Thinking about headers and sidepipes
 

Hi Fellas,
I'm contemplating headers and side pipes for my recently acquired 76. I understand that the performance increase is minimal, but I like the look and the sound. I started researching headers and pipes, and I'm frigging dizzy. Can one of you knowledgeable and experienced Vette guys tell me what works. My car has power steering and air. It's a 350 with a mild cam and FiTech fuel injection. Just looking for the right set up, so I don't have to make a bunch of modifications if that is even possible. There is a very reputable muffler guy here, so I would like to just deliver the parts to him and have him install them without it becoming a cluster ****. Thanks in advance for any insights.

Tom

I've got Hooker, Doug's, and OBX sidepipes in cars. They all fit good and are holding up well.

I have Stahl headers and side pipes on my 69. They fit great and sound awesome.

http://acpheaders.com/

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...28b969a77.jpeg

You can get painted, chrome or stainless steel headers. I have the Hooker SS headers.

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...df737152d2.jpg

If you want the best, Stahl/ACP. Period.

with EFI you will need to do this!
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...d07911384d.jpg
O2 sensor at collector and thru frame. A little bit tricky.

Go for it and I strongly recommend covers of some sort for the pipes. They can and will burn someone.
Scott

Just try to pick the correct muffler insert the first time. Lots of choices with lots of different opinions on which one sounds the best. When younger tried glass packs, STS baffles, sweet thunder, and at this point in life ended up with the reverse flow for low volume.

Ha Ha!
That's for sure. Usually your wife/girlfriend..... but only once.:lol:
If you haven't had sidepipes before, you definitely have to run them on one car at least.
Good luck, Greg

If her legs are like Catherine Bach's and you have no shields, consider insuring her legs as Bach did, lol. Shields are cheaper though.:D

I put the hooker headers and sidepipes on my 78, and went with glasspack inserts. Sounds perfect to me, and anywhere rear of the center of the doors, they don't really seem to get that hot. I couldn't see needing shields on mine. Don't touch them up near the colllector of course.

Ceramic coated headers and pipes from Doug's, they fit perfect and the sound . . . . . that all depends on the inserts.
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...61ab2aacb8.jpg

:yesnod: Take a look at "Steel Shields" not cheap but made real well and custom orders are available.

Well, when I had my 76 I went with the old school GM look. Also dropped it all off and had a shop do it so I could just pick it up and go.

RVZIO


https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...79cef6dfb1.jpg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...412a92d306.jpg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...3d81061438.jpg

I have Hooker with long tube headers. Look and sound great!
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...a4bca8ee5.jpeg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...5b3222e90.jpeg

I have the Hookers on my BB, the quiet Glass Packs were quite restrictive for me. I went with the high flow (very loud) but I'm at 560ish hp so it probably doesn't apply to your 350. I will be curious to see how you handle the O2 bung, I will be using a O2 pipe sniffers at the outlets while tuning my Carbs but would rather have bungs.

I really like the look of chrome sidepipes on the C3s and would like to do one of mine like that. But I am too wary of getting burned, or getting my passengers burnt when exiting. My wife already does not like riding in the car. Imagine how she would feel with a burnt leg on exiting.

kdf

I have a welding blanket from Harbor Freight ($15) that I cut off 2 pieces 2.5’ Long. Rolled it up and stuck it between seat and sill. When needed Either side can be rolled out to cover the pipe and you will not get burned.

When I get a chance I’ll take some photos. So it doesn’t fall to the ground I have the cloth pierced and secured at one end with zip ties - it’s really not bad.

Rich

They all look great, would like to see pictures of any innovative way used to fill/hide/use rear area where exhaust pipes used to be. Filling with glass or replacing area obviously require painting. I thought of backup lights at one time.

74-up doesn't really have exhaust cut outs like earlier cars.