For those that were following the thread I had a few weeks back about my Patriot sidepipe install here is an update. Here's a link to the original thread for those that did not read it and want to.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1478246

I finally got the car back from the shop doing my modifications. I got the JCL Spiral Turbo baffles about a week ago and took them to a shop to have them cut out the Partiot glasspacks and weld in a new pipe that has the baffles installed in them. I mounted them in a 3" pipe according to the directions from JCL. The shop took forever to get them installed and charged me $400 just to cut out the center pipe and weld in the new one. This was on top of the original $400 I had already paid him to install the sidepipes initially. And that was just for the labor - I bought all the parts necessary for the install.

Now lets get to the important part - RESULTS. I am very happy with the JCL baffles. Some may consider them to be expensive, but they are well worth it. When I switched from true duals to the Patriot H1060 sidepipes, I initially noticed a considerable loss of HP and torque and a bigger loss when I would really get on the gas while on the interstate. With the new baffless, I got back all the power and torque that I lost when I switched to the sidepipes and I might have even gained a little bit from what I had before with the duals with high-flo mufflers. The sound is considerably louder than the glasspacks but not unbearable. I did notice that it made the drive thru a bit difficult today at lunch as I could not hear them over the pipes. Jim even called me to make sure the install went OK and mentioned that if I needed to tone them down a bit...that could be done. I am fine with the noise and until my ears start ringing, I am not going to worry about it.

For those that are worried about leg burns with sidepipes, I can tell you that with this setup it is practically impossible to burn your legs and my heat shields are always cool to the touch.

Thanks again to all for your help and THANK YOU to all forum members for referring me to JCL baffles for the solution to my sidepipe problem.

 

It's nice to see you are finally happy with the setup.

Keep on cruisin.

 

PICS!!! plz kthx

 

I can post some more pics when I get home if people want. The current pics in MY CORVETTE PHOTOS shows the sidepipes installed. With the new modifications with the JCL baffles, there is no visual difference than from before. If you want pics of the underneath to see how I had the 180 pipe done.....I can do that later if someone wants to see them. This is my 2nd day with the JCL baffles in and it is definately making a difference with the HP. I definately lost some with the standard Patriot glasspacks, and I got that back with the baffles.

 

Looking at the end of the project would you have gained anything by installing the 4" Hooker with their hedders?

I'm confused as to which brand to get.

 

How much louder is it? Think it'd break 93db at 50 feet?

 

I don't have a sound meter so I do not know in respect to db levels. It is considerably louder than the standard glasspacks. It was too much for me to go through the drive-thru (I could not hear anything they said). My ears are not ringing when I get out of the car if that says anything.

As for the 4" hookers with their headers, I would probably gain a bit more if I went with that setup. I have full length headers at the moment so I had to fabricate a 180 bend pipe for it to connect to the sidepipes. This extra bend is probably causing some restriction. As for 4" pipe vs 3" pipe, you would probably get more from the 4" hookers but I really liked the look of the H1060 Patriots so that is what I went with. I am not a fan of the look of the 4-1 hooker pipes. I may in the future get a different set of mid-length header so that they can connect directly to the sidepipes without the 180 bend.

 

Reason I ask about the sound is here in Cali it can't be louder than 93db at 50 ft. I'm thinking of ways to free up my exhaust, too, and am considering 2.5" or 3" spirals over the glasspacks IF they're quiet enough.

 

The spiral baffles can be installed with a plastic cap that blocks the center tube of the baffles which drops the sound by a few more decibals with very little power loss. I do not have that cap in as I wanted as much flow as possible and did not care about the noise.