Side Pipes
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,313
Likes: 512
From: Carmel CA
Side Pipes
I am looking for a new set of side pipes for a 65. From what I hear, both from people talking and what the cars sound like, some of the after-market ones just don't sound like the real thing. Is there a good source for quality replacements?
Thanks,
Doc
Thanks,
Doc
Drifting
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 1,417
Likes: 161
From: Des Moines, Iowa, USA Iowa
Well it's all subjective and everybody has their opinion of what sounds best 
My personal recommendation is for the "Original Sound" sidepipes from Sweet Thunder, I have them on my car and highly recommend them for fit, finish, quality of build and sound http://www.sweet-thunder.com/corvett...pes_63_67.html 
My personal recommendation is for the "Original Sound" sidepipes from Sweet Thunder, I have them on my car and highly recommend them for fit, finish, quality of build and sound http://www.sweet-thunder.com/corvett...pes_63_67.html
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,078
Likes: 101
From: Riverhead New York
The Side Pipes on my car have been on it for over 40 years and are still very serviceable. When we put OEM pipes on a car the feeling was that after the first prolonged trip the "Stock" sound would be much louder as they were then broken in. Al W.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,345
Likes: 87
From: Northern MN
St. Jude Donor '13-'14-'15-'16-'17
I had to replace mine back in the early 80's due to the fact that the PO welded in cherry bomb type mufflers. I purchased OEM pipes from GM back then. They still have the mellow sound that I like. They don't have that sharp crack that you usually get from after market units. I haven't had a chance to hear any Sweet Thunder original sound units so I can't compare them to what I have. They may be the ideal setup for what you are looking for.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 11,265
Likes: 2,131
From: Bowling Green, Kentucky
Well it's all subjective and everybody has their opinion of what sounds best My personal recommendation is for the "Original Sound" sidepipes from Sweet Thunder, I have them on my car and highly recommend them for fit, finish, quality of build and sound http://www.sweet-thunder.com/corvett...pes_63_67.html
My personal recommendation is for the "Original Sound" sidepipes from Sweet Thunder, I have them on my car and highly recommend them for fit, finish, quality of build and sound http://www.sweet-thunder.com/corvett...pes_63_67.html 
Larry
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 13,685
Likes: 61
Some feel the original equipment SPs are actually more restricted (or at least no better than) the factory C2 "off-road" undercar exhaust. Might want to look at other SP options from the aftermarket, some LOOK stock.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 4,171
Likes: 335
From: Homewood Alabama
Here are three examples of Allens OEM or Factory Sound pipes. If you want correct bends, go with the sweet thunder OEM sound pipes. STAY AWAY from all other NON OEM sound pipes.
Your engine and cam will alter the note of the pipes as you will notice in the LS3 video. The pipes were much louder on that particular car.
427/390hp with Allen's factory sound
327/350hp with Allen's factory sound
with allen's factory sound
Your engine and cam will alter the note of the pipes as you will notice in the LS3 video. The pipes were much louder on that particular car.
427/390hp with Allen's factory sound
327/350hp with Allen's factory sound
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Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 4,171
Likes: 335
From: Homewood Alabama
Depends where you get them from. If you want true "off road" exhaust sound, go with the gardner complete system.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 2,223
Likes: 556
From: Tallahassee fl
The engine makes a massive difference.
My Dad's 67 327 / 350 with a big cam is louder than my 66 with a 1995 LT1 in it by FAR. Last Saturday he was following me and at a stop light I could hear his engine better than mine when at a stoplight
My Dad's 67 327 / 350 with a big cam is louder than my 66 with a 1995 LT1 in it by FAR. Last Saturday he was following me and at a stop light I could hear his engine better than mine when at a stoplight
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,313
Likes: 512
From: Carmel CA
Actually, I like a quieter car. My 67 400 hp has side pipes and I love the sound, it just seems to go with the car. My brother has a 350hp 67 coupe with under car exhaust. It is really nice to drive long distances and I have been thinking of going that route on my 65 since I am in the process of restoring it now. I have side pipes now, but they are in bad shape.
Doc
Doc
Doc
Doc
Last edited by watson; Oct 17, 2013 at 10:19 AM. Reason: typo
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 58
Likes: 0
I have a 66 427/425. Came with side pipes. Couldn't stand the roar right next to my ear. Went to the n11 (off road... wink, wink) under car syst. Sound is a good throaty rumple. Louder than stock but very pleasant for cruising.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 13,685
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Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 4,171
Likes: 335
From: Homewood Alabama
I'd like to hear from anybody who has actually received a ticket for excessive noise with stock rear or side exhaust. If you are getting on it and blow past a cop, you have bigger problems.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 5,537
Likes: 280
From: Egg Harbor Township NJ
2015 C2 of Year
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10, '14-'15
I had the Sweet Thunder on My 65 502 BB. I didn't like the sound. They were snappy when lifting your foot of the pedal and barked when I was cruz-en. Nicely made pipe though.
I switched to the Allen's pipe. If you look at the internals of the Allen's you will notice more punched cones inside that are smaller. The sweet thunder has large punched cones with less then the Allen's.
The Sweet Thunder is a good pipe...not trashing it but the Allen's sound much Smother then the Thunders to me and are just as loud. To me they let you hear a nice smooth steady exhaust with out barking every now and then.
Just My $.02 Worth
I switched to the Allen's pipe. If you look at the internals of the Allen's you will notice more punched cones inside that are smaller. The sweet thunder has large punched cones with less then the Allen's.
The Sweet Thunder is a good pipe...not trashing it but the Allen's sound much Smother then the Thunders to me and are just as loud. To me they let you hear a nice smooth steady exhaust with out barking every now and then.
Just My $.02 Worth
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 4,171
Likes: 335
From: Homewood Alabama
I had the Sweet Thunder on My 65 502 BB. I didn't like the sound. They were snappy when lifting your foot of the pedal and barked when I was cruz-en. Nicely made pipe though.
I switched to the Allen's pipe. If you look at the internals of the Allen's you will notice more punched cones inside that are smaller. The sweet thunder has large punched cones with less then the Allen's.
The Sweet Thunder is a good pipe...not trashing it but the Allen's sound much Smother then the Thunders to me and are just as loud. To me they let you hear a nice smooth steady exhaust with out barking every now and then.
Just My $.02 Worth
I switched to the Allen's pipe. If you look at the internals of the Allen's you will notice more punched cones inside that are smaller. The sweet thunder has large punched cones with less then the Allen's.
The Sweet Thunder is a good pipe...not trashing it but the Allen's sound much Smother then the Thunders to me and are just as loud. To me they let you hear a nice smooth steady exhaust with out barking every now and then.
Just My $.02 Worth
Your are referring to the NON OEM sound side pipes, i believe. I have also used the sweet-thunder regular pipes with larger louvers, which are much different than the original louvers, hence the sound difference. I promptly removed those pipes and sold them. They were obnoxious and so were the corvette central side pipes. However, if you buy the new OEM/factory sound/exact replica sweet-thunder pipes, which you will have to specify when ordering, they sound like the original pipes and do not have the obnoxious bark and popping of the other design with the larger louvers. Same with the allen's pipes, you must specify factory/oem sound when you order.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 4,761
Likes: 138
From: Clinton Township MI
Cruise-In III Veteran
Not oem but gnm
I'm with the Sweet Thunder folks who, having side exhausts, love the sound. Truly is in the "ear of the beholder" as to what's pleasant vs. what's obnoxious. Me, I wanted to take advantage of the massaged cylinder heads and continue that breathing/flow through the pipes so I opted for the "GNM" (Gives No Mercy) Sweet Thunder 3" OD, 2 1/2" ID pipes. Love the sound. Have had those pipes on the car for 5 years now. Now, traveling with my wife on long trips, that's when my wife cried "uncle" (me not so much). The '5 with those pipes sounds like an off-shore race boat (I luv it!).
Decided 2 years ago to "Get the Best of Both Worlds" and working with an exhaust shop, I added a complete undercar exhaust system AND electric cutouts. The focus was to make the undercar system the primary system and it was constructed of 2 1/2" mandrel bent pipe with an "H" pipe just after the trans cross member. Went with Dynomax mufflers to complete the install, using band clamps throughout to ease separation when a clutch is needed.
Here's a sound bite, albeit in a building, with my quad exhaust system working (it's either undercar or both undercar and side pipes when the sidepipes are open...taken during a dyno session back in 2011. I luv' it!!
Jim
In God We Trust!
Decided 2 years ago to "Get the Best of Both Worlds" and working with an exhaust shop, I added a complete undercar exhaust system AND electric cutouts. The focus was to make the undercar system the primary system and it was constructed of 2 1/2" mandrel bent pipe with an "H" pipe just after the trans cross member. Went with Dynomax mufflers to complete the install, using band clamps throughout to ease separation when a clutch is needed.
Here's a sound bite, albeit in a building, with my quad exhaust system working (it's either undercar or both undercar and side pipes when the sidepipes are open...taken during a dyno session back in 2011. I luv' it!!
Jim
In God We Trust!