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Do side pipes add to the performance? Best place to buy a set with headers?
I'm one of those "side pipe" guys... 1 Viper, 2 Cobras and 4 corvettes all with side pipes... I don't know that it adds to performance and would perhaps depend on your current exhaust.
I purchased my last "header side pipes" from Summit, I purchased Doug's all ceramic with mid inserts... I loved the sound, free shipping to my house in a few days, I had a small flaw in one side pipe and they sent a replacement right away before getting my return, great service... just one of many opinions you will get on side pipes
made a nice seat of the pants difference for me compared to stock
If you’re coming from the factory exhaust, absolutely. Are you looking for the factory style that can connect to the rams horns manifolds or the Hooker/Doug’s style?
Summit is really pretty good for everything. And, without a test on a chassis dyno,, before AND after ,,, likely never notice much other than cool looks and great sounds. I have’69 factory side pipes, connected to side exit headers, and throughly enjoy them.
I'm one of those "side pipe" guys... 1 Viper, 2 Cobras and 4 corvettes all with side pipes... I don't know that it adds to performance and would perhaps depend on your current exhaust.
I purchased my last "header side pipes" from Summit, I purchased Doug's all ceramic with mid inserts... I loved the sound, free shipping to my house in a few days, I had a small flaw in one side pipe and they sent a replacement right away before getting my return, great service... just one of many opinions you will get on side pipes
made a nice seat of the pants difference for me compared to stock
Getting my Doug’s headers and sidepipes put on my 82 white vette. Can’t wait two more weeks, I also got the Classic Chambered Exhaust vette pack inserts. You have a great looking vette there.
Getting my Doug’s headers and sidepipes put on my 82 white vette. Can’t wait two more weeks, I also got the Classic Chambered Exhaust vette pack inserts. You have a great looking vette there.
thank you... I have since sold it and replaced with an 82
When I was drag racing I was running Hooker side pipe headers. I called Hooker to ask them their opinion on side pipe headers compared to under car headers. They said the under car headers would give me a little more power.
I have OBX side pipes they fit well. Power is influenced by the inserts. Polish em up once and a while and they are good. .
You have to understand the hooker type side pipes are a complete exhaust . I suspect hooker means an under car header but I believe that would be without A full exhaust. Bear that in mind.
I have OBX side pipes they fit well. Power is influenced by the inserts. Polish em up once and a while and they are good. .
You have to understand the hooker type side pipes are a complete exhaust . I suspect hooker means an under car header but I believe that would be without A full exhaust. Bear that in mind.
I was running 6 inch turn downs on the side pipe headers, not full pipes. I was going to do the same on under car headers but I stuck with the side pipes headers because I liked the look. They told me the scavenging was better on the under car headers.
Sidepipes will add performance over the stock exhaust. I remember reading somewhere that the Hooker-style sidepipes aren't as efficient at making power because the primaries are longer than necessary so they collect after passing under the car. If you look at sidepipe headers from Stahl/ACP, the primaries are much shorter and collect before passing under the car, and their big thing is their exhausts are supposed to be more performance than looks. This does affect ground clearance because then you have a larger pipe passing under the car, and you also don't have that "look" of the Hooker-style headers. I personally went with Stahl because I liked that look more than the Hooker-style.
I had Stahl headers on a couple vettes and the hooker type on others. I have the 21/2 sweet thunder inserts in my current obx pipes. They work just fine.
No matter what headers and or exhaust you have you will almost without exception need to retune your engine for best results.as I have said the hooker type side pipes are. An exhaust system to compare them to open headers is not a fair comparison unless you add pipes and mufflers with all the bends . If you want side pipes get side pipes if you want undercar exhaust have that. Every combination will give a different outcome.
I have had all three inserts. The quiet inserts were way too restrictive.
The “glass pak” were louder, but not what I was looking for.
The Max-Flo allowed the car to breath best and gave the best performance. But I had to lean over and shout to the passenger. I needed a muffler with low restriction that would allow me to Time Trial at Lime Rock, which has sound restrictions.
I called Borla and to my surprise Dave Borla answered. He said his quietest muffler that could be used as a side pipe was his Jeep racing muffler. I gave it a try. The negatives are it get close to the ground. But my car is lowered. Also, the looks may not be to everyone’s taste. It allows the engine with low restriction to perform at its best. The car makes considerably more power than on the Hooker quiet inserts.
