It is time for a new exhaust on my 77.  I really like the looks of side pipes.  I have headers on the car now with straight back exhaust.  Will it be hard to convert to the side pipes and what is involved when doing so.  I'm sure several of you have done this so can you give me a guestimate as to how much the side pipes will cost with the labor.  Finally, any pros and cons to the side pipes versus the straight back exhaust?  Thanks for your time and help as always!

Side Pipes are great!  I have the ones made by Hooker. I got them from Jet-Hot with their coating. Cost was roughly $1300.00 delivered. I put them on myself, so I can't help with the labor. The are defintely louder than a stock exhaust. It's almost a love it or hate it kind of thing. Just be carefull getting in and out - those suckers get hot!

Thanks, I appreciate your insight!

I have sidepipes on my 70...which it pains me to say, I might be selling.

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Mike

My old Stingray...sure do miss it:


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Mike .... THAT VIDEO IS  KILLER DUDE !

If you get the factory style sidepipes, you won't have an issue with exiting the vehicle and burning your legs. Also, (and I don't know if this is an issue with a '77, but it was with my '71), you might want to plug the "holes" in the rear facia where the old exhaust pipes used to exit.

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fowler12, if you go to the Corvette Fever magazine web site, and search in their archived "How To" story files, you'll find a whole article devoted to the step-by-step installation of headers and side pipes on a C3--complete with photo illustration.

Hope you find it useful. This is something I'm planning on doing myself before the summer is out--so good luck with yours!SFVette2007-08-07 13:35:17

I put Hooker Sidepipes (also from Jet-Hot) on my 1977 Corvette.  I had somebody I knew put the headers on since you have to raise the car pretty high, but its a pretty straight forward installation.  The installation instructions talk about possibly having to trim the rocker panels, but I didn't have to on mine.  I also put the JCL spiral baffles in and they sound awesome!  I still can't stop smiling when I get on the gas.  I bought heat shields from cobrastuff.com and they have done a great job protecting me and others from burns so far. 

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1977 Corvette EX-L48
383 Stroker, Holley MPFI, MSD Ignition, BTO 700R4, VBP Street/Slalom, Hooker Sidepipes with JCL Spiral Baffles, Corbeau A4s w/ Shark Bar and Simpson 5-Points, 17" AR TTII's, Kumho MX's

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I thank everyone for their input.. this certainly helps me.  Mike, after seeing your video I think you just sold me on the side pipes.......beautiful car and great video!!!!

I've also got the factory style on my '80 from Ecklers.  I love them.  They are way loud so don't plan on any soft conversation however, they do quiet down at speed.  Doppler effect does carry the sound away somewhat.

it's not so much "have to" as that I'm growing weary with having to spend money fixing things like weatherstrip, windshield wipers, AC, electrical wiring, gauges, all the little leaks, instead of spending money making it go faster.  not to mention it costs me twice as much because I don't know how to do any of it myself.

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Mike

My old Stingray...sure do miss it:


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SIDE PIPES ARE THE COOLEST LOOK. wHATEVER YOU DO , DO NOT PURCHASE YOUR HOOKER COMP SIDEPIPES WIHT CERAMIC COATING FROM SUMMIT RACING.i WENT THROUGH 3 SETS IN SIX MONTHS BECAUSE THEY RUSTED. vERY FRUSTRATING. i SPENT THE EXTRA $400.00 FOR THE SAME SET UP FROM JET -HOT. mUCH SUPERIOR FINISH. ABOUT $1300.00 AND i PURCHASED HOOKER FREE FLOW MUFFLERS  ANOTHER $300.00. i DID THE INSTALL.a BIT OF A  PIA. NEED TO GET THE CAR UP HIGH, AND WITH AN AC CAR THE NEW BRACKET WAS A BITCH. YOU WILL MOST LIKELY HAVE AN EXHAUST LEAK SOMEWHERE. OF ALL THE GUYS I SPOKE WITH , VERY FEW WERE FURTUNATE ENOUGH NOT TO HAVE ANY LEAKS. HOWEVER, I WOULDN`T TRADE THEM IN FOR ANYTHING. AS FAR AS THE REAR VALANCE I BELIEVE YOU `77 EXHUAST EXITED UNDER THE CAR SO YOU SHOULDN`T HAVE THE EXHAUST HOLE ISSUE US BUMPER CARS HAVE. GOOD LUCK

I don't know if it is because I have the urethane setup on my suspension (as opposed to rubber) but after blowing 3 donuts, I finally went with lock washers and brass nuts.  They have held so far.

I have the Hooker headers/sidepipes from Jet-Hot and the Spiral Turbo Baffles also.  Here's my take:
1. They sound incredible, but very loud.  At WOT, you'd swear it was just headers.
2. You can lower the volume by plugging the center straight pipe that goes down the center of the baffles.  That leaves PLENTY of cross section so that you're not restricting air flow.  I did this with two tail pipe expanders.  Works well and I can take out easily any time I want.  Can't make up my mind which volume/tone I like best...
3.  Get heat shields or someone WILL get burned badly.  In my case, it was my son.  I also got the shields from cobrastuff.com
4.  The JetHot "Sterling" finish looks great on my '81, which has very little chrome and mostly polished aluminum.
5. VERY easy to install yourself.  If you can do headers,  problem.
6. The primary tubes are really too big for optimal performance on all but the hottest street small blocks.  The result is the low RPM torque will not be as good as it would be with a good set of 1-5/8" headers.  Higher RPM no problem.
7. Oh yeah, sidepipes can sound a little "tin-ny" compared to FlowMasters, for example.  I like the sound.  It's VERY aggressive (almost obnoxious) without the plugs I mentioned above.  However, if you want the sound of most aftermarket under-car mufflers, sidepipes aren't it.

Good luck!

Wow Mike, you have my sympathies brother. I don't think I could part with a car like yours. But I am a mechanic and can do most of my own repairs, but I understand your reasoning. Good luck and don't forget us if you step up and "SAVE THE WAVE".aceinthehole2007-08-08 18:11:55

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Jimmy B.
Just can't wait to get on the road again.

 
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[QUOTE=Stingray406SB]it's not so much "have to" as that I'm growing weary with having to spend money fixing things like weatherstrip, windshield wipers, AC, electrical wiring, gauges, all the little leaks, instead of spending money making it go faster.  not to mention it costs me twice as much because I don't know how to do any of it myself. [/QUOTE]

I have been reading the side pipe posts and most have headers with side pipes a few had factory style.Did you guys buy the 1974 side pipes? If so what kind of mods were necessary for the 1977-1982's? Thanks

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Not sure what you mean by "1974 side pipes".  If you mean factory, I have no idea about mods.  For the Hooker headers & sidepipe combo, I had to do the following mods:
1) cut a long 3/8" sliver off he bottom of the rocker moulding where the 4 header pipes come out under each side.
2) small cutout in rocker moulding to clear the bolt that clamps the pipe to the header
3) trim tiny amount off the bottom of the moulding to clear the two brackets that mount each pipe to the frame
4) trim even more to clear the clamps that hold on the heat shields (from cobrastuff.com)
5) trim just a little off the bottom of the fiberglass fender where the 4 pipes go under.
All in all, a few hours ot make the cuts nice and straight, rounded evenly, etc. to make it look good.  And, the rocker mouldings would now be worthless if I went back to undercar exhaust.
If I ever get this little project finished, I'll post some pictures. (I still have to paint the rockers and install them and the heat shields...)

Sorry I wasn't clear,1974 was the last year of the factory side pipes,I might have a chance to buy a set and wanted to know if anyone had installed the factory side pipes on a later year than 1974.

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I put the factory ones on mine.  Small trim up by the door where they come out.  Drill a bigger hole in the frame and one behind it so you can get the bolt and your finger/screw driver in to hold the bolt and tighten up the nut to hold the back of the car.  Works better if you can lure a buddy over with whatever it takes.

If you have the factory rams horn headers, no prob., direct bolt-up.  If you have what we are all used to as headers, 4 tubes into a collector, you will have to have someone at a pipe bending and welding shop custom up an end for you.  As an alternative, you can use the "shorty" headers.  I used the factory rams horns that came on the car.   No problems and sounds great if you think LOUD is great!!!!! 

I would strongly advise lock washers and brass nuts as the factory nuts kept backing off and after blowing 3 donuts in 3 trips, I decided it was enough and even though everyone I talked with (didn't get to pulse the site folks though) said stay with iron nuts and no lock washers (even the books advise this) I figured what the he!!, it couldn't be any worse.  They have worked GREAT!!! no probs with backing off.  I got them at Ace Hardware.

Hope this helps!  You'll love 'em!

Thanks dnv,I have the stock manifolds so it sure seems like your set-up,now if I can get my hands on the side pipes.My oldest daughter's husbands grandfather has a 1977 L82 4 speed that has 12,000 original miles,he bought it brand new in Atlanta and put all the miles on there,then got transferred to Oregon,he had the side pipes installed by the dealer in Atlanta but when he brought the car to Oregon they told him they were illegal,he removed them and put them on a shelf on basically hasn't driven the car since because he doesn't like it without the sidepipes.The only time he drives it is to re-licence it every 2 years.Yes I have tried to buy the car before anyone asks,he won't sell,but I might be able to get the pipes............wish me luck.

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i love those side pipes. what is the name and where can i get them. can you help me out. i am a new member,so i hope this works. dfrease@webbwireless.net. thanks, dave 

it worked just fine, Dave.  you can get the sidepipes and headers from a lot of different places.  Summit Racing may have them for you, but I ordered mine through Jet Hot, complete with their heat-reducing coating.

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Mike

My old Stingray...sure do miss it:


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Advance Auto Parts has the stud kit for the factory manifold/headers (rams horns).  They come with a 1/2" deep brass nut and lock washer.

These work really well.  As to little leaks, no matter what we have done, I still have one or two at the connection point.

[QUOTE=767REP] Sorry I wasn't clear,1974 was the last year of the factory side pipes,I might have a chance to buy a set and wanted to know if anyone had installed the factory side pipes on a later year than 1974.[/QUOTE]



Actually...the only year Chevy put side exhaust on a Shark car was 1969. This style of exhaust will fit on any Shark car, tho.

Don't know where the info on '74 cars being the last to offer them comes from, but it ain't true. '74 was the last year for true dual exhaust on a Shark...perhaps that is where the confusion comes from...

The factory style side exhaust will fit any Shark...some may need a few tweaks here and there, due to the body mount design changes and such, but they will fit...and they do sound sweet!

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Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56    
My Link


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"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

Does anyone know of a side exhaust product that is muffled and sounds much like factory exhaust? I would like to have the look of side exhaust but without the awful racket of unmuffled exhaust.

Now before i'm flamed,  please allow me to explain. When I was younger, I was exposed to many loud environments including drag racing and all types of unbridled exhaust noise, Sooo, 35 years later I have meself a very nice set of hearing aids that work really nice....except when a loud car comes near or other noises. My aids are set to amp-up voices not car exhaust or other ungodly sounds.  I could remove my devices when driving my Corvette but I do not want to expose my fellow human beings to this horrible excessive noise...especially when I realize what it's doing to their ears.

OK Rich. ......this is what you want, these are as quiet as can be. They are reverse flow to keep the noisedown. Clink on this link: http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=HOK%2D21002HKR&N=700+400390+4294922710+4294906121+4294788252+115&autoview=sku corvette440hp2008-03-27 16:05:40

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Larry....good tip...thanks.

[QUOTE=jayare]

Larry....good tip...thanks.

[/QUOTE] Sorry not to answer your question sooner. The answer to your question is; yes I have the reverse flow Hooker mufflers for my side exhaust. I haven't as yet heard how loud they are, because my Vette is a major work in progress. I'm rebuilding just about every conceivable piece on my car.........hopefully it will be entirely done by next year. Many others have the reverse flow mufflers, and some actually don't like them, because they think that they're too quiet. I hope this might help a little. 

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THOSE WERE THE EXACT MUFFLERS I ORIGINALLY PUT IN  WHEN I INSTALLED MY SIDE EXHAUST. I WOULDN`T HAVE CALLED THEM QUIET AS CAN BE. I DID HAVE ISSUES WITH THEM LEAKING AT THE COLLECTOR. WHWERE THE PIPE MEETS THE COLLECTOR. WHEN I CHANGED TO FREE FLOW EXHAUST  THE  LEAKING PROBLEM WENT AWAY. HOWEVER, THE SOUND WAS MUCH MORE ROBUST, WHICH IS WHAT I WANTED ANY WAY. I WISH I WOULD HAVE KNOWN, I THREW THEM IN THE GARBAGE, THEY WERE BASICALLY BRAND NEW.