has a very nice rumble reminiscent of a much higher horsepower muscle car. I love driving through a parking lot and setting off alarms on the new cars. My car does not have A/C so I always drive with the windows down and I cannot talk on a cell phone at highway speed (yes, I know I should not be talking on a cell phone and driving at highway speed). Overall, now that I have grown accustom to them I would not remove them for anything. I am glad I bought the 2” and not the 2 ½” pipes. I cannot imagine how loud it would be with larger pipes

 

I know I'm in the small minority on this issue, but sidepipes are way too loud for me. As soon as the '66 is back from the body shop, it's getting new stock mufflers (the 12 year old Corvette Central ones are rotten inside and are getting loud, even though the exterior is perfect) and a crossover pipe to quiet it even more.

I get boatloads of poop from the local Mustang people 'cuz I have stock exhaust on the 03 Cobra (which makes 540 HP at the wheels), but when you're 54 and have ringing in your ears that keeps you awake at night, you don't need to do things to make it worse.

 

Just wanted to add that there is quite a difference between a coupe and a roadster. My coupe is WAY louder than my roadster and both have original type side exhaust. In the roadster I can even hear what my wife is saying....... I love my coupe

 

Can't tell you why but the side exhaust noise in the coupe is louder with the windows closed than it is with them open.

I have a set of "seasoned" 2" side pipes fed from 3" collectors on Heddman Headers. My wife can't take more than an hour and a half in the car so I drive alone a lot. (BONUS ! ! !)

Rich

 

I wear ear plugs a lot these days! They don't help with my sidepipes though. It feels so good while driving, but the hangover tinnitus suks. DAMN THAT DISCO FEVER!

 

That seems very odd to me, especially if you're comparing the roadster with its top down and the coupe with its windows closed.

However, that's good news for me because I'll be looking for a roadster and my 64 year old eardrums don't need any more abuse .

-- Steve

 

Yes, side pipes are loud...at the beginning. But you get used to them, and after a while a regular muffler sounds lame. I have two 67's, one with side pipes, one without. The one without is a BB, but the SB with pipes sounds much better to me. As they say, they make a Corvette sound like a Corvette!

 

I had the original sidepipes on until the inner baffle broke lose and started rattling. The stock pipes were loud and had a droning sound. I ended up putting on vette packs that have a 2-1/2" inside diameter and outside diameter of 3-1/2". I can now talk and listen to music, the droning is gone also. One Gentlemen got his vette dyno and gained supposedly gained 33 rwhp.

 

I have the new, or new in the last year, allens "original sound" aluminized pipes on a convertible with a 327/350hp. No problems.
My fathers 66 BB has original pipes and it is not extremely loud either. I think it just all depends on your definition of loud though. I have good hearing and they dont sound obnoxious to me, just a nice low rumble and when you really get on it, they get fairly loud. However, the Sweet thunder pipes had this horrible high pitched scream and annoying pipe under water sound. They were obnoxious.

Here are some videos with the allens pipes

 

I have a 66 327/300Hp with original factory sidepipes on my coupe. I love the sound ......it is similar to hearing the difference between a Harley and a rice burner. Those little Honda Civics can immitate all they want but they just can't get it right! It is so neat to hear the sound of the pipes when you pass a tractor trailer and the sound is bouncing off back at ya'. Check their mirror and they always have to look over and see what is going by.

If I have a problem with sound, I raise the volume on the oldies radio station and keep on moving.

The only problem I have ever experienced with sidepipes is with the heat.....shinge on the skin with shorts in the summer.....and a little more radiated heat on the rocker chrome panel because it hangs about an inch into the cab. One more notch on the AC and I am happy little camper....

rt

 

The most "quiot" ride is the roadster with the top down. It isn`t the exhaust sound that is the trouble, but the droning created in the passenger compartment like you are sitting inside a speaker box.

 

Nice sound on both cars
Is there any difference in making a crossover pipe vs a X pipes on the exhaust pipes?
Is one better than the other? Not just thinking of sidepipes but exhaust in general

Whats the big benefit in having it?

 

My nephew has a 66 427\425 vert with sidepipes. I have a 66 smallblk vert with 2" sidepipes.
He can't believe how much my vette sounds like his. They are both loud. My wife also doesn't like the sidepipes.