I own a 70 vert, Mulsanne Blue with Hooker Headers and sidepipes (flat black). What do you guys think of "side-pipe shields". I saw a post to this website http://www.steelshields.com/gallery.html and was 50/50 on how they may look (and if I did choose to go this way, which one, STINGRAY logo with of without the cross-flags) Your opinions ???

 

I'm not a side-pipe guy but just in looking at the pics I think it would look great if it JUST had the cross flags - providing your pipes are already polished or chromed.

In the pics the ones where there was a contrast between the pipe and the cover it didn't look as good as the ones where it was polished all the way.

Are you going for style or "Dammit I didn't stick my leg out far enough again" protection?

 

Trying to go with a little of both, protection and carrying in the chrome of the rest of the car

 

You wont be disappointed with the product.
I got mine directly from Dean (probably his 2nd or third customer at the birth of his venture.)
They are highly polished, easy to clean with one exception: any script with a pointy contour will grab the rag....that is the only nit-picking drawback I have ever found with the product, and I have had mine for 2 years or so.
I havent found a metal polish yet that wont bring a luster to the finish...I have been caught in rain, re-tarred roads, and regular grime...they clean up like new very easily

Function: well...they work!
Here in South Louisiana we have very hot days, I drive, park car, put the car cover on and hang the side of the car cover on the mirrors to let the HEADERS cool...the shields are actually cool enough for the car cover to touch.
I have literally bragged about the shields and demonstrated that in the hottest part of the day, at idle I could touch the shields.
...after 2 minutes you can hold your hand on the shield...in the winter time is even better.

Whether its highly polished or not, the logo's are visible from any angle...the only time the logo cannot be made out is; a flash at 140mph

Look at this pic; the camera was almost at the same level of the shield.


This will give you an idea of the visibility...any other angle (all will be looking from above) makes the logo's more visible because of contrast and shadows, even if the pipes behind the shields are polished or not.



Fill out your profile so people can know where you are located.
I can help in directing you to the closest vendor of these shields.

An FYI; Dean is the maker of these shields, he is a long time member of this forum, was a long time member of this forum BEFORE he got into the heat shield biz....you couldnt ask for a better guy to deal with, as is his vendors supplying us with the shields.


BTW....my signature pic is the car in the gallery section of the link you provided.




Jim

 

Jim thanks for the useful information. The shields you have are the ones I would lean towards. I just concerned how they would look against the flat black pipes.

 

They would look good against flat black...had it not been for the heat; I had thought of putting LED's for night time bling-bling !

.



Y/W






Jim

 

Thank God for heat.

 

Gonna put a spark-plug bung in the 4" pipes....then I'll get the light and "bang-for-the-buck" FX.


To the OP:
BTW--there are two pics in the link you posted with flat black pipes.



Jim

 

It's nice to see that not everyone on this site has lost their sense of humor

 

Yep

Cant lose what ya never had....LOL

I think with hard-board asbestos I can do the LED's...just trying to figure what color....



Jim

 

Don't forget the classic "cheese grater" shields available from www.cobrastuff.com. You can get them in 27" or 36" lengths, unpainted steel, chrome, or ceramic coated. Mine are 27" ceramic coated.

 

Wow Jim, where do I mail your check

Actually Jim has the third set i made and the first in his style. With his suggestions I had redesigned the lettering to reduce the Sharp lettering making it easier to clean.

Now after reading Jim's comments, your honor I rest my case.

 

As much as it appeared that I was a PAID advocate for your product hint...hint...
for those reading...I am NOT.

Its just that these are the best on the market period.

I had to nit-pick to find a negative...hence the rag and pointy script comment.

Even the ease of removing, and re-installing them to clean the pipes behind the shield is nothing but a few minutes.

They are well made...the dollars spent for these is worth it.

I dont live in an area where salt is put on the roads for ice; so somebody else will have to chime in on that.
In my area; there is nothing that has ruined the luster to the point where I had to spend a large amount of time to clean and shine the shields again.
I live in an area with crappy roads, I removed tar, asphalt and rocks, and had more trouble removing those off the paint than the shields.

I learned that I didnt have to completely remove the shields to clean the pipe behind it...I just loosened the clamps, let it slide out of the way, shined the pipe, turned the clamps and shields back into place and re-tightened them.....done deal....about 5 minutes per side to clean and shine behind the shields.

I also learned; if a drunk college girl falls on your shields and bends them, tries to get up and her hip-hugger belt gets snagged, bending a large dip and pulling up a corner of your shield..........all it takes is a short piece of 4" sewer pipe (hopefully new and not used ) an old blanket, a rubber mallet or dead-blow hammer.

First;
using your hands bend what you can back into shape.

Then;
Place the shield on the sewer pipe with curves matching, place an old blanket on shield, tap with a rubber mallet the bent portion of the shield, apply polish, and....viola!!!...shield is new again!!

I did this twice, once because of the drunk girl, .....and once because Hooker waranteed my headers, a little twister came through and took my shields for a ride (they were placed in my boat until re-installing the headers).
I originally learned this idea because my set came from Thailand, the shipping gorrillas could not leave well enough alone and the shields arrived distorted and script bent....I conversed with Dean; he was ready to ship new shields to me if I needed...but I found this remedy.
They are now shipped from the U.S., to U.S. customers and packaged very well.


Let me inform all those reading; the car will rot long before these shields will.

Its a great product that personalizes our cars,and make them stand-out from the crowd.



Jim

 

Jim once again thanks for the info. I live in eastern Long Island (11786) Is there a dealer in this area ? Thanks

 

Close to your area....click the email link on the steel shield page and that will hook you up with Gary (who is also a forum member)...not sure of his forum ID.
Gary is in Nebraska I believe...not real sure, but I think thats accurate.


But you and Gary both being yankees ya'll will get along great!!


Seriously; the steel shield link is direct to Gary if I am not mistaken...you cant go wrong...just send an email; its free to do that!






Jim

 

As Jim has said you can contact Gary in Nebraska or you can go here.

http://www.mamotorworks.com/corvette-1-244-8158.html

either way you will be happy with Steel Shields.

 

I love the sound of side pipes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6grzt...eature=related

 

I knew it was only a matter of time before the big boys started selling your product! Congratulations Dean!

 

Thanks, but this forum was my inspiration to offer them to others. When I first made a set for my Vette back a couple of years ago i posted pictures on these pages and many were not only impressed but gave me the push to offer them to fellow Corvette owners. Of cause the licensing of the copyrighted names were a big concern but one of our fellow forum members(Gary) stepped up and chased down the folks at GM and as the say "the rest is history".

 

Hey Dean!
Any forum discount for your fellow CF friends here????
Gotta ask!