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I have a small block 65 Coupe and I am considering side pipes. Any thoughts on pros and cons? Any issues on installation - rattles, etc? Also, where is the best place to purchase high quality pipes.
Thanks in advance for your help,
Jerry
Pro - Sound great
Con - But only for a while. Road trips may require ear plugs.
Pro - Look good (to me)
Con - Less efficient than an undercar exhaust, stealing horsepower
I have had them on my '67 conv. for 37 years and love them. I wouldn't be without them on my car. The sound is deep and throaty since I have Hedman headers, and they make a statement. A complete set can be $$$$, so be prepared. Dennis
1. The resonance on coupes will really bother you even after short drives.
2. Side pipes reduce the power output of your vehicles. The bends in the pipes are too sharp to prevent unnecessary backpressure.
3. To my ear, the off road exhaust sounds much better and will add to the power of your vehicle.
4. Side pipes look better on convertibles than coupes. A GM stylist explained to me that side pipes make coupes look taller by extending the eye to well below the bottom of the door. Taller looking sports cars look less aggressive and less visually ready to look prepped for road racing.
1. The resonance on coupes will really bother you even after short drives.
2. Side pipes reduce the power output of your vehicles. The bends in the pipes are too sharp to prevent unnecessary backpressure.
3. To my ear, the off road exhaust sounds much better and will add to the power of your vehicle.
4. Side pipes look better on convertibles than coupes. A GM stylist explained to me that side pipes make coupes look taller by extending the eye to well below the bottom of the door. Taller looking sports cars look less aggressive and less visually ready to look prepped for road racing.
Its all a matter of taste as far as how it looks. I think your "stylist" is full of himself. Nothing looks better than a coupe with side pipes. The roadsters look good too, but not as good as the coupe.
Maybe thats why GM has made crappy looking cars lately. Too many "stylists" with no style
Its all a matter of taste as far as how it looks. I think your "stylist" is full of himself. Nothing looks better than a coupe with side pipes. The roadsters look good too, but not as good as the coupe.
Maybe thats why GM has made crappy looking cars lately. Too many "stylists" with no style
You will have to bend out of the way, or cut the rock panel brackets off and do some trimming of the fiberglass. It would be painful for me to cut metal or fiberglas on a nice car for sidepipes, even though it is possible to do so carefully, save the parts and go back later. With stock size pipes you could get by with bending the rocker panel brackets out of the way. I'm not sure you could do so with some of the non-stock, larger diameter sidepipes. I have difficulty believing you would see any HP loss on a stock, hydraulic cam 327 car. Maybe on a solid lifter motor. Bt, it will sound faster.
1. The resonance on coupes will really bother you even after short drives.
2. Side pipes reduce the power output of your vehicles. The bends in the pipes are too sharp to prevent unnecessary backpressure.
3. To my ear, the off road exhaust sounds much better and will add to the power of your vehicle.
4. Side pipes look better on convertibles than coupes. A GM stylist explained to me that side pipes make coupes look taller by extending the eye to well below the bottom of the door. Taller looking sports cars look less aggressive and less visually ready to look prepped for road racing.
Agree with the power issue, but the styling? Really? Seems to me the fastback design makes the coupe look longer, so with this theory the Vert would REALLY seem tall. The rocker moldings are not much narrow than the side exhaust, so I don't agree with this particular GM stylist. As for sound, I think a crossover pipe is the cure. JMO
The sidepipes do sound better with headers...under both acceleration and deceleration - I couldn't keep my RPM's down after adding the side exit Headmans
The factory sidepipes do kick up dust pretty good since they face down so much - I eventually cut my tips off and had them welded on facing straight out - looks great, works much better, and sounds the same.
With 2" inch manifolds, the sleeve at the pipe to manifold connection that is meant to direct the exhaust past the joint, has an inside diameter is less than 1.5" !!! My 64 still managed to run 12's in the quarter this way with 350hp ZZ4 engine. I assume the 2.5's are a little better, but the headers really woke mine up as far as seat of the pants feel, but I never did get to revisit the track.
Great sounding and noise is really not a factor since the restoration as the car is very well insulated now (including under the headliner and inside the doors. Pilot Dan