Neil B

Hey guys, I'm looking to upgrade the side pipes on my '69. I currently have the factory side pipe covers. Has anyone tried the 3" STS baffles in a 3" pipe under the stock covers? If so, how do you like it? I've got a 427 BBC with Edelbrock heads so I'm probably in the 450-475hp range. My other option would be to go to a 4" side pipe and leave the covers off.

MelWff

have you considered just putting on a complete header/side mount system, hooker, etc. with STS baffles?

Neil B

I want to retain my current headers and 3" head pipes. I am considering going from the 3" head pipe to a 4" adapter and then into 4" Hooker sidepipes, but I really really want to retain the factory covers because they just look 'right' on this car.

MelWff

OK now I understand your current set up and WOW is it ever clean! I have the STS baffles in the aftermarket hooker side pipe system so it wouldnt be the same as yours.

MIKE80

From what I've seen others do, you will have to add a 1" spacer to bring the covers out a bit to fit a 3" pipe under the covers and then find inserts for the 3" pipes. Also, the 3" pipes will need tips that match up with the covers. Nice undercarriage

Maybe some else that has done it will chime in.

I went from stock '69 style to 4" SS Hookers with Max Flow inserts on my '80.

Neil B

I didn't think spacers were required with a 3" OD pipe. If you look closely at the side view of my car, that's a 3" head pipe under the leading edge of the cover. I'll take a closer look further back on the covers to see if there are potential clearance issues.

Neil B

Just heard back from Sweet Thunder. Another option for me is to run their 3" OD mid-year pipes with 2.5" baffles (#MY4015). These should bolt up to the stock frame mount and the turn down will exit in the proper position.

Neil B

Was it a noticeable difference?

WA 2 FST

Neil, are you trying to gain more power/increased sound, or what?

In my '69 BB car I had (454 w/ AFR heads, decent hyd roller cam, and Edel Perf AirGap intake), I installed the Hooker SS sidepipes with their inserts. It killed power above 4500rpm. I don't care what Hooker claims, those things are restrictive as all get out... probably worse than what you have on there now. I mean the engine literally hit a brick wall at 4500rpm...and it was tuned to turn 6300 easy and made power up there.

I yanked the pipes off and ran open for a few days just to make sure the car would run well with side pipes (it did!). Obviously that was too loud for everyone, including me, so I got the JCL STS bafflers (and I cut off the "caps" on them to allow for more airflow) and they were an amazing improvement. Car made 435rwhp/465rwtq with a 5-speed trans (probably 520-530 crank hp).

I don't know how the Sweet Thunder inserts you have now compare to the STS baffles, but I _guarantee_ you they have to be as good as the Hooker stuff... at least for a modded engine like yours.

Neil B

Mine lays down around 4,500-5,000rpm too. My current mufflers are '69 factory-style reverse flow mufflers. The 3" headpipes neck down all the way to 1 7/8" at the muffler inlet. I know there's big power if I swap out the muffler. I'm not afraid of a little noise to get it, but I'd really like to keep my stock covers if possible.

WA 2 FST

I completely understand. When I bought my car, it had an exhaust system that exited out the back, and I wanted side-pipes, so going to Hookers made sense.

Didn't realize the stock setup transitions down to 1 7/8"... yeah, that's not great for performance.

qwank

What headers are those?

Neil B

Stainlessworks 1 7/8" BBC.

qwank

Thanks. I don't think they have a small block version.

MIKE80

I had fiberglass covers and it seemed that there wouldn't be enough room for 3" pipes, though I could be wrong. Maybe yours have more room too. Give it a try and if you need room add 1" square tubing to the mounting location.

My old setup had Hedman Headers 1 5/8" to 3" collectors, 2 1/4" connector pipe into 2" SweetThunder sidepipe mufflers.

What I have now is 1 7/8" Hookers into 4" collector with 2 1/2" Hooker Max Flow baffles. The engine (385 stroker, about 500 hp) is no longer being choked which you could feel with the old system. I thought about going with the STS baffles, but I believe they have a tinny tone to them and wanted a nice low deep tone that the Max Flows produce.

Hooker has 3 baffles;
Reverse Flow = very restrictive, lowest noise level
Glass Pack = some restriction, mid level performance and noise
Maximum Flow = best performance, highest noise level

Here's the inside of the Max Flow, 2 1/2" straight through.

glackore

Wow! Nice car!