I'm thinking about ripping out the stock exhaust from my 81 and installing side pipes. I have a couple questions about this.

1. Is It Street Legal? Do you get mini converters right after the Y Pipe to each side or is it a plain Pipe from the header to the Exhaust?

2. Loudness. On a scale from 1 to 10, with 3 being stock exhaust? I'm not big on loud cars.

3. Is their excess heat in the cabin due to these or less? I really don't know how it works.

4. [EDIT] How much will this run me, and where should I consult? Ecklers /MA direct?

Thanks for all your help.

 

I would buy the Hooker sidepipes and headers from Summit, and Spiral Turbo baffles.
I don't think it's too loud, but that's my opinion.

 

I love mine, but they are not for the faint of heart but rather the faint of hearing.

The heat is not so much a factor until you bump your leg on one getting out - make certain you girlfriend or wife is well warned, unless you have covers. I have fiberglass covers I really don't like, and will be upgrading to hookers very soon.

My understanding is that if you keep the rocker panels on the heat is not too bad inside while at speed.

Legality will depend on your state. In VA 68's do not have emissions standards. Some states have noise regulations you should check as well. If I control my shifting and driving habits in town all I get is looks of admiration rather than disgust. The look and sound is worth every penny!
Good luck.

 

What I can't hear out of that ear. Great sound from outside the car, but they take time to get use to on the inside.

 

1. Depends on your state what sort of inspections they have.

2. Louder... about a 5 - 6.

3. Cooler... until you get out and either touch your hand to it or your leg.

4. Around $1800 all together from Ecklers (with shipping etc). You have until Oct 8 to get the Spiral Turbo Baffles for $299 (includes shipping).

 

They are quite a bit noisier than the standard exhaust, but I like the sound. They don't affect cabin temperature, and the heat shield (mine are the original metal ones) helps keep you from getting burned getting in and out. They aren't cold, however. When I bought them a long time ago, they were cheap. Several suppliers have the replicas available.

 

I personally like my exhaust that comes out the back because of the trees over my driveway....all I have to do is start the vette and it blows the leaves off the entire length of the driveway.

 

If you run them open w/ no muffler of some sort, I don't care what you have under the hood... it will be deafening. When I first got mine on I installed the POS Hooker baffles. They choked my big-block something fierce, so I ripped them out and ran open ... for all of about 2 weeks and 50-60 miles of driving. Just taking off from lights or stopsigns was ridiculous. Full throttle... my ears would hurt. So I got the JCL baffles like someone above suggested, and I lost no noticeable power from open pipes and they sound fantastic. But I would say on a scale from 1-10 w/ 3 being stock... these are a good 7+. If you're just cruising they are not bad at all. Full throttle, it will sound like a race car.

Cabin heat is now less on my car compared to under the car exhaust that was on it when I bought it.

I don't have to worry about emissions on my '69. I do not know where you would install a cat on a set of Hooker side-mount headers, though. You would probably have to fabricate something _inside_ the 4" sidepipe. If you know a good muffler shop, it may not be a bad thing.

 

please check your emails---

 

I know I can't jack the car up at the side points now. It's under the rear spring and under the front crossmember.

 

All I hope is that I don't get a flat tire!!!
I have about two inches as it is with inflated tires.

....will have to store some spinach somewhere for an emergency.

 

It also limits you to taking it to shops that have a drive-on lift...

I don't have a lift yet, but I do have a split-deck car trailer. Works great as a lift for some things (can't drop a transmission through it).

 

I would say that I LOVE sidepipes. They are probably 7-8 on a scale of 1-10 so they are loud but very distictive. Nothing else sounds like them IMHO. I do generaly like old school loud. My Dad had Hookers on his and I could hear him coming home from a block away.

Maybe it is just me but I would never run sidepipes with an automatic tranny. The sound is not as pleasing as what you get when rowing up through the gears running a stick.

As always, just my opinion.

-Mark.

 

Never thought about the automatic thing, but you're absolutely right!

 

Has anyone used the side pipes made by www.sweet-thunder.com/?

They're very similar to the old factory originals with the rectangular pipe outlet and covers. They appear to be very well made for a fair price.

Roger B.

 

That's just ... matter of opinion... and a silly one at that.

The only NEVER I would throw in is, I would never do it to anything less then a V8... don't have to worry about that with a Corvette though.

 

I have custom made 3" exhaust with 3.5" sidepipes with fiberglass covers painted silver. I use an auger type muffler simular to JCL's but at a fraction of the price. With these mufflers it's wonderfull. not too loud, not too quiet and they flow like crazy. This is on a decent 427 small block.
These mufflers are actually quieter than the stock '69 mufflers that flow like a soda straw.

I was running without covers while I painted them and I would have to say that I will not ever be doing that by choice! What a PITA. Also the glass covers allow me to run 3.5" mufflers and with the House of Kolor Orion silver they look dang good too. ( no not as good as chrome tho)

 

I have hookers on the 78. Look great, sound great, The leg burn-it only takes once. Is it legal, here in NE Pa, No we only have the visual inspection, and if the garage knows that they were not factory, then you fail. But most garages don't know or don't care.

 

You will live for tunnels and underpasses!