Gotta Love Side Pipes!!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,123
Likes: 433
From: Gladstone MO
C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
But that's one of those things that you keep reminding yourself about = over and over. Makes absolutly ZERO difference until you touch it. From then on, it'll never be a problem again.
I make my wife wait until I get out, go around and open the door for her. I carry a towel expressly to put over the pipe so SHE won't have the memory. The pain I'd get from that would not be worth it.
I make my wife wait until I get out, go around and open the door for her. I carry a towel expressly to put over the pipe so SHE won't have the memory. The pain I'd get from that would not be worth it.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 2,501
Likes: 35
From: Sunshine State, USA
Senior Member
Cruise-In V Veteran
I have never heard of that happening with a set of stock sidepipes with the factory insulators in place. I wonder if they are missing, since he had several other issues with the car that he did not know about before purchasing it. 
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1,536
Likes: 1
From: Boca Raton FL
I also had them retaped to reduce heat. How can I tell if the insulators are in place?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 2,501
Likes: 35
From: Sunshine State, USA
Senior Member
Cruise-In V Veteran
Just look under the covers between the covers and the mufflers and you should see the insulators. Here is a for sale add that shows what they should look like, even those the ones pictured are cracked:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-p...es-covers.html
You can order new insulators from most of the major vendors like Corvette Central, Eckers, etc, which should take care of your grilled leg issue.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-p...es-covers.html
You can order new insulators from most of the major vendors like Corvette Central, Eckers, etc, which should take care of your grilled leg issue.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 8,640
Likes: 1,866
From: LONG ISLAND
2025 C3 ('68-'73) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
All natural Corvette Tattoo.....gotta love it ......pipes are worth the pain !!
You will be showing & telling that story for a very long, long time !!!
ENJOY your TAT & your pipes......
You will be showing & telling that story for a very long, long time !!!
ENJOY your TAT & your pipes......
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1,536
Likes: 1
From: Boca Raton FL
Pretty funny - was telling my wife that I kind of hope that it scars as it is a pretty cool tat. Took some pics - looks to me like they are insulated but let me know your thoughts. Just had them re-taped too:
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 3,079
Likes: 314
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
The muffler rap is not stock. Must be blocking the air flow around the tubes, causing heat transfer to the covers. Once again, some engineering genius trying to improve on the original factory design. I have the original covers only on my car and they do not get hot enough to burn skin. Never.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1,536
Likes: 1
From: Boca Raton FL
The muffler rap is not stock. Must be blocking the air flow around the tubes, causing heat transfer to the covers. Once again, some engineering genius trying to improve on the original factory design. I have the original covers only on my car and they do not get hot enough to burn skin. Never.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 2,501
Likes: 35
From: Sunshine State, USA
Senior Member
Cruise-In V Veteran
You need to get rid of the wrap and get new factory insulators. The stock design has a free air space between the insulators and the covers for the heat to disapate as air flows through, and the insulators then protect you from any residual heat. That wrap might help a little, but without the free air space, it is just going to transfer the heat through the wrap to the covers, not to mention the wrap will cause your pipes to rust.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 3,079
Likes: 314
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I meant to say I have the original factory covers with their insulators intact and more or less attached. They could be in better condition and tend to rattle and buzz...due to loosensess as well as the rear supports being hacked off at some point in time by Bubba, who opted for a weird exhaust system with glass packs and a crossover tube. I would love to be able to spend $2000 to $2300 for a new pair of repros...but need convincing that a future buyer would be willing to compensate me for the investment and not just looking for a donation to their economic well being. Until that happens...I am quite content to run around town, throwing up more rocks and further knicking the original covers that I have.