1976 Side Exhaust
You will pleased with Mike Allen's system. He makes quality pieces. As you can see from my signature; I have one of his 2-1/2" undercar systems on mine. It's been on there since 1997 and still looks like new. I know what you mean about some of the muffler versions sticking out from under the covers. I was fortunate when I bought my '74 in 1977 in that you could still order the complete '69 system from the factory which is what I did. It really fit very well. The photo below was scanned from an old instant Polaroid so it's a little grainy.

(Probably should have explained that the above photo was taken in 1978)
Mike
Last edited by outlawkinser; Jan 6, 2012 at 05:18 PM.

Mike
They come in both versions, according to Mike Allen. I just put the set shown in the pictures this weekend. My motor is apart so don't know how they sound yet. I spoke with Mike prior to buying the pipes and told him I wanted the lowest tone I could get and he advised to go w/ the chambered. I got the 2.5" from the header back on my SBC L-46. They fit under the factory covers great and the tips come just right.





They come in both versions, according to Mike Allen. I just put the set shown in the pictures this weekend. My motor is apart so don't know how they sound yet. I spoke with Mike prior to buying the pipes and told him I wanted the lowest tone I could get and he advised to go w/ the chambered. I got the 2.5" from the header back on my SBC L-46. They fit under the factory covers great and the tips come just right.

Can you post some pics of this exhaust and how they fit under the covers? I would greatly appreciate it!
Thanks,
Craig
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Thanks for the info.
For me the appearance is very important, and I always thought the round 63-67 style tip looked a bit odd coming out the 69 style rectangular shield end.
Regards,
Alan

btw the tabs may need adjusted/bent when installing, and i love having them on there, they sound great, but they've burned every single passenger i've ever carried in the car. every 1 of them.
Will
I don't have access to a camera at the moment, but the tips look like the ones Alan has on the picture in his post. If I get the camera soon, I will post a few pictures. I asked Mike to make sure they were done w/ the retangular tips because they were going under the factory 69 covers w/ the fiberglass insulators. The only thing I did have to do was trim some of the front support to fit the 2.5" pipe. It did hit/rub w/out trimming. Once I trimmed the flange, it fits great w/ no rubbing. I was able to really tuck the pipes up in the covers. You cannot see any of the pipe below the cover even when you get done at ground level. Very happy with Mike's product. I got him to fabricate the pipes for shorty block hugger headers and they needed very little massaging to fit properly.





I don't have access to a camera at the moment, but the tips look like the ones Alan has on the picture in his post. If I get the camera soon, I will post a few pictures. I asked Mike to make sure they were done w/ the retangular tips because they were going under the factory 69 covers w/ the fiberglass insulators. The only thing I did have to do was trim some of the front support to fit the 2.5" pipe. It did hit/rub w/out trimming. Once I trimmed the flange, it fits great w/ no rubbing. I was able to really tuck the pipes up in the covers. You cannot see any of the pipe below the cover even when you get done at ground level. Very happy with Mike's product. I got him to fabricate the pipes for shorty block hugger headers and they needed very little massaging to fit properly.
Thanks again,
Craig
I received my system from Allen's. Everything looks good, one of the ACI covers has a little crack up front, I will fill with bondo before painting.
My question is once I installed the driver's side pipe I noticed the pipe is way low and is not even close to being covered by the cover.
Can someone explain to me what is going on here??
http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/...Exhaustpic.jpg
Any help would be appreciated.
Gang: I adjusted the manifold bolts and it totally improved the disposition of the pipe.
Much better. New photo below... The fiberglass covers needed to be trimmed up to.
Here is a pic: http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/...xhaustpic2.jpg
Last edited by Scotty76; Jan 15, 2012 at 04:03 PM.





I received my system from Allen's. Everything looks good, one of the ACI covers has a little crack up front, I will fill with bondo before painting.
My question is once I installed the driver's side pipe I noticed the pipe is way low and is not even close to being covered by the cover.
Can someone explain to me what is going on here??
http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/...Exhaustpic.jpg
Any help would be appreciated.
Gang: I adjusted the manifold bolts and it totally improved the disposition of the pipe.
Much better. New photo below... The fiberglass covers needed to be trimmed up to.
Here is a pic: http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/...xhaustpic2.jpg
Glad to hear you got the Allen's system in and that you are getting the installation all figured out. You may want to contact the other Scott (MalibuVLX a couple of posts up) as it sounds like he got the same system only he had his built with the larger 2.5" diameter pipe. He says his tuck up under the covers nicely, so yours should do the same. Have you test fitted the covers yet? How do the exhaust openings line up with the tips themselves? The more pics the better!
Congrats again,
Craig
Glad to hear you got the Allen's system in and that you are getting the installation all figured out. You may want to contact the other Scott (MalibuVLX a couple of posts up) as it sounds like he got the same system only he had his built with the larger 2.5" diameter pipe. He says his tuck up under the covers nicely, so yours should do the same. Have you test fitted the covers yet? How do the exhaust openings line up with the tips themselves? The more pics the better!
Congrats again,
Craig

Here is what I had to do so far:
Trim the car's fiberglass edge coming down near back of the the front tire
- this had to be done to get the leading edge of the cover in
Trim approx. 6" off the back of the front pipe
-they must make this pipe for a variety of muffler choices
Trim the front and back flange on the covers
-so the cover would fit closer to the door
I have a feeling where you trim depends on your car.
Nothing I couldn't handle so far.
One important note, the passenger's side pipe is cut short to accommodate the spacer/riser. I cleaned my riser of the butterfly and spring mechanism as this car will be warm weather only.
I cut the butterfly pin down, peened one side and welded it to keep the hole filled. (this is the hole the butterfly shaft would have been sitting in).
It takes time but I am happy with the fitment so far. I will likely make a bracket for the front of the muffler (chambered section) to keep it solid. I was going to weld the two pipes together. However, I opted not to, in case I need to separate them in the future.
Please give us a broader shot showing the full gap between the door and the top of the cover. If you can.
http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/...xhaustpic3.jpg
http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/...xhaustpic4.jpg
Can someone tell me how to paste directly into the post?
Last edited by Scotty76; Jan 15, 2012 at 08:07 PM.





http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/...xhaustpic3.jpg
http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/...xhaustpic4.jpg
Can someone tell me how to paste directly into the post?
When you click to make a post, just look for the little yellow square button with mountains on it. Click that, and paste your photobucket link in the window that pops up. That is all you have to do to have a photo show up in your post.
Thanks for the photos, it is looking good. Any shots from underneath? My Vette is an 82, so I am looking to add the same system you have, but also add a small cat on each side somewhere between the manifold and the chambered section. Just curious where the Allen system has the pipes connect. Thanks!
Craig
When you click to make a post, just look for the little yellow square button with mountains on it. Click that, and paste your photobucket link in the window that pops up. That is all you have to do to have a photo show up in your post.
Thanks for the photos, it is looking good. Any shots from underneath? My Vette is an 82, so I am looking to add the same system you have, but also add a small cat on each side somewhere between the manifold and the chambered section. Just curious where the Allen system has the pipes connect. Thanks!
Craig
They attach directly to the stock ram's horns. He even has the passengers side pipe shorter for the riser. ( I cleaned out my riser).
The pipe is flared to accept the donut (donut is included).
The only things I needed were fresh bolts and a riser gasket which is not a stock item at Advanced Auto.
Will finish the passenger's side tomorrow before the games. It's 20 degrees here I will have the kerosene heater blazing by 9:00AM to get things tolerable!!













