BB sidepipe headers
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 668
Likes: 26
From: Wadsworth Ohio
BB sidepipe headers
I want to put sidepipe headers on my 73 BB and would like feed back about difference in heat between reg. steel, ceramic, and stainless at the side 4" tubes from people who have had them on their cars. Thanks for any feed back that you can give me. Tom
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,123
Likes: 433
From: Gladstone MO
C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
I have Jet-Hot coated ones now and black before that- they both get too hot to touch. I carry a towel and make my wife wait to get out so I can cover the tube with the towel so she won't burn her legs. I don't have any shields over them. I' know a couple of guys that do have them but I have no idea how hot they get.
I can say that getting the heat out from under the car is a good thing.
I can say that getting the heat out from under the car is a good thing.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,310
Likes: 9
From: KB7TIF Ville NV
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 14,948
Likes: 3,351
From: NYC NY
You may not be crazy about the way the shields look (you can have them custom made if need be) but it's the best method of avoiding burns.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 11,608
Likes: 780
From: Eustis ( Area 51 Bat Cave ) Fl
The worse side pipe burn I ever got was in the 80's a fellow at the cruise had a wild custom c3 with pipes after a ride, I didnt get out right, I had on the trendy for the time parachute pants, 
they melted to the pipe and my leg and it all became one for a moment
I didnt get burnt again until 09 when I got the 69 not as limber and I went to turn sideways in the seat to talk, door open, got burnt right through my jeans.
Wife something of a tomboy got burnt once around that time, she yelled out a long line of obscenities that kept repeating "what kind of ^$^#&^# HorseSh&$*@ designer made these stupid &$^#*$(#)@ things......"
When I swapped a member my 383 with pipes for his 454 with pipes his pipes were wrapped in that ugly white header wrap, I didnt want to hurt feelings and kept mouth shut, but when I learned that you could reach down and grab them, hot, but no burns I LOVE the wrap,
Dont get me wrong the wrap or shields both kill the look of the pipes,
But seem almost a must on a street car I keep telling myself the wrap looks all restro racer mod....
We all have our tolences to pain but seems side pipe leg burns really , really hurt like all hell, and you swear you will never let it happen again...
they melted to the pipe and my leg and it all became one for a momentI didnt get burnt again until 09 when I got the 69 not as limber and I went to turn sideways in the seat to talk, door open, got burnt right through my jeans.
Wife something of a tomboy got burnt once around that time, she yelled out a long line of obscenities that kept repeating "what kind of ^$^#&^# HorseSh&$*@ designer made these stupid &$^#*$(#)@ things......"
When I swapped a member my 383 with pipes for his 454 with pipes his pipes were wrapped in that ugly white header wrap, I didnt want to hurt feelings and kept mouth shut, but when I learned that you could reach down and grab them, hot, but no burns I LOVE the wrap,
Dont get me wrong the wrap or shields both kill the look of the pipes,
But seem almost a must on a street car I keep telling myself the wrap looks all restro racer mod....
We all have our tolences to pain but seems side pipe leg burns really , really hurt like all hell, and you swear you will never let it happen again...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,300
Likes: 2
St. Jude Donor '08
I have a set of ceramic coated on my sbc. I really like them but as others have said, be prepared for a burn. I only did it once, but it was after about two hours of interstate driving. The pipe was about as hot as it could possibly get. I was wearing shorts, and in the time it took the signal to travel from my calf to my spinal root ganglia and up to my brain I and back gave myself a severe burn. I left a decent amount of skin stuck to the pipe. Took several months to heal and three years later, the scar tissue later still tightens and hurts when it gets cold. It huts now just thinking about it. But I really like the look and sound. Looking back, I'd do it again.
