I recently completed installing a set of 69 side pipes.

The big moment had finally arrived when I twisted the key and fired the
thing up. Unfortunatley, the wife's cat was snoozing nearby. I've never seen any animal move as quickly as this critter did - we haven't seen it since.

Then the other night, after the wife and I had gone for our first ride, we noticed that the whole world had somehow become a silent movie.

We had to scream at each other in order to be heard, which was embarassing (considering we were walking around the parking lot at Friday night cruising).

My neighbor isn't too happy either. Yesterday morning, as I passed his house,
he was shaking his fist at me. I can't read lips but I don't think he was yelling
"good morning". I found out later that every time I went past his house, his
pacemaker would, somehow, activate his garage door opener. (On the bright side, he's willing to pay me to change my zip code).

In addition to all that, my grandson is now terrified to ride with me.
Anyway, I think you get the idea.
I love the side pipes and they're here (hear) to stay!

My question is:
Since the wife is blaming me for the cat's untimely departure (grin), is there anything that I can do to quiet the side pipes down a little bit? Maybe some
of you have "been there-done that".

So, on behalf of the wife, my neighbor, (and yeah, the cat), I'd appreciate any
"humane" suggestions you can offer.

Thanks

 

I can't help with your problem, but I would like to hire you to chase the cats out our neighborhood! ;)

~Jay

 

I found the same thing and quickly got tired of the noise and having to yell at the passenger. I went back to the exhaust out the back. At least I can outrun the noise.
Norval
I like cats.

 

What kind of sidepipes? are they Hookers? If so , 3 possible inserts. 1 ) reverse flow (quiet, I had these and they suck too much power), 2 glasspack (have em now, kinda load), spiral (I assume the loadest and least power loss)..

I can't speak for other sidepipes.

 

Why not put some different Bafels in them till u get the sound that u like or can tolerate

 

Take two baseball cards (not Mickey Mantles) and clothes pin them to the outlets. That should help for a while. Another good thing is that as your wife is talking to you , you can just nod and grin. It is usualy not important what she is saying anyways and your nodding will make her happy. Also back off a llittle as you go by the cops. P.S. Did you cover the pipes, they get pretty hot real fast, my wife knows this as a fact. The noise is good. Roger

 

I like you, love the sound of 'sides'. Not everyone shares my love here though, and quite frankly they can get on my nerves at times. What I did was install a true 2.5" out the back SuperTurbo system. Then I installed my side exhaust and T'd into my existing system at the first elbow by the manifolds. I put a 3 bolt disconnect at this point and installed a block plate there. When wifey and I cruise it's quiet and throaty. When I wanna, I spend 15 mins and uncap them. Big thunder, cats gone, down the highway fun. Your car would be easier IMO to hide the rear pipes. Works for me. Loud and Quiet in one car........ :cool:

 

I have Hooker side pipes on my 427. I am very, very pleased with the JCL
spiral Baffles. Here is his website. http://www.spiralturbobaffles.com/ If you click on my name, Chuck Harmon, on the site it will play a sound file of my car trying to get traction while entering a highway. The sound level is fine at cruise. No louder than standard turbo mufflers. At full throttle there is minimal back pressure and very good sound control.

Glad to hear you were able to lose the cat though!

Chuck

 

So Blue Bird, of all the things you described, which was the BAD thing? :lol:

 

Hey, I like cats too! The factory pipes are quieter than hooker or aftermarket. :seeya

 

That's one of the funniest things I have read on this forum.

 

I can't help anyone out with sidepipes, but on the subject of Decibels, I measured my exhaust setup with a Decibel meter (if anyone else in Chicago area wants to I can measure theirs). 3 feet from the back of the car with headers -> 3" -> X -> 2.5" open exhaust, I got 90 dB at idle. When I put the mufflers back on (2.5" Ultraflow welded), the sound was brought down to 82 dB. I measured from the same spot, so the mufflers were closer to me as well. I'm sure the turndowns helped somewhat though.

Rob

 

CLINK69. YOUR CORRECT ON NUMBER1 AND 2, BUT NUMBER3 IS ONLY HALF CORRECT! MY BAFFLES ARE LESS RESTRICTIVE, BUT THEIR ALSO QUIETER THAN THE GLASSPACKS. JUST RAN A DB TEST ON A CALIFORNIA STLYE BOAT THIS MORNING. (461 CU. IN) WITHOUT MUFFLERS WAS ABOUT 100DB'S. WITH MY BAFFLES DROPPED TO ABOUT MID 80'S. THIS WAS 25 FEET FROM THE BOAT,TESTING LOOKING AT THE BOAT FROM THE SIDE, COULDN'T GET THE DARN THING TO IDLE, SO THAT WAS SET A 2000RPM'S. WILL CHECK ALL MEASURMENTS AGAIN, BUT THE BOTTOM LINE ALOT LESS NOISE!! WILL GET BACK WITH MORE INFO. THANKS, JCL :cool: :chevy

 

I purchased Eckler's sidepipes with the fiberglass covers. After realizing that they are TOO LOUD, I had an exhaust shop weld in 12" cherry bombs on both sides. It is still loud but NOWHERE as loud as before!
I don't know which pipes you went with, so this might not apply to you. If they are original, then it may work.

Bob :cheers:

 

Since my '67-435 with headers and 4" diameter side-pipes will only be an occasional driver (when the rebuild is completed) I want it plenty loud....and plenty proud.

Don't care if I can't hear the music.....the engine is my music!
Don't care if I can't hear my passenger.....they're only screaming anyway!!!
Don't care if I get the odd noise ticket.....the car's costing a fortune already anyway!!!

See ya'll in the cartoons!
:crazy: :crazy: :crazy:

 

In case anyone is not familiar with decibels, a 10 decibel difference is a 10 fold difference in sound. In other words, going from 100 dB to 80 dB would be a 100-fold difference in sound magnitude. 100 to mid 80s is a big difference. There are also math formulas you can use to convert distances for a reading.

Rob

 

[font color:"orange"]Can't Find What You're looking for in a baffle??
Go To http://sweet-thunder.com/ses_68-74_vette.htm

It offers 3 different sizes of Inner Baffle Tubes [font]

 

I love my 2" chambered side pipes! They are a modified set from a 67 small block car. They drown out lifes frustrations and hypnotize me with a smile.
Besides, I would rather have my neighbors hear my pipes 2 blocks away, signifiying that there is a little class and style comng down the street, rather than those snot nose punks, with their rice burner, wimp mobiles and their bass stereos that are worth more than the entire car they are installed in, which rattle the neighborhood windows with the only CD I think they play on them, LL Cool J's "Mamma said knock you out! :U
Old and opinionated,
"Teach"

 

You guys should have seen my mother in law jump when I coaxed her into the garage to start my 78 with side pipes. It was one of those cherished moments, that don't happen to son in laws often enough. I am still chuckling. Old ladies and little babies stay away, if you don't like the noise. Side pipes are supposed to be loud, enjoy the sound. I am like Teach's pet too busy smiling to talk. Roger L. Gibbons