Hooker side mount exhaust, yes/no?
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Joined: Dec 2022
Posts: 96
Likes: 20
Tuned header vs untuned in the virtual world is worth another 20hp no restriction, assuming the combustion is the same. take it for what's its worth 28" vs 46" I am guessing the 28 may not be as touchy on restriction . 46 inch 28 inchChart
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 7,653
Likes: 2,468
From: Indiana
I love the look of the side pipes on the C3 - either from the Hooker design or the original OEM design. To me, the look overrides the function (and potential hearing loss). Seeing a C3 without side exhaust is like seeing a Shelby Cobra without side exhaust! (Exaggeration) 
My experience has been interesting over the years. I first put the side pipes on my car in the mid 90s and they've been on ever since. My general rule of thumb: stay above 2.5" straight through in the side pipe if you can. Preferably 3" - 4" if you can get away with it. I've run the following configurations:
KT
My experience has been interesting over the years. I first put the side pipes on my car in the mid 90s and they've been on ever since. My general rule of thumb: stay above 2.5" straight through in the side pipe if you can. Preferably 3" - 4" if you can get away with it. I've run the following configurations:
- Reverse flow mufflers: Quiet, but will absolutely crush any exhaust flow.
- No muffler: Minimal loss in flow, but you will go deaf - and your neighbors will hate you. That configuration lasted about one afternoon.
- Glasspack inserts: These have an acceptable noise level and sound, but I didn't love that they squeezed the flow path down to about 2.25" or 2.5" (can't remember exactly). I ran these for a handful of years.
- Custom auger style inserts: I played with this, installing some, then removing, etc... I couldn't get the sound right, and it was generally too loud as you tried to go with less of the inserts.
- STS Baffles with caps: These were a really good solution. The sound was good, and the sound level was acceptable. However, there will be a flow restriction with the caps, and I don't think there is any internet dyno data with capped STS baffles. There's probably a marketing reason for that.
- STS Baffles without caps: This was a tad too loud for me. Although the internet dyno numbers for the uncapped STS baffles show minimal HP loss, you'll probably get more than minimal hearing loss with completely uncapped baffles. The other option (which I didn't try) was drilling a hole in the cap to sort of "tune" the sound level to taste. Perhaps others have tried this and can comment.
- Custom built side pipe with 3.5" Borla racing mufflers: I loved this concept, and I'm sure the flow was about as good as it gets, but too loud. I needed ear plugs to drive pretty much anywhere. If I could figure out how to make this design quieter, I'd go with it. If Borla made a 30" long version of the muffler I used, it might help attenuate more sound, but I had to abandon that design.
- Custom built side pipe with flowmaster 3" tandem mufflers: I tried welding two mufflers in series for this design. In the end, I had the 3" straight through, but just a tad too loud.
- Classic Chambered Exhaust Louver Core Inserts: These are my current side pipe muffler inserts. I've had them installed for about a month or so. They have a 3" diameter pass through core using a louver design and a sound deadening material (fiberglass) that uses the outer "side pipe" as the outer shell. They are relatively light, use the entire pipe, and have a decent sound reduction / decent sound. You can get them in either 3" or 2.5" cores (passthrough). http://www.classicchambered.com/clas...html#corvettes
KT
how about a hidden muffler exhaust with an electronic cut out for the side pipes? best of both worlds at a push of a button?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 769
Likes: 343
From: Mooresville NC
I think some other members of the forum were looking at doing a side pipe bypass damper or something like that. Either way, it is a good idea.
