Sidepipe options
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 251
Likes: 3
From: Louisville Kentucky
Sidepipe options
I want sidepipes. I like the 69 style however I dont really have 3k to drop. Has anyone here researched sidepipe options. Can the fiberglas 69 covers be chromed and look good. If so what is involved in that process. Can they be purchased chromed and ready to go.
What about the othe sidepipe options. I kind of like the Hooker set ups as an alternative. What are my options and what would they realistically cost. I need everything from ehaust manifolds to hangers.
What about the othe sidepipe options. I kind of like the Hooker set ups as an alternative. What are my options and what would they realistically cost. I need everything from ehaust manifolds to hangers.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 263
Likes: 0
From: bethpage NY
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,028
Likes: 1
From: SOUTH ELGIN IL
the hooker systems are great but there is a big price difference in the different finishes/materials (black, chrome, stainless). Also, the headers are one piece from engine bolt on point to the collector on the outside of the car so you will need to worm them in there. I love mine (black) but they show signs of rust every 2 years or so I have to redo them. I need to get them coated at some point. Also, the hooker systems get very hot and are in a position to burn your legs because they mount next to the car rather than underneath. I find it happens more to passengers even though I remind them every time. Remember also that you have to buy the baffles unless you want to run 4" straight pipes...
I wouldn't trade mine for any other exhaust systems at this point.
I wouldn't trade mine for any other exhaust systems at this point.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 263
Likes: 0
From: bethpage NY
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 34,454
Likes: 665
From: Republic of Texas
I tried it and no way could I live with it off the track. Rear exit straight pipes are one thing, but side pipes that exit 2ft from you head is another.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Racer
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 263
Likes: 0
From: bethpage NY
understandable... i have the motor out of mine now and im stroking it out and all that fun stuff how hard was it to snake them in since there 1 piece and what kind of power increase did u see from them cause i have hooker headers now with 3'' pipe muffler just curious on the power and the sound quallits if its worth it to spend 1300 on them
Racer
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 263
Likes: 0
From: bethpage NY
and did they come with the baffles thanks the info is a big help
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,891
Likes: 2
From: Baltimore MD
the hooker systems are great but there is a big price difference in the different finishes/materials (black, chrome, stainless). Also, the headers are one piece from engine bolt on point to the collector on the outside of the car so you will need to worm them in there. I love mine (black) but they show signs of rust every 2 years or so I have to redo them. I need to get them coated at some point. Also, the hooker systems get very hot and are in a position to burn your legs because they mount next to the car rather than underneath. I find it happens more to passengers even though I remind them every time. Remember also that you have to buy the baffles unless you want to run 4" straight pipes...
I wouldn't trade mine for any other exhaust systems at this point.
I wouldn't trade mine for any other exhaust systems at this point.
"Sweet Thunder" also makes sets that will work.
Here's a picture of my setup.:
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 3,736
Likes: 94
From: I buy all my days at the same place where the girl sells her nights
Racer
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 389
Likes: 2
From: Austin Tx
Hooker all the way! 
I'm not really a big fan of the shields, at least not until I burn my leg
.
For my solution, I have two sets of side pipes; I put the chrome pipes on for show, and run ceramic coated pipes normally. There a huge heat difference between the two types of pipes! Both have the 2.5 inch Sweet Thunder "SideCannon" baffles in them. At the track, I run straight pipes...loud as hell, but music to my ears. The track spectators don't seem to mind either!
Not your normal setup, I agree, but it works for me.
Here's a shot with the ceramic pipes:
I'm not really a big fan of the shields, at least not until I burn my leg
.For my solution, I have two sets of side pipes; I put the chrome pipes on for show, and run ceramic coated pipes normally. There a huge heat difference between the two types of pipes! Both have the 2.5 inch Sweet Thunder "SideCannon" baffles in them. At the track, I run straight pipes...loud as hell, but music to my ears. The track spectators don't seem to mind either!
Not your normal setup, I agree, but it works for me.
Here's a shot with the ceramic pipes:
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 34,454
Likes: 665
From: Republic of Texas
you can order the hookers with reverse flow mufflers but
1) they will be quiet
2) kill horsepower like no other.
I highly, HIGHLY recommend STS baffles http://www.spiralturbobaffles.com/corvette.html they sound great and will no rob you of power. The owner of the company is member here and also recommend Dean's covers, they too are a MUST. He's also a member here. http://www.steelshields.com/
My car with STS baffles.
1) they will be quiet
2) kill horsepower like no other.
I highly, HIGHLY recommend STS baffles http://www.spiralturbobaffles.com/corvette.html they sound great and will no rob you of power. The owner of the company is member here and also recommend Dean's covers, they too are a MUST. He's also a member here. http://www.steelshields.com/
My car with STS baffles.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,123
Likes: 433
From: Gladstone MO
C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
I ran STS baffles until I saw this video:
Yanked 'em out. No problems with the baffles- they are a very good well made product. I've driven the car maybe 300 miles in the last 2 years so noise is not a factor to me. Drive it to a cruise and home. If the cruise is over 50 miles, I trailer it. $7.50 a gallon for gas, feeding a BB with 4:11 gears, I need to have some cash for important things like beer.
FWIW: Ol' Red sounds pretty much like the 69 toward the end of the video.
Yanked 'em out. No problems with the baffles- they are a very good well made product. I've driven the car maybe 300 miles in the last 2 years so noise is not a factor to me. Drive it to a cruise and home. If the cruise is over 50 miles, I trailer it. $7.50 a gallon for gas, feeding a BB with 4:11 gears, I need to have some cash for important things like beer.
FWIW: Ol' Red sounds pretty much like the 69 toward the end of the video.
Last edited by TimAT; Aug 12, 2010 at 08:25 PM.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 389
Likes: 2
From: Austin Tx
I ran STS baffles until I saw this video:
Yanked 'em out. No problems with the baffles- they are a very good well made product. I've driven the car maybe 300 miles in the last 2 years so noise is not a factor to me. Drive it to a cruise and home. If the cruise is over 50 miles, I trailer it. $7.50 a gallon for gas, feeding a BB with 4:11 gears, I need to have some cash for important things like beer.
FWIW: Ol' Red sounds pretty much like the 69 toward the end of the video.
Yanked 'em out. No problems with the baffles- they are a very good well made product. I've driven the car maybe 300 miles in the last 2 years so noise is not a factor to me. Drive it to a cruise and home. If the cruise is over 50 miles, I trailer it. $7.50 a gallon for gas, feeding a BB with 4:11 gears, I need to have some cash for important things like beer.
FWIW: Ol' Red sounds pretty much like the 69 toward the end of the video.
Gots to have beer money!
3rd Gear
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
My '76 came with the chrome hooker sidepipes...they looked great and sounded great but they're dangerously hot and had many bad burns on folks getting out of the passenger side not being familiar with the hazard. They also only lasted a few years of daily driver (no rain) and they would rust out at the inner meeting point of the four tubes into the collector where the plating didn't seem to flow well. I finally replaced them with the fiberglass covers painted aluminum with gloss top coat and ran standard tailpipe from the exhaust manifolds down the center of the car, stock location, through the frame cutouts to short turbo mufflers and then bend 90 degrees to exit at the sidepipe cover spill locations. It looks like a functional sidepipe system without the heat, cost, and need for periodic replacement. I can change the mufflers at will for standard muffler shop costs and it flows and sounds great
Racer
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 339
Likes: 4
From: Northwest CT
My '76 came with the chrome hooker sidepipes...they looked great and sounded great but they're dangerously hot and had many bad burns on folks getting out of the passenger side not being familiar with the hazard. They also only lasted a few years of daily driver (no rain) and they would rust out at the inner meeting point of the four tubes into the collector where the plating didn't seem to flow well. I finally replaced them with the fiberglass covers painted aluminum with gloss top coat and ran standard tailpipe from the exhaust manifolds down the center of the car, stock location, through the frame cutouts to short turbo mufflers and then bend 90 degrees to exit at the sidepipe cover spill locations. It looks like a functional sidepipe system without the heat, cost, and need for periodic replacement. I can change the mufflers at will for standard muffler shop costs and it flows and sounds great
Now about posting a photo of your setup?
