I received our XSPower S/S Side Pipes a few months ago, sent by Josh in a timely and efficient way, and because I needed to change the cylinder heads to ProAction Iron Lightnings on the 350ci SBC, I waited until I had installed them.
The car was fitted previously with Patriot Side pipes which had progressively gotten noisier with time until we could not hear ourselves inside, so the decision was made to upgrade to the Hooker style side pipes, which I found to be inferior to the XSPower made side pipes.
I fitted the passenger side header first, this went in if you put the car up onto jack stands so you have at least a 18" under the frame. I fed it up from under and it fitted well, only needing to move the heater temp control valve up, and tied the hoses back closer to the frame with heavy cable ties.
The driver side was a bit more difficult, the header fouled the shifter detent cable, which I solved by removing the retention clip, then once in place, I noticed that the #1 pipe was very close (1/16") to the pitman arm, this was clearanced with oxy/acetylene heating and using a curved wedge to provide about 1/4" clearance to the pitman arm without affecting the pipe flow which is bigger than required anyway.
I have no problems with sparkplug clearance with the ProAction heads, the plugs are straight type and seem to look down a bit more than stock, which helps spark plug boot/header clearance.
Very impressed with the header flange fit, its so good that it's a waste of time using a gasket, just used red high temp RTV.

I fitted the side pipes after bending the mounting tabs to the straight up position and bolted them to to the frames slotted holes using made up 3/8" UNC T bolts, which I retained with needle nose vice grips while installation took place, neoprene rubber washers each side and held on by large fender washers retained by nyloc nuts (don't get hot enough to melt).
The drivers side seems closer to the body than the passenger side, by about 1/4" but you can still fit the rocker mouldings after trimming a bit from the area around the header pipes.
They certainly look great, and sound good and deep as well.
Here is a pic of the header pipes on the LH side.



Here is a pic of the header pipes on the RH side.



This shows the side pipes fitted



All in all, very pleased with the results.

 

How much does a set cost?

 

I'm not sure if Josh is using "Superpowers" or "CustomImage" as his user name, but I would try a PM to him at both of the User Names.
Because I am located in New Zealand, what it cost me would be irrelavant to you.

 

go here for more information on the system.

LINK

 

I want them !
But - do I have to "trim" the rocker panels ?
Also, I'm pretty good at installing stuff, but modifying....bending...hammering.....tha t's where I get a little nervous !
Is this pretty much just bold on and go ?

 

I have modified the header so that the rockers should fit 99.5% of the cars out there. There are always a few that just choose to not cooperate.

you will spend far more time getting your old exhaust off than installing the side pipes and headers.

 

Modifing how ? Bending the header ?

 

Also, I looked at xs-power.com and the only pipes I could find said they were for a C6 ?

 

No, I chopped it up and reconfigured the routing of the primaries. Took forever.

They don't sell them to the public. They sell alot of their product through independent dealers.

 

So where can I/we get a set ???

 

shoot me an email and I will fill you in.
CustomImageCorvettes@gmail.com

 

The wife has given me the go ahead to get a set of sidepipes once our move to FL is over. I am really looking at these for my 454 mainly for the ease of fitment that has been reported on the XS power time and time again. My only concern is heat control. I was considering the sterling ceramic coated hooker pipes from jet hot to keep cabin heat down but even they told me that hooker has quality issues. How much heat are you guys feeling off of these stainless XS power ones in the floorboards.

 

Any idea how they fit with raised port heads? They look alot nicer fit than the hookers

 

To you guys that already have them installed. How hot are your floorboards now getting. I am definitely getting a set of sidepipes for my 72 454 and I understand that these fit great as opposed to the hookers that seem to be getting worse and worse. I was originally looking at the ceramic coated hookers from Jet hot but even they told me that the hooker quality has gone way down hill.

 

What kind of clearance is needed for sidepipes? My 81 has been lowered front and rear and I now only have about 7.5" of ground clearance at the front part of the rocker panels (just behind the front wheels). My current dual exhaust setup has about 2.5" of clearance between the pipes and the ground. Do you think I have the room to put sidepipes on the car and at least keep my current level of total ground clearance (2.5")?