Quite Sidepipes
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 130
Likes: 1
Quite Sidepipes
Guys,
I really like side pipes for my 72 convertible. I know they are not original for a 72. I'm getting a little older and with a convertible I am looking for quite pipes. Is there such a thing as quite side pipes? Which ones? Again originality is not a concern.
Kevin
I really like side pipes for my 72 convertible. I know they are not original for a 72. I'm getting a little older and with a convertible I am looking for quite pipes. Is there such a thing as quite side pipes? Which ones? Again originality is not a concern.
Kevin
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 240
Likes: 0
From: Allentown PA
Queit Sidepipes
Guys,
I really like side pipes for my 72 convertible. I know they are not original for a 72. I'm getting a little older and with a convertible I am looking for quite pipes. Is there such a thing as quite side pipes? Which ones? Again originality is not a concern.
Kevin
I really like side pipes for my 72 convertible. I know they are not original for a 72. I'm getting a little older and with a convertible I am looking for quite pipes. Is there such a thing as quite side pipes? Which ones? Again originality is not a concern.
Kevin
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 158
Likes: 0
From: Maui Hawaii
Think you meant "quiet" ... an no, this is not the spelling police. LOL
Take a look at these or give them a call: http://www.sweet-thunder.com/corvett...pes_68_74.html
Take a look at these or give them a call: http://www.sweet-thunder.com/corvett...pes_68_74.html
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 130
Likes: 1
Think you meant "quiet" ... an no, this is not the spelling police. LOL
Take a look at these or give them a call: http://www.sweet-thunder.com/corvett...pes_68_74.html
Take a look at these or give them a call: http://www.sweet-thunder.com/corvett...pes_68_74.html
Kevin
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 130
Likes: 1
Ok so what choices are there? Sweet thunder was suggested. They look nice. Anyone using them? I know quiet to me might not be the same as for others. I like the looks of hookers as they come out of the fenders. They just seem like they will be really loud. Are there good performing mufflers for the hooker style pipes? Anyone else make that style pipe? I have heard many quality issues with newer hooker headers and pipes.
Kevin
Kevin
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 763
Likes: 454
From: Lombard IL
St. Jude Donor '15 thru'19,'23 thru '26
I have had the factory style side pipes on my 72 convertible for over 30 years now. Over the years they have gotten much to laud,even for me, and more so for my wife. Thought about taking them off,...but love the look to much. Maybe I'll try replacing just the mufflers...
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,695
Likes: 270
From: New York
Hooker makes three inserts for their sidepipe/headers. As mentioned by OldCorvetteKid, the reverse flow are quiet, but the car can't breath and will probably hurt performance.
Then Hooker has the "fiberglass" wrapped inserts. Louder, but the car can breath better.
Then the maxFlows. Very loud, but maximum performance.
I am going to try contacting Burns Stainless. I am hoping for a low restriction, quiet muffler so I can run on tracks like Lime Rock that have noise restrictions.
Then Hooker has the "fiberglass" wrapped inserts. Louder, but the car can breath better.
Then the maxFlows. Very loud, but maximum performance.
I am going to try contacting Burns Stainless. I am hoping for a low restriction, quiet muffler so I can run on tracks like Lime Rock that have noise restrictions.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!
Joe Kucinski
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,908
Likes: 129
From: Fredericksburg Virginia
Honestly, if it is quiet you want, the Hooker Reverse Flow inserts are the quietest out there. I was running them on my last engine and, even with a tremendous amount of bypass through the rust holes, they weren't particularly loud.
But lets be honest...they are louder than a rear exhaust. The biggest thing being that half of your exhaust exits IMMEDIATELY adjacent to your left ear.
Even at its quietest, you won't want to drive the thing for hours upon hours.
Any of the "straight through" options (STS, SweetThunder, MaxFlow) will have varying degrees of quiet at idle, a little more sound on the road, and will probably wail pretty loudly at WOT.
I love my STS pipes, but I would NOT call them quiet.
The downside to quiet, though, is backpressure. There just isn't any way around it. Absolutely no question that you'll be giving up some real horsepower, especially in the upper RPM band, to get a quieter exhaust. It's a trade-off that everyone needs to make.
But lets be honest...they are louder than a rear exhaust. The biggest thing being that half of your exhaust exits IMMEDIATELY adjacent to your left ear.
Even at its quietest, you won't want to drive the thing for hours upon hours.
Any of the "straight through" options (STS, SweetThunder, MaxFlow) will have varying degrees of quiet at idle, a little more sound on the road, and will probably wail pretty loudly at WOT.
I love my STS pipes, but I would NOT call them quiet.
The downside to quiet, though, is backpressure. There just isn't any way around it. Absolutely no question that you'll be giving up some real horsepower, especially in the upper RPM band, to get a quieter exhaust. It's a trade-off that everyone needs to make.
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 52
Likes: 8
From: Alexandria Minnesota
Guys,
I really like side pipes for my 72 convertible. I know they are not original for a 72. I'm getting a little older and with a convertible I am looking for quite pipes. Is there such a thing as quite side pipes? Which ones? Again originality is not a concern.
Kevin
I really like side pipes for my 72 convertible. I know they are not original for a 72. I'm getting a little older and with a convertible I am looking for quite pipes. Is there such a thing as quite side pipes? Which ones? Again originality is not a concern.
Kevin
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 130
Likes: 1
The choices are mind numbing. I currently have exhaust manifolds, but will put headers on to free up the flow. from there I need to get from the headers to the pipes, then mufflers inside the pipes? so now I have more questions: what headers fit the best? does anyone make a kit then from headers including the pipes and mufflers? It doesnt look like sweet thunder has anyway to connect from the headers to their system.
Kevin
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,093
Likes: 297
From: Midlothian VA
FYI: I have the sweet thunders on my BB running through stock manifolds with 4 speed. I recently used my decibel meter to check the noise level with hardtop on & windows closed
Results:
At idle @60 decibels
Gentle/mundane run up to 40-50 mph averages 80-90 decibels.
Semi-hard run up through the gears (<4k rpm) 95-100 decibels
Cruising @ 45 mph in 4th - @80 decibels.
Running on the highway at 60 mph - almost 90 decibels.
Bottom line: Quiet Sides pipes = oxymoron
They are loud and the sound can be uncomfortable on long rides.
Results:
At idle @60 decibels
Gentle/mundane run up to 40-50 mph averages 80-90 decibels.
Semi-hard run up through the gears (<4k rpm) 95-100 decibels
Cruising @ 45 mph in 4th - @80 decibels.
Running on the highway at 60 mph - almost 90 decibels.
Bottom line: Quiet Sides pipes = oxymoron
They are loud and the sound can be uncomfortable on long rides.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,070
Likes: 5
From: N.Richland Hills Texas
"Bottom line: Quiet Sides pipes = oxymoron " I have been avoiding posting any comments...I have Hookers and Sweet Thunders... They are NOT quiet !!! But I wanted them as loud as possible... I never have the tops on so I hear every thump... I was a "long hauler" on last year's Power Tour.... Never had the radio on (can't hear it anyway) Tops only on the last couple of days when it rained really hard....But even way back with stock motor and exhaust it had a great sound.... Maybe you can put the sidepipes on but not connect them.... just run the stock exhaust ??
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,093
Likes: 297
From: Midlothian VA
"Bottom line: Quiet Sides pipes = oxymoron " I have been avoiding posting any comments...I have Hookers and Sweet Thunders... They are NOT quiet !!! But I wanted them as loud as possible... I never have the tops on so I hear every thump... I was a "long hauler" on last year's Power Tour.... Never had the radio on (can't hear it anyway) Tops only on the last couple of days when it rained really hard....But even way back with stock motor and exhaust it had a great sound.... Maybe you can put the sidepipes on but not connect them.... just run the stock exhaust ??
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,625
Likes: 4
From: Miami FL
Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones are your dearest friend with sidepipes
Seriously they totally cut out the side pipe sound to almost nothing but allow you to hear the radio, your passenger (sometimes good sometimes bad depending on what mood she is in)...in other words voices are not blocked, and you can actually have a perfect conversation on the cell phone and hear horns. Ya might look a little funny like a airplane wanna be pilot gone mad but they do work nicely and save your ears from ringing after a long trip
Seriously they totally cut out the side pipe sound to almost nothing but allow you to hear the radio, your passenger (sometimes good sometimes bad depending on what mood she is in)...in other words voices are not blocked, and you can actually have a perfect conversation on the cell phone and hear horns. Ya might look a little funny like a airplane wanna be pilot gone mad but they do work nicely and save your ears from ringing after a long trip
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,093
Likes: 297
From: Midlothian VA
Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones are your dearest friend with sidepipes
Seriously they totally cut out the side pipe sound to almost nothing but allow you to hear the radio, your passenger (sometimes good sometimes bad depending on what mood she is in)...in other words voices are not blocked, and you can actually have a perfect conversation on the cell phone and hear horns. Ya might look a little funny like a airplane wanna be pilot gone mad but they do work nicely and save your ears from ringing after a long trip
Seriously they totally cut out the side pipe sound to almost nothing but allow you to hear the radio, your passenger (sometimes good sometimes bad depending on what mood she is in)...in other words voices are not blocked, and you can actually have a perfect conversation on the cell phone and hear horns. Ya might look a little funny like a airplane wanna be pilot gone mad but they do work nicely and save your ears from ringing after a long trip
In VA you can't wear them while riding a bicycle or even a "hoveround".
Last edited by Hammerhead Fred; Feb 18, 2014 at 11:28 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,625
Likes: 4
From: Miami FL
"Wearing of Headsets, Earphones, and Earplugs Prohibited. A person may not wear earplugs, a headset, or earphones attached to a radio, tape player, CD player or other audio device while driving a motor vehicle. Use of earphones or earplugs for cellular phones are acceptable. Hearing aid devices are acceptable."
My attorney would argue they are a hearing aid device as they are not plugged into any sound device to listen to music. You can hear radio fine without need to plug them in. This would be just one of many not legal illegal things they could enjoy writing me up for that are not DOT compliant. First item would be the reason I am wearing them in the first place because my pipes are loud.
My attorney would argue they are a hearing aid device as they are not plugged into any sound device to listen to music. You can hear radio fine without need to plug them in. This would be just one of many not legal illegal things they could enjoy writing me up for that are not DOT compliant. First item would be the reason I am wearing them in the first place because my pipes are loud.
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 105
Likes: 1
From: Ventura
"Wearing of Headsets, Earphones, and Earplugs Prohibited. A person may not wear earplugs, a headset, or earphones attached to a radio, tape player, CD player or other audio device while driving a motor vehicle. Use of earphones or earplugs for cellular phones are acceptable. Hearing aid devices are acceptable."
My attorney would argue they are a hearing aid device as they are not plugged into any sound device to listen to music. You can hear radio fine without need to plug them in. This would be just one of many not legal illegal things they could enjoy writing me up for that are not DOT compliant. First item would be the reason I am wearing them in the first place because my pipes are loud.
My attorney would argue they are a hearing aid device as they are not plugged into any sound device to listen to music. You can hear radio fine without need to plug them in. This would be just one of many not legal illegal things they could enjoy writing me up for that are not DOT compliant. First item would be the reason I am wearing them in the first place because my pipes are loud.
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 82
Likes: 3
From: Tupelo Mississippi
I am in the same boat, I don't like a lot of noise. Did a lot of research and ran across a thread that someone posted about a cone that they used to reduce the problem. You can use whatever muffler you want and just add the cones to reduce the sound. I plan on using STS spiral inserts because they flow best and buy cones to reduce the noise. The poster said you can add as many as you want to get the sound level down. They insert into the collector before the muffler and come in different diameters. Here's the link on Summits website,I haven't used them yet, my Vette is still in the building stages (Body off restomod)
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/dt...2530/overview/
Mark
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/dt...2530/overview/
Mark
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,625
Likes: 4
From: Miami FL
Drive & enjoy your vette how you may see fit.