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So I'm sure this has been discussed a billion times, but I'm totally new to this and want to get good advise. I want to but headers and sides on my 82 ( not original motor has a 355 in it) but I was told making sure the correct diameter is very important. So I know brands is totally up to me as to how much I want to spend, but picking the right size, coating is what I looking for advise on. Thank you any of your help!
Thank you! So this will give me the best performance? Also, Again I'm new to this so I truly don't know the slim muffler that go inside the pips? Thanks for the advise. For some of these questions I just have a hard time figuring it out. Really appreciate it.
Headers and sides? So, sidepipe headers, and the pipes themselves?
There are two versions. The stock 1969-style sidepipes are single pipes that go from the exhaust manifolds under shields at the side of the car that replace the side bezels.
The "Hooker" style (like pictured below) send 4 tubes out the side of the car to the collector, and typically have a 4" pipe that can then have your choice of muffler inserts (or none at all for open headers). They can optionally have a shield on part of the pipe (as shown), and can retain the stock side bezels (as NOT shown).
Or did you mean an under-car system? In theory, that can give you the best absolute performance.
Yes, I'm looking to have the side pipes as the picture you provided. love the look and sound. Now I just need to see if 4" or 3" pipe. have to do more research on the slim muffler insert. Which ones give me the best performance. I know it will tone down the sound a little I think. Previous post Jebby recommended 1 5/8" diameter.?
Thanks!
Yes, I'm looking to have the side pipes as the picture you provided. love the look and sound. Now I just need to see if 4" or 3" pipe. have to do more research on the slim muffler insert. Which ones give me the best performance. I know it will tone down the sound a little I think. Previous post Jebby recommended 1 5/8" diameter.?
Thanks!
I don't know of any C3 Hooker-style exhaust headers that don't use 4" outlets. You could neck it down, but the collector is already pretty big, and many of the 4" muffler inserts are interchangeable between brands. I have Doug's D952 inserts (the louder ones) inside some generic pipes, under some Patriot shields, behind Hooker headers, using Evil Energy 4" clamps.
Last edited by Bikespace; Dec 5, 2023 at 08:36 PM.
So I'm sure this has been discussed a billion times, but I'm totally new to this and want to get good advise. I want to but headers and sides on my 82 ( not original motor has a 355 in it) but I was told making sure the correct diameter is very important. So I know brands is totally up to me as to how much I want to spend, but picking the right size, coating is what I looking for advise on. Thank you any of your help!
Side pipes are NOT made for performance gains. At best they might be a free flowing dual exhaust. Tuned 4 into 1 are a performance gain or even a 2 into 1 2 into 1 collector idea.
If you notice....the collector is way up by the header tubes......this is where scavenging is most effective......the Hooker style sidepipes look cool as hell, but the collector is way out behind the front wheel and makes the header tubes too long to boot.......there is some pulse tuning but way too weak to be effective......
If you notice....the collector is way up by the header tubes......this is where scavenging is most effective......the Hooker style sidepipes look cool as hell, but the collector is way out behind the front wheel and makes the header tubes too long to boot.......there is some pulse tuning but way too weak to be effective......
Jebby
Sure, but by staying at 2" as they pass under the frame rail, the Hooker-style sidepipes give you more ground clearance. I can go over speed bumps with mine. How well do those ACP headers fit?
There is an Engine Masters episode, now behind a paywall, that shows the advantages of X-pipes. So, to @gkull's point, an under-car system will come out slightly ahead, if tuned properly and the stars align (and you are at the correct RPM, for example).
Here is another sidepipe option for you, though it will force some other improvements under the hood. See how the 2" pipes go low for the frame rail, then loop back up to go along the side of the car?
Side pipes are NOT made for performance gains. At best they might be a free flowing dual exhaust. Tuned 4 into 1 are a performance gain or even a 2 into 1 2 into 1 collector idea.
Since I posted this I have been looking at free flowing dual exhaust systems as well just to compare and on pricing too. For the 82 currently the stuck exhaust manifold flow to one and then cat back to two. Trying to see if they have with headers dual system . Don't see them for 80-82 only older. I'm sure it will have to be custom. Might be a clearance issue too. Still like the side pipes but all the fed back sounds crazy as to what the correct diameter should be and the lost power. Lots to research and think about.
You will gain a tremendous amount of power (if your engine can be tuned for it) with any long-tube header system you choose, sidepipes or otherwise. But you'll be leaving a few percent on the table vs. a tuned, X-piped, 3", under-car dual exhaust. When you have 500+ HP and are road racing, this might matter to you.
The issues with true-dual systems for your 82 are:
1. The transmission crossmember only has a single notch for transmission crossmember EDIT: the exhaust pipe (2 into 1 into 2)
2. Only 74 and before cars supported true-dual exhausts with no catalytic converters. You can certainly add them later, but they aren't "stock", so you won't see them listed.
Personally, I'd think sidepipes would look out of place on an 82 CE, but it's your car. And it's fun to be unique sometimes, too.
Last edited by Bikespace; Dec 6, 2023 at 07:59 PM.
You will gain a tremendous amount of power (if your engine can be tuned for it) with any long-tube header system you choose, sidepipes or otherwise. But you'll be leaving a few percent on the table vs. a tuned, X-piped, 3", under-car dual exhaust. When you have 500+ HP and are road racing, this might matter to you.
The issues with true-dual systems for your 82 are:
1. The transmission crossmember only has a single notch for transmission crossmember
2. Only 74 and before cars supported true-dual exhausts with no catalytic converters. You can certainly add them later, but they aren't "stock", so you won't see them listed.
Personally, I'd think sidepipes would look out of place on an 82 CE, but it's your car. And it's fun to be unique sometimes, too.
So if I just but headers (don't know which size) and use the same exhaust system and just upgrade the mufflers it should perform better. I don't think I can put an X pipe. I like the idea of being different since my 82 CE doesn't have the original motor in it anyway. I just don't want to have a major drop off.
So if I just but headers (don't know which size) and use the same exhaust system and just upgrade the mufflers it should perform better. I don't think I can put an X pipe. I like the idea of being different since my 82 CE doesn't have the original motor in it anyway. I just don't want to have a major drop off.
You have a big restriction under your car, where everything goes through one pipe. You should fix that if you go under the car. But, yes, long tube headers going into your stock exhaust should give you a small gain. But why?
Perhaps Corvette Central has a dual exhaust kit for an 82 that goes around the obstructions? 80s have the same crossmember issue, which was easier to avoid with sidepipes. We may be down to only one company making crossmembers for our cars, but they can be swapped out.
Picking the right headers
