Side Pipes on a 77?
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,376
Likes: 1,593
From: Western NY
I'd go either chrome, or powder coated black.......Just my $0.02 worth.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 572
Likes: 21
From: Milford, CT
Beautiful car. If mine was a collectors item or show quality I would spend the $2500 for side pipes like those but my car is an unrestored car that is rough around the edges. Its a driver. I am practically sitting on a milk crate to drive it!
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,695
Likes: 65
From: Kissimmee fl
Finalist 2021 C3 of the Year - Modified
2017 C3 of Year Finalist
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07
Headman makes a set of headders that exit to the sides instead of to the back. This helps with the pipe routing, no 180 turns, that could be hooked up to the 69 style pipes or look at the Patriot 4 into 1 look with the single inlet. Shorties are also an option. Although they are sold in chrome, you can paint them with VHT black for the look you want. Reasonable cost and great sound. My photo album show several pics with the Patriot pipes. I ran them for years till recently when I installed the original style that ny car came with. Its your cruiser, make it your own.
Last edited by c69vete; Jun 18, 2015 at 09:26 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,376
Likes: 1,593
From: Western NY
Headman makes a set of headders that exit to the sides instead of to the back. This helps with the pipe routing, no 180 turns, that could be hooked up to the 69 style pipes or look at the Patriot 4 into 1 look with the single inlet. Shorties are also an option. Although they are sold in chrome, you can paint them with VHT black for the look you want. Reasonable cost and great sound. My photo album show several pics with the Patriot pipes. I ran them for years till recently when I installed the original style that ny car came with. Its your cruiser, make it your own.
I believe those Hedman Hedders that you refer to, are made expressly to be connected to the factory side pipes...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 5,943
Likes: 61
From: Southern NH
I have under $800 invested in mine. that includes headers, pipe, baffles, paint and covers.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 5,943
Likes: 61
From: Southern NH
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 572
Likes: 21
From: Milford, CT
I have been back and forth between the true 2.5" dual exhaust system and a set of side exit headers and side pipes. Cost is a factor of course but I think I can come up with an inexpensive system. I just want a set of black side mount headers and black side pipes. They don't need covers on them and I will start off running them without baffles unless they are too loud and then I will add them. Summit has a set of Hedman sidemount headers for $199.97 shipped. The problem is I can't find a set of black side pipes that will work with them. Hooker makes a system and so does Dougs but they are both too expensive because Hooker and Dougs charges $550 for their side mount headers. I would like to get the black headers that have the tabs on them that make it easy to mount them to the car. I figure that after all these years I finally have the car of my dreams and I always pictured it being loud with black side pipes on it. I won't be happy unless I get them. Has anybody here used the Hedman 68280 side mount headers? If so... what side pipes did you run with them?
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 5,943
Likes: 61
From: Southern NH
I suggest you buy the Hooker kit kit though, sounds like that's the style you really want.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 572
Likes: 21
From: Milford, CT
Yea, I see that you made your own pipes.
So from it looks like in the pics... the Hedman side mount headers exit straight out the sides of the car and in order to attach them to side pipes there additional pipes and turns involved and the Hooker and the Dougs side mount headers exit towards the rear so the side pipe just clamps on to it straight which looks like a much cleaner set up. Also.. the Dougs and Hooker headers have the actual header pipes exposed at the rear of the front wheel openings. That's definitely what I am looking for.
Now... the decision is Hooker or Dougs. The Hooker system without baffles is $820 Dougs system without baffles is $800
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 5,943
Likes: 61
From: Southern NH
you could also buy this stainless steel set up and spend $15 on VHT black paint for the same price.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Maximizer-Exhaust-Header-Resonated-Side-Pipe-Corvette-C2-C3-Stingray-SBC-V8-/161711330008?fits=Year%3A1981%7CModel%3ACorvette&hash=item25a6bf12d8&vxp=mtr
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Maximizer-Exhaust-Header-Resonated-Side-Pipe-Corvette-C2-C3-Stingray-SBC-V8-/161711330008?fits=Year%3A1981%7CModel%3ACorvette&hash=item25a6bf12d8&vxp=mtr
Racer
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 357
Likes: 15
From: Marshville, NC
you could also buy this stainless steel set up and spend $15 on VHT black paint for the same price.
Maximizer Exhaust Header Resonated Side Pipe Corvette C2 C3 Stingray SBC V8 | eBay
Maximizer Exhaust Header Resonated Side Pipe Corvette C2 C3 Stingray SBC V8 | eBay
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 16
Likes: 1
Ideally, having the car on a lift would be preferable.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 572
Likes: 21
From: Milford, CT
I can answer this, as I've been putting Doug's Headers and Side Pipes on my 77 the last couple days. I've got my car jacked up about 16 inches and was able to get the headers in with a little wiggling. The instructions said 3 ft and I've seen 2 ft elsewhere, but you can do it with less.
Ideally, having the car on a lift would be preferable.
Ideally, having the car on a lift would be preferable.
Thanks for the reply. I have 4 heavy duty jack stands and a nice floor jack so I will be using them. I have a few questions for you if you don't mind since I am a new Corvette owner.
What was your procedure for jacking up the car that high and where did you place the jack stands? Did you use 2 jack stands or 4?
Did you support the nose and if so.. from where?
Is there a particular reason you chose Dougs over Hooker?
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 16
Likes: 1
Thanks for the reply. I have 4 heavy duty jack stands and a nice floor jack so I will be using them. I have a few questions for you if you don't mind since I am a new Corvette owner.
What was your procedure for jacking up the car that high and where did you place the jack stands? Did you use 2 jack stands or 4?
Did you support the nose and if so.. from where?
Is there a particular reason you chose Dougs over Hooker?
What was your procedure for jacking up the car that high and where did you place the jack stands? Did you use 2 jack stands or 4?
Did you support the nose and if so.. from where?
Is there a particular reason you chose Dougs over Hooker?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 2,297
Likes: 156
From: Clayton New Jersey
When I had my 77 (4 speed) I wanted side pipes but couldn't decide on which set up. I bought both sets, had the covers painted black at a friends body shop. I ended up going with the Hookers. But the black set bolted right to the manifold just did not have the same sound as the Hookers.
Last edited by HT1663WB; Jun 28, 2015 at 09:58 AM.
Cruising
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 10
Likes: 1