Exhaust repair/conversion
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jan 2024
Posts: 16
Likes: 1
From: Austin
Exhaust repair/conversion
Hey all! My name is Christian Emerson, I am a 23 year old guy in Austin Texas. I have a '79 L-82. Today, one of my exhausts fell off and got FLATTENED by an 18 wheeler before I could recover it. This is the exhaust that came on the car from the previous owner.
MY QUESTION: What would you fine fellows recommend for a 1979 Corvette side exit exhaust? It has been a dream of mine for this car even before I got it. If I am gonna pay to get half a new exhaust anyway, I may as well bite the bullet and commit to the dream.
GOALS: I want the classic muscle car sound! The looks are incredible, but the sound is my bread and butter, all for the driving experience. I was hoping for guidance on which ones, which headers and even what kits are good. I would prefer not to go for the 3-4,000 kits, just a little pricy. Ideally, 1-2k, decent sound, preferably not going to hurt performance. I am learning more and more how to wrench on my car, this is what I WANT to do. I am 99% sure I will need new headers anyway, so bring it on!
Thank y'all very much! I really appreciate any help with my dream car and keeping it not only alive, but thriving. Any sources, suggestions or even sales you know of are immensely appreciated.
MY QUESTION: What would you fine fellows recommend for a 1979 Corvette side exit exhaust? It has been a dream of mine for this car even before I got it. If I am gonna pay to get half a new exhaust anyway, I may as well bite the bullet and commit to the dream.
GOALS: I want the classic muscle car sound! The looks are incredible, but the sound is my bread and butter, all for the driving experience. I was hoping for guidance on which ones, which headers and even what kits are good. I would prefer not to go for the 3-4,000 kits, just a little pricy. Ideally, 1-2k, decent sound, preferably not going to hurt performance. I am learning more and more how to wrench on my car, this is what I WANT to do. I am 99% sure I will need new headers anyway, so bring it on!
Thank y'all very much! I really appreciate any help with my dream car and keeping it not only alive, but thriving. Any sources, suggestions or even sales you know of are immensely appreciated.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 2,718
Likes: 2,163
From: Minnesota
Hello Christian,
There’s a number of different manufacturers for side pipes, but Hooker and Doug’s seem to be the most common. Anything that isn’t the factory restrictive exhaust will be a significant increase in performance.
I have Doug’s stainless headers and side pipes on my 76’ with their “medium” inserts. love the sound, especially combined with the cam in my small block. They were about 2 grand for the whole package when I got it a few years ago, I would imagine the prices have gone up since then. Black Friday is only a month away, perhaps you’ll be able to find a deal then.
Living in Texas I doubt you would need the anti rusting properties of stainless. There’s regular chrome or even black options if that’s more your style.
There’s a number of different manufacturers for side pipes, but Hooker and Doug’s seem to be the most common. Anything that isn’t the factory restrictive exhaust will be a significant increase in performance.
I have Doug’s stainless headers and side pipes on my 76’ with their “medium” inserts. love the sound, especially combined with the cam in my small block. They were about 2 grand for the whole package when I got it a few years ago, I would imagine the prices have gone up since then. Black Friday is only a month away, perhaps you’ll be able to find a deal then.
Living in Texas I doubt you would need the anti rusting properties of stainless. There’s regular chrome or even black options if that’s more your style.
Last edited by Piersonpie; Oct 30, 2024 at 09:15 PM.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jan 2024
Posts: 16
Likes: 1
From: Austin
Hello Christian,
There’s a number of different manufacturers for side pipes, but Hooker and Doug’s seem to be the most common. Anything that isn’t the factory restrictive exhaust will be a significant increase in performance.
I have Doug’s stainless headers and side pipes on my 76’ with their “medium” inserts. love the sound, especially combined with the cam in my small block. They were about 2 grand for the whole package when I got it a few years ago, I would imagine the prices have gone up since then. Black Friday is only a month away, perhaps you’ll be able to find a deal then.
Living in Texas I doubt you would need the anti rusting properties of stainless. There’s regular chrome or even black options if that’s more your style.
There’s a number of different manufacturers for side pipes, but Hooker and Doug’s seem to be the most common. Anything that isn’t the factory restrictive exhaust will be a significant increase in performance.
I have Doug’s stainless headers and side pipes on my 76’ with their “medium” inserts. love the sound, especially combined with the cam in my small block. They were about 2 grand for the whole package when I got it a few years ago, I would imagine the prices have gone up since then. Black Friday is only a month away, perhaps you’ll be able to find a deal then.
Living in Texas I doubt you would need the anti rusting properties of stainless. There’s regular chrome or even black options if that’s more your style.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 4,759
Likes: 1,647
From: Fairfax Virginia
The side-pipes are a very famous addition to many Corvettes and we have grown up seeing them. The best sound I ever heard was a Gulf Racing ZR1 breathing through a set of aftermarket side-pipes. On an early Corvette like my 1968 C3 I was looking for the best exhaust option. I wanted a set of Hooker Side pipes in the worst way. I am married and my wife and I use the Corvette together and I started thinking about the burns I have had off the side pipes. I have a really bad scar from a motorcycle exhaust pipe that is visible 55 years later. Then we had kids and the idea of a side-pipe burn is simply out of the question. Instead I chose to use a Chambered Exhaust on my 427 and it sounds great. I have Hedman Long Tube Headers that feed the chambered exhaust system.
Chambered Exhaust sounds like side-pipes but all the noise is Behind you! You can even hear and listen to the stereo while cruising down the highway. My Cousin and his 1967 C2 with side-pipes used to make my ears hurt after a short ride. You could not talk inside the car it was so loud. The chambered pipes provide a beautiful growling sound and sounds like a ferocious engine. Even my Cousin liked the sounds of my engine through the exhaust. Having a 3.36 rear ratio helps there a bit since I am about 2k rpm at 70 mph which is nice and the engine is barely idling.
We also have a 1988 C4 with it's L98 engine which only makes 255 hp but even that engine sounds ferocious through the Cat-back Chambered Exhaust and fools many people who assume it has been tweaked somewhat. I believe that the Chambered pipes are a less expensive and doesn't require any panel changes. The nice part is that you get rid of the big clunky mufflers on both sides of the exhaust.
If you REALLY want to use side-pipes then you might look at the other various options. The factory style comes with insulating FG covers to prevent burns and look nice when painted. There are companies that make the "factory style" side-pipes aftermarket and they are expensive but they do look and sound really nice.
The chambered systems were easily installed here in the driveway and both are still on the same Corvettes after 30 years of use. I just wish the headers could last as long without rusting. My 2 two chambered Exhaust systems were made out of Aluminized Steel and are the middle sound level from a now gone company called Allen's Stainless Exhaust Systems out of Indiana. They offered their side-pipes and chambered exhaust systems in at least 3 different sound levels from Normal to Extra loud. There are companies out there selling aftermarket exhaust systems that offer options.
I have never even thought about Stainless Steel as the Aluminized Steel worked just fine on my Corvettes.
Chambered Exhaust sounds like side-pipes but all the noise is Behind you! You can even hear and listen to the stereo while cruising down the highway. My Cousin and his 1967 C2 with side-pipes used to make my ears hurt after a short ride. You could not talk inside the car it was so loud. The chambered pipes provide a beautiful growling sound and sounds like a ferocious engine. Even my Cousin liked the sounds of my engine through the exhaust. Having a 3.36 rear ratio helps there a bit since I am about 2k rpm at 70 mph which is nice and the engine is barely idling.
We also have a 1988 C4 with it's L98 engine which only makes 255 hp but even that engine sounds ferocious through the Cat-back Chambered Exhaust and fools many people who assume it has been tweaked somewhat. I believe that the Chambered pipes are a less expensive and doesn't require any panel changes. The nice part is that you get rid of the big clunky mufflers on both sides of the exhaust.
If you REALLY want to use side-pipes then you might look at the other various options. The factory style comes with insulating FG covers to prevent burns and look nice when painted. There are companies that make the "factory style" side-pipes aftermarket and they are expensive but they do look and sound really nice.
The chambered systems were easily installed here in the driveway and both are still on the same Corvettes after 30 years of use. I just wish the headers could last as long without rusting. My 2 two chambered Exhaust systems were made out of Aluminized Steel and are the middle sound level from a now gone company called Allen's Stainless Exhaust Systems out of Indiana. They offered their side-pipes and chambered exhaust systems in at least 3 different sound levels from Normal to Extra loud. There are companies out there selling aftermarket exhaust systems that offer options.
I have never even thought about Stainless Steel as the Aluminized Steel worked just fine on my Corvettes.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jan 2024
Posts: 16
Likes: 1
From: Austin
The side-pipes are a very famous addition to many Corvettes and we have grown up seeing them. The best sound I ever heard was a Gulf Racing ZR1 breathing through a set of aftermarket side-pipes. On an early Corvette like my 1968 C3 I was looking for the best exhaust option. I wanted a set of Hooker Side pipes in the worst way. I am married and my wife and I use the Corvette together and I started thinking about the burns I have had off the side pipes. I have a really bad scar from a motorcycle exhaust pipe that is visible 55 years later. Then we had kids and the idea of a side-pipe burn is simply out of the question. Instead I chose to use a Chambered Exhaust on my 427 and it sounds great. I have Hedman Long Tube Headers that feed the chambered exhaust system.
Chambered Exhaust sounds like side-pipes but all the noise is Behind you! You can even hear and listen to the stereo while cruising down the highway. My Cousin and his 1967 C2 with side-pipes used to make my ears hurt after a short ride. You could not talk inside the car it was so loud. The chambered pipes provide a beautiful growling sound and sounds like a ferocious engine. Even my Cousin liked the sounds of my engine through the exhaust. Having a 3.36 rear ratio helps there a bit since I am about 2k rpm at 70 mph which is nice and the engine is barely idling.
We also have a 1988 C4 with it's L98 engine which only makes 255 hp but even that engine sounds ferocious through the Cat-back Chambered Exhaust and fools many people who assume it has been tweaked somewhat. I believe that the Chambered pipes are a less expensive and doesn't require any panel changes. The nice part is that you get rid of the big clunky mufflers on both sides of the exhaust.
If you REALLY want to use side-pipes then you might look at the other various options. The factory style comes with insulating FG covers to prevent burns and look nice when painted. There are companies that make the "factory style" side-pipes aftermarket and they are expensive but they do look and sound really nice.
The chambered systems were easily installed here in the driveway and both are still on the same Corvettes after 30 years of use. I just wish the headers could last as long without rusting. My 2 two chambered Exhaust systems were made out of Aluminized Steel and are the middle sound level from a now gone company called Allen's Stainless Exhaust Systems out of Indiana. They offered their side-pipes and chambered exhaust systems in at least 3 different sound levels from Normal to Extra loud. There are companies out there selling aftermarket exhaust systems that offer options.
I have never even thought about Stainless Steel as the Aluminized Steel worked just fine on my Corvettes.
Chambered Exhaust sounds like side-pipes but all the noise is Behind you! You can even hear and listen to the stereo while cruising down the highway. My Cousin and his 1967 C2 with side-pipes used to make my ears hurt after a short ride. You could not talk inside the car it was so loud. The chambered pipes provide a beautiful growling sound and sounds like a ferocious engine. Even my Cousin liked the sounds of my engine through the exhaust. Having a 3.36 rear ratio helps there a bit since I am about 2k rpm at 70 mph which is nice and the engine is barely idling.
We also have a 1988 C4 with it's L98 engine which only makes 255 hp but even that engine sounds ferocious through the Cat-back Chambered Exhaust and fools many people who assume it has been tweaked somewhat. I believe that the Chambered pipes are a less expensive and doesn't require any panel changes. The nice part is that you get rid of the big clunky mufflers on both sides of the exhaust.
If you REALLY want to use side-pipes then you might look at the other various options. The factory style comes with insulating FG covers to prevent burns and look nice when painted. There are companies that make the "factory style" side-pipes aftermarket and they are expensive but they do look and sound really nice.
The chambered systems were easily installed here in the driveway and both are still on the same Corvettes after 30 years of use. I just wish the headers could last as long without rusting. My 2 two chambered Exhaust systems were made out of Aluminized Steel and are the middle sound level from a now gone company called Allen's Stainless Exhaust Systems out of Indiana. They offered their side-pipes and chambered exhaust systems in at least 3 different sound levels from Normal to Extra loud. There are companies out there selling aftermarket exhaust systems that offer options.
I have never even thought about Stainless Steel as the Aluminized Steel worked just fine on my Corvettes.
For the side pipes I know there are inserts for sound moderation but I had a small worry about them being LOUD. Overall, the sound does add to the driving experience but if it’s deafening then that would detract.
