When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
From a purely aesthetic perspective, no question that side pipes look amazing, but do the negatives associated with "HEAT" outweigh the positive? Has technology not advanced far enough where we can get "insulated" side pipes?
- MGTunon, Future C2 Owner (I'm already ready already!)
Factory style side pipes have the covers which insulate pretty well. No burn if a leg happens to touch one when exiting.
Also, they keep the cabin cooler without all that exhaust heat under the floor.
Factory style side pipes have the covers which insulate pretty well. No burn if a leg happens to touch one when exiting.
Also, they keep the cabin cooler without all that exhaust heat under the floor.
From a purely aesthetic perspective, no question that side pipes look amazing, but do the negatives associated with "HEAT" outweigh the positive? Has technology not advanced far enough where we can get "insulated" side pipes?
- MGTunon, Future C2 Owner (I'm already ready already!)
From a purely aesthetic perspective, no question that no side pipes look amazing. Actually, I have had both and like C2s with and without side pipes. I never had a problem with heat in the cabin, but unsuspecting passengers need to be aware when exiting the car. Also, they can a little wearing on long trips.
...do the negatives associated with "HEAT" outweigh the positive?
With factory sidepipes there is no negative associated with heat. With Hooker style pipes you WILL burn your leg at least once. Neither contributes to cabin heat
In the one I've driven and the one I've driven in, there was no heat issue of any kind. Factory covers. The tosck one ws driven about half an hour. I drove the non-stock engine one about half an hour and was a passenger about half an hour.
Sidepipes also make it much easier to work underneath the car on many repair jobs without the mufflers and pipes in the way. Heat is not an issue with factory style covers.
The rocker sills under the door get a little warm but that’s all with the stock, insulated aluminum covers. Heat is a non-issue.
Yep agreed with all above who said stock pipes do not have a burn risk -- unless you touch the chrome tips or reach underneath, which I have on occasion done inadvertently. When I lived in Arizona and traveled from the north country to Phoenix and Tucson, the trans tunnel was what got uncomfortably hot, not anything associated with the pipes.
I agree with all of the above. Nothing says 60s like factory side pipes. I added baffles to quiet the drone on the highway. I also wrapped the pipes with header wrap from Thermo Tec. The wrap keeps the sill and the cabin a bit cooler in the Florida heat. You can't see the wrap unless the car is on a lift. Jerry
I agree with all of the above. Nothing says 60s like factory side pipes. I added baffles to quiet the drone on the highway. I also wrapped the pipes with header wrap from Thermo Tec. The wrap keeps the sill and the cabin a bit cooler in the Florida heat. You can't see the wrap unless the car is on a lift. Jerry
Hey Jerry, I like your idea of adding baffles to the sidepipes......any info you can share on this would be appreciated. Mine are stock and LOUD. - Fred
Fred: I have a 66 small block. The car came with 2 1/2" exhaust manifolds from an earlier car. So I installed "quiet" 2 1/2" side pipes. They were anything but quiet. I ordered a four chamber baffles from Car Chemistry. I marked the side pipes at the end with a Sharpie in a few places with witness marks so the pipes would go back together after I cut them open. I installed the baffles near the end of the exit of the pipes. I cut out a section that was not crimped. I took all of this to my local muffler shop and had them weld the baffles in the pipes and weld the pipes back together using my witness marks. The shop owner did it for free. I left $50 for lunch for the crew. As mentioned above, I wrapped the pipes in header wrap and put it all together. The baffles cut down on the raspy-ness of the exhaust. I also installed a Tremec transmission. With 4:11s, I could not hear myself think on the highway. I now can carry on a conversation at 70 MPH. Good luck. Jerry
Fred: I have a 66 small block. The car came with 2 1/2" exhaust manifolds from an earlier car. So I installed "quiet" 2 1/2" side pipes. They were anything but quiet. I ordered a four chamber baffles from Car Chemistry. I marked the side pipes at the end with a Sharpie in a few places with witness marks so the pipes would go back together after I cut them open. I installed the baffles near the end of the exit of the pipes. I cut out a section that was not crimped. I took all of this to my local muffler shop and had them weld the baffles in the pipes and weld the pipes back together using my witness marks. The shop owner did it for free. I left $50 for lunch for the crew. As mentioned above, I wrapped the pipes in header wrap and put it all together. The baffles cut down on the raspy-ness of the exhaust. I also installed a Tremec transmission. With 4:11s, I could not hear myself think on the highway. I now can carry on a conversation at 70 MPH. Good luck. Jerry
Thanks for the info Jerry. Interesting website and products. I will be looking for a competent muffler shop in my area. - Fred
Regarding the OP’s concern about heat, I’ve had side pipes C2’s since the early 70s, never experienced any abnormal heat problems, just the opposite, keeps heat out of the cockpit and away from the drivetrain components. However, I have seen some people wrap them, I assume to reduce heat? see below
That is how I wrapped mine. In the Florida sun and heat, you will do anything to keep the cockpit a few degrees cooler. Having a black/black coupe does not help. Jerry
My rocker panels get very warm, almost to the point that you can’t put your hand on it vey long. Is that normal? Anyone ever gauge the temperature?
Not normal in my experience. Do you have the fiberglass insulation pieces inside the aluminum shell? Is there an air gap between the pipes and the frame rails? How about the sandwich of rubber donuts where the pipes mount to the frame at the rear?
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10, '14-'15
Originally Posted by Nowhere Man
heat no. noise, and power reduction yes
Power reduction not always... If you go with Aftermarket larger design and less internal wedges you will notice a power increase. I run oversized Allen's Exhaust. Don't know if there still in business or not.
Or you can Go for Sweet Thunder. They now make for Zip Corvette and other Corvette suppliers. You can make some HP with Sweet Thunder and noise.
The stock internal diameter of the Corvette side pipes are a teeny 1-7/8" So as Nowhere Man has mentioned there is a HP Lose.
No doubt stock pipes cost power but I'd like to see an Engine Masters type comparison to see how much.
Factory/Walker pipes, ~ 50 hp on a 427 at hi 6000-6500 RPMs has long been stated, of course a lot less at lower RPMs, where you’re moving less air/exhaust. But remember most of the aftermarket pipes have considerably larger internal diameter so the loss is significantly less (the factory internal pipes were very small, 1 7/8 OD, and about 1 5-6/8 ID.
Side Pipes
