side pipes question
Pro
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 725
Likes: 1
From: FL.
I bought Hooker sidemounts eight years ago, cost $1000 at the time.
I jacked up the front of my car , put jack stands under and had the the exhaust completely installed in 4-5 hrs. It wasnt something I want to do often but the instructions prepared me for the worst so I wasnt surprised during the more gruelling parts ( fastening to the manifold). The primaries were too close to several spark plug boots and I roasted them. I put "Spark Plug Wire Heat Shields" on the replaced plug wires and never had that problem again.
Beautiful Pipes , I originally put in glasspacks but took them out after a few years and put in STS Baffles to compliment a new engine build.
Youll Love sidemounts, they look super on any C3 vette.
I jacked up the front of my car , put jack stands under and had the the exhaust completely installed in 4-5 hrs. It wasnt something I want to do often but the instructions prepared me for the worst so I wasnt surprised during the more gruelling parts ( fastening to the manifold). The primaries were too close to several spark plug boots and I roasted them. I put "Spark Plug Wire Heat Shields" on the replaced plug wires and never had that problem again.
Beautiful Pipes , I originally put in glasspacks but took them out after a few years and put in STS Baffles to compliment a new engine build.
Youll Love sidemounts, they look super on any C3 vette.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 523
Likes: 4
From: Calgary Alberta
I'm leaning towards purchasing a set of OBX stainless sidepipes with STS baffles and covers. I have another post on the forum right now and the majority of the voters on my poll seem to favor the addition of sidepipes to our cars.
I know OBX sidepipes are made in China but because my 77 vette build is on a budget and these pipes are not a mechanical moving part and will only see occasional summer driving, then my thought is the lower cost is worth the risk. JMHO.
I know OBX sidepipes are made in China but because my 77 vette build is on a budget and these pipes are not a mechanical moving part and will only see occasional summer driving, then my thought is the lower cost is worth the risk. JMHO.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,028
Likes: 1,120
From: North tonawanda NY
I bought the OBX stainless side pipes also... they are 600-700 bucks and look exactly like the hookers to me.... I don't care much if my money is going to a company who farms production to china vs mexico.... either way its the same deal.and still only benefits the suits here who sent work out of the country.. why give them twice as much money? I could go on all day about how the "name brand" stuff people here have been buying and using for years is mostly just foreign knock offs at this point but its depressing and won't do any good anyway.
Last edited by augiedoggy; May 7, 2013 at 03:43 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 6,284
Likes: 1,171
From: Hermosa
I bought my hooker headers directly from jet hot with ceramic coating. Lot's of surface area to radiate heat on headers which equates to lots of under hood heat and some cabin heat as well. Mine fit perfectly with no tweaking required. Used stage 8 header bolts with them. The bolt locks needed modifying to fit along side the primary pipes and I think I had to ding one of the primaries to get the bolt to fit in place.
Highly reccommend the steel heat shields. After driving I can put my hand directly on the shields and hold it there for at least 10 seconds without it getting too hot.
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Highly reccommend the steel heat shields. After driving I can put my hand directly on the shields and hold it there for at least 10 seconds without it getting too hot.
[IMG]
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Had a 1976 L-82, 4-sp
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 5,338
Likes: 1,213
From: Some days your the dog and some days your the hydrant.
Royal Canadian Navy
I'm leaning towards purchasing a set of OBX stainless sidepipes with STS baffles and covers. I have another post on the forum right now and the majority of the voters on my poll seem to favor the addition of sidepipes to our cars.
I know OBX sidepipes are made in China but because my 77 vette build is on a budget and these pipes are not a mechanical moving part and will only see occasional summer driving, then my thought is the lower cost is worth the risk. JMHO.
I know OBX sidepipes are made in China but because my 77 vette build is on a budget and these pipes are not a mechanical moving part and will only see occasional summer driving, then my thought is the lower cost is worth the risk. JMHO.
Last edited by resdoggie; May 8, 2013 at 09:39 AM.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 261
Likes: 1
From: Montgomery TX
I went with factory style Sweet Thunder side pipes on my 81 with fiberglass covers.
They bolted right up to my stock headers. Only fabrication was to attach the brackets to the frame. Earlier models had slotted holes in the frame to accept the side mount brackets. I had to improvise. The sound is awesome. Very loud at idle and hard throttle but tolerable at cruise. Everyone's head snaps around when they hear me coming at the cruise night.
They bolted right up to my stock headers. Only fabrication was to attach the brackets to the frame. Earlier models had slotted holes in the frame to accept the side mount brackets. I had to improvise. The sound is awesome. Very loud at idle and hard throttle but tolerable at cruise. Everyone's head snaps around when they hear me coming at the cruise night.
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