Side pipe recommendations
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 39
Likes: 1
Side pipe recommendations
I have a stock 76 l48(that I know of) with all smog removed. Have always loved the look of a vette with side pipes.
Car currently has dual exhaust(no cats). i like the look of both the factory style and aftermarket side exhaust, but my question is besides possibly burning my leg what's the cons? I'm not looking to gain hp, although that would be nice. I also don't want to hurt hp either. I know this topic has been beat to death, but I see some posts saying they hurt power and some say theirs no difference.
Thanks in advance
Car currently has dual exhaust(no cats). i like the look of both the factory style and aftermarket side exhaust, but my question is besides possibly burning my leg what's the cons? I'm not looking to gain hp, although that would be nice. I also don't want to hurt hp either. I know this topic has been beat to death, but I see some posts saying they hurt power and some say theirs no difference.
Thanks in advance
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 18,728
Likes: 2,579
with aftermarket style Hooker, etc. the only other con is noise, the less restrictive the more power and the more noise. I have run glass packs, STS baffles, sweet thunder, and reverse flow. At this point in my life I value quiet more than power so i now have reverse flow but there is significant reduction in power in the upper rpm range. On a low horse power engine such as yours the noise produced may be less due to the nature of the engine, low compression and tame cam.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 39
Likes: 1
with aftermarket style Hooker, etc. the only other con is noise, the less restrictive the more power and the more noise. I have run glass packs, STS baffles, sweet thunder, and reverse flow. At this point in my life I value quiet more than power so i now have reverse flow but there is significant reduction in power in the upper rpm range. On a low horse power engine such as yours the noise produced may be less due to the nature of the engine, low compression and tame cam.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,873
Likes: 27
From: Sonora CA
I have Ceramic coated side pipes, they are a lot cooler, but then again, the skin on your legs is very tender too, so yes, there is the risk of a slight burn, even with Ceramic coated. Another thing is, they require constant cleaning. The individual pipes will get very hot, so anything that gets on them, has a tendency to get "baked" on. And with the Ceramic coating, you have to be careful how you clean them. I have the "middle-of-the-road" inserts and with a mild L-48, I didn't see any significant gain in HP. But the sound is just what I was hoping for, not too loud unless you to go to WOT, otherwise I consider it to be the perfect sound . . . for me anyway. I have a "Quick Jack" lift, so, (because of the sidepipes) I have to be careful how they are placed under the car.
For me, the WOW factor off-sets the P.I.T.A. issues.
For me, the WOW factor off-sets the P.I.T.A. issues.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 39
Likes: 1
I have Ceramic coated side pipes, they are a lot cooler, but then again, the skin on your legs is very tender too, so yes, there is the risk of a slight burn, even with Ceramic coated. Another thing is, they require constant cleaning. The individual pipes will get very hot, so anything that gets on them, has a tendency to get "baked" on. And with the Ceramic coating, you have to be careful how you clean them. I have the "middle-of-the-road" inserts and with a mild L-48, I didn't see any significant gain in HP. But the sound is just what I was hoping for, not too loud unless you to go to WOT, otherwise I consider it to be the perfect sound . . . for me anyway. I have a "Quick Jack" lift, so, (because of the sidepipes) I have to be careful how they are placed under the car.
For me, the WOW factor off-sets the P.I.T.A. issues.
For me, the WOW factor off-sets the P.I.T.A. issues.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 11,608
Likes: 780
From: Eustis ( Area 51 Bat Cave ) Fl
I think hooker style side pipes just make a vette a vette, like a 4 speed,
Its a sports car so i want to hear it,
Burns are a concern but i wrap mine in fiberglass header wrap, looks like hell, lol but lends to me a road race look,
Getting in and out isnt as easy as when i was 30 years younger but, its worth it,
When i need new ones i will go stainless or ceramic, but still wrap the tubes,
While i do like the hooker style best, i have seen some very refined less beastly corvettes with the factory style that look great on them,
Its a sports car so i want to hear it,
Burns are a concern but i wrap mine in fiberglass header wrap, looks like hell, lol but lends to me a road race look,
Getting in and out isnt as easy as when i was 30 years younger but, its worth it,
When i need new ones i will go stainless or ceramic, but still wrap the tubes,
While i do like the hooker style best, i have seen some very refined less beastly corvettes with the factory style that look great on them,
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
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 4,887
Likes: 202
From: Jackson MS
I think hooker style side pipes just make a vette a vette, like a 4 speed,
Its a sports car so i want to hear it,
Burns are a concern but i wrap mine in fiberglass header wrap, looks like hell, lol but lends to me a road race look,
Getting in and out isnt as easy as when i was 30 years younger but, its worth it,
When i need new ones i will go stainless or ceramic, but still wrap the tubes,
While i do like the hooker style best, i have seen some very refined less beastly corvettes with the factory style that look great on them,
Its a sports car so i want to hear it,
Burns are a concern but i wrap mine in fiberglass header wrap, looks like hell, lol but lends to me a road race look,
Getting in and out isnt as easy as when i was 30 years younger but, its worth it,
When i need new ones i will go stainless or ceramic, but still wrap the tubes,
While i do like the hooker style best, i have seen some very refined less beastly corvettes with the factory style that look great on them,
I wrapped the inserts before installing them into the side pipes. I can put my bare hand on the side pipe in the area where the insert is after driving the car for 30 minutes.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 4,711
Likes: 552
From: St. Louis MO
2020 Corvette of the Year (appearance mods)
C2 of Year Winner (appearance mods) 2019
CI 4-5-7-9-10-11 Car Show Winner
CI 2-3-4-5-6-7-9-10-11 Vet
No leg burn with Factory Pipes 
Add a crossover to mellow out the sound
Add a crossover to mellow out the sound
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 11,608
Likes: 780
From: Eustis ( Area 51 Bat Cave ) Fl
Hookers on yours would to me look like a ball cap on a guy in a tux with tails....
Stock on my car would look like a slik top hat on a pig....
Last edited by The13Bats; Oct 15, 2017 at 07:12 PM.
