Quieting down sidepipes
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 13,300
Likes: 16
From: TX
St. Jude Donor '12-'13
Quieting down sidepipes
At the time (10 years ago) hooker headers and sidepipes sounded like a great idea, so I did it. Paired with a built 406 the exhaust sounds really mean. But the decibel level is starting to get to me. I have Hooker "muffler" inserts already, but it's still too loud. Short of going to a traditional exhaust, any ideas what inserts will dramatically quite the sidepipes w/o killing the performance?
Anyone ever tried the old "lollipop" baffle? Apparently it's an old Harley trick to tune exhausts and is supposed to quiet everything down. Something like this: https://www.ebay.com/i/162158825454?...iABEgIun_D_BwE
Think this would work?
Anyone ever tried the old "lollipop" baffle? Apparently it's an old Harley trick to tune exhausts and is supposed to quiet everything down. Something like this: https://www.ebay.com/i/162158825454?...iABEgIun_D_BwE
Think this would work?
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 54,106
Likes: 9,421
From: Sitting in his Nowhere land Hanover Pa
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2015 C2 of Year Finalist
the word oxymoron comes to mind when you say quite header side pipes
Last edited by Nowhere Man; May 9, 2020 at 07:24 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 4,080
Likes: 565
From: Allen TX
The Hooker inserts you have are very restrictive and are already hurting performance. Ran the same setup on a '69 ragtop I had with a mild 454 years ago. The sidepipes with those inserts cost me nearly 75hp. I cannot imagine anything that will be quiet(er) and not completely neuter your good-running car. I ended up with the STS baffles, which weren't significantly louder than the Hooker inserts, but gave me the power back. Definitely a trade off, unfortunately.
I will say this... the STS created a different "tone" compared to the Hookers; that may be all you really need. I don't know. Exhaust preferences are always different for each driver/owner.
Good luck!
I will say this... the STS created a different "tone" compared to the Hookers; that may be all you really need. I don't know. Exhaust preferences are always different for each driver/owner.
Good luck!
Last edited by WA 2 FST; May 9, 2020 at 07:46 PM.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 13,300
Likes: 16
From: TX
St. Jude Donor '12-'13
The Hooker inserts you have are very restrictive and are already hurting performance. Ran the same setup on a '69 ragtop I had with a mild 454 years ago. The sidepipes with those inserts cost me nearly 75hp. I cannot imagine anything that will be quiet(er) and not completely neuter your good-running car. I ended up with the STS baffles, which weren't significantly louder than the Hooker inserts, but gave me the power back. Definitely a trade off, unfortunately.
I will say this... the STS created a different "tone" compared to the Hookers; that may be all you really need. I don't know. Exhaust preferences are always different for each driver/owner.
Good luck!
I will say this... the STS created a different "tone" compared to the Hookers; that may be all you really need. I don't know. Exhaust preferences are always different for each driver/owner.
Good luck!
Last edited by KWIL; May 10, 2020 at 12:12 AM.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2004
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From: Gulf of America
2023 C7 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
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I run the STS baffles in my Hookers as I didn't want to kill any HP.
Sound isn't objectionable to me.
What will help is running an OD transmission and getting the rpms down. In my case I went with a TKO-600 with .64 OD.
Done many out of state Power Tours and other trips.
Sound isn't objectionable to me.
What will help is running an OD transmission and getting the rpms down. In my case I went with a TKO-600 with .64 OD.
Done many out of state Power Tours and other trips.
2026 Loser of the Year
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 36,595
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From: New Or-leens Loo-z-anna
At the time (10 years ago) hooker headers and sidepipes sounded like a great idea, so I did it. Paired with a built 406 the exhaust sounds really mean. But the decibel level is starting to get to me. I have Hooker "muffler" inserts already, but it's still too loud. Short of going to a traditional exhaust, any ideas what inserts will dramatically quite the sidepipes w/o killing the performance?
Anyone ever tried the old "lollipop" baffle? Apparently it's an old Harley trick to tune exhausts and is supposed to quiet everything down. Something like this: https://www.ebay.com/i/162158825454?...iABEgIun_D_BwE
Think this would work?
Anyone ever tried the old "lollipop" baffle? Apparently it's an old Harley trick to tune exhausts and is supposed to quiet everything down. Something like this: https://www.ebay.com/i/162158825454?...iABEgIun_D_BwE
Think this would work?
1. The sound isn't "good"
2. You have to drill holes in the exhaust pipes.
Last edited by doorgunner; May 10, 2020 at 12:01 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 6,284
Likes: 1,171
From: Hermosa
I found putting sound deadened material inside the door panels quieted down the noise from the pipes quite a bit. If your talking tops on windows up that is.
Otherwise I do wear earplugs when cruising at high speeds/ long distances. I run the spiral inserts.
anything that quiets it down is going to reduce power, increase back pressure, and require jetting changes.
Otherwise I do wear earplugs when cruising at high speeds/ long distances. I run the spiral inserts.
anything that quiets it down is going to reduce power, increase back pressure, and require jetting changes.
Last edited by REELAV8R; May 10, 2020 at 01:41 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,361
Likes: 1,592
From: Western NY
MANY years ago, I had the Hooker sidepipe headers on a Pontiac T/A that I owned at the time. I originally began the adventure with the "glasspack" inserts. They were pretty loud, and the thrill wore off after a while. I switched to the "reverse flow" inserts, and they were notable quieter, but as noted, they noticeably killed the top end performance of the car.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 149
Likes: 3
From: Chadron Ne
I asked this same question with similar responses about two years ago. I have the sweet thunder inserts in my OBX side exhaust. The sweet thunder are a baffle system with very little restriction. I cut slots at the end of each baffle and then wrapped a muffler wrap around them. They are quieter than they were but I think I could have made a few more cuts in the inserts. Way cheaper than replacing inserts or going back to under exhaust.
Last edited by chadronvette; May 11, 2020 at 11:37 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,572
Likes: 486
From: Loud, Raw and Dangerous 1968 327 4S in Southern California
I installed a set of Car Chemistry inserts also and that brought the volume down and helped reduce the low RPM drone. They can be adjusted to suit but likely would throttle the higher RPM's. I am a cruiser not a racer so this worked fine for me. Engine still sounds awesome when I get on it.
https://www.carchemistry.com/2-disk-...-3-4-diameter/
https://www.carchemistry.com/2-disk-...-3-4-diameter/
Last edited by Redvette2; May 13, 2020 at 02:58 PM. Reason: Kan't spel.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 13,300
Likes: 16
From: TX
St. Jude Donor '12-'13
I installed a set of Car Chemistry inserts also and that brought the volume down and helped reduce the low RPM drone. The can be adjusted to suit but likely would throttle the higher RPM's. I am a cruiser not a racer so this worked fine for me. Engine still sounds awesome when I get on it.
https://www.carchemistry.com/2-disk-...-3-4-diameter/
https://www.carchemistry.com/2-disk-...-3-4-diameter/
Thanks everyone for the suggestions.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,572
Likes: 486
From: Loud, Raw and Dangerous 1968 327 4S in Southern California
If you do get the three disk baffle version rather than the two...it is easy to drill out the cap hole or remove it if they are too quiet.
Last edited by Redvette2; May 12, 2020 at 06:55 PM.