PeterGTLM

Hi All. Im new here and i have just bought a numbers matching '72 Big Block beauty with manual trans, factory AC, Power stearing... from 76 years old grandpa.

only thing i would like to upgrade (because od budget and lack od time) are side pipes because it looks gr8 to me and it would add also HP.

I would like to use the car on daly basis and also on longer jurneys.

So i want:
respectful sound but not anoying on long trips
good looking with cowers
Adding HP

My budget is $1800

What should i go for? Dougs, hookers, obx, maximizer, ...?

Thank you for help
Peter

MelWff

"Not annoying on long trips" stick with an under car exhaust system 2 1/2" with suitable mufflers.

Knerf

i have dougs and fit and finish were great, i have max flow inserts so its fairly loud but you can get quieter ones if you want, they will probably still be louder than what you have now though.

PeterGTLM

Ive been surching a bit and wanted to go for OBX because of price. On the other hand ive found that OBX primary is 1 7/8" and Dougs are 2 1/8" (so do Hookers) and as I have understood there will be beter performance with bigger primary pipes. Correct?

69ttop502

Peter, you are not going to add horsepower with sidepipes unless you make the system really loud. Hooker type headers have way too long primaries and way to big collectors for your engine. A well designed under chassis header and mandrel bent undercar system with a straight through muffler will beat a sidepipe set up all day long, especially if you want the sidepipes quiet. I agree with above, that a nice 2.5 inch system is all you need. It will be quieter, sound great and make more horsepower. I have run both configurations on a 600+ horsepower engine in my car, including dyno tests so I have seen the results I am reporting here.

Bill

suprspooky

I have the Hookers on my 68, I'm in the midst of upgrade from L71 to 460 stroker and considering going to under car. Can you post Dyno numbers for side pipe vs under car? tia

The13Bats

Of course its true in most cases header side pipes will not add hp the way a correctly designed for the application under car system will, yawn,
But,
I am not a race car needing every extra hp, my 454 does fine,
For me on a corvette especially the 68 to 73 the racy old school look of the side pipes are a must,
They are loud, without care or precautions they can burn you, but for me the look they add is worth it and then some,

pthor

Was wondering, what inserts you use with your sidemounts? I have the Hookers and the only inserts I've found are nowhere near large enough in diameter ~ I'm looking at 1.75 when I need closer to 3-inch to keep from robbing my power...
If I can't find larger insert, I will have to pay for something custom which I want to avoid...