Side Exhaust Pipe Thoughts
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 118
Likes: 1
I say go for it, unless you are wanting to keep it all original/numbers matching/etc... If not, there is no better sound than listening to that roar. I put OBX stainless steel on my 71 Stingray with Hooker inserts and they sound awesome/look great. Good luck.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,812
Likes: 2,029
From: eastern NC
Back then I was living in the Florida, panhandle and a few of us had late 70's Corvettes. An unmodified L48 with the converter, would top out at about 125 mph. Switching to a test pipe, they would hit about 130. One of the guys installed a set of factory sidepipes and his would hit 130 as well. We all switched to a newer monolith converter and top speed remained about 130 on the unmodified L48's.
Good luck... GUSTO
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 11,949
Likes: 4,507
From: Virginia
There were quite a few similar threads on this recently, so look for those for some additional opinions.
For my 80, I got a set of road-tested Hookers, and fabbed up some heat shields, for about a quarter of what a replacement under-the-car exhaust would have cost.
Pros: Weight savings, a slight performance improvement, MUCH better sound*, simplicity for driveline access, and cost.
Cons: An under-the-car system can still perform better. I Need earplugs (I haven't messed around with inserts yet, as that would more than double the cost of the current system), I NEED Side Shields, and even with shields, you (and others) can get burned. Stealth-mode is permanently disabled, you can be heard a mile away.
Appearance is a push. They are iconic. I don't prefer the look, but I don't dislike it either.
For my 80, I got a set of road-tested Hookers, and fabbed up some heat shields, for about a quarter of what a replacement under-the-car exhaust would have cost.
Pros: Weight savings, a slight performance improvement, MUCH better sound*, simplicity for driveline access, and cost.
Cons: An under-the-car system can still perform better. I Need earplugs (I haven't messed around with inserts yet, as that would more than double the cost of the current system), I NEED Side Shields, and even with shields, you (and others) can get burned. Stealth-mode is permanently disabled, you can be heard a mile away.
Appearance is a push. They are iconic. I don't prefer the look, but I don't dislike it either.
Last edited by Bikespace; Nov 20, 2019 at 09:49 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 7,493
Likes: 1,502
From: Little Rock AR
The factory '69 style were a one year only option. Slowed the car down and they were louder.
The Hooker style are a love/hate type thing. Look great, loud, and VERY HOT.
When I get a chrome bumper car I will add them.
The Hooker style are a love/hate type thing. Look great, loud, and VERY HOT.
When I get a chrome bumper car I will add them.
