side pipes

[Shakin' Chevy]

I've seen alot of side pipes on corvettes but ive had troble finding ones made for 81 corvettes other than ones made by people like allens stainless exhuast which are way out of my price range and others by off brands that are only about 150 or 200 on e bay but im worried they wont sound right or might create backpresure and i can always take the baffels out and make them stright pipes but im worried about getting stoped for noise laws anyone got any sugestions on pipes 500 and less that sound good and dont create back presure for a 81 vette

 

[quickjagg]

I would recomend, if at all possible, to save some cash and get a set of ceramic coated hooker sidepipes. I don't know how old you are, but if you look really young, I would recomend waiting on the sidepipes a few years. The police seem to target young drivers in fast looking cars, loud pipes would just be a reason to pull you over. I installed headers, dual exhaust, and delta 40s on my 81, it gives it a sweet tone, and doesn't atract the police any more than it did before.

Gl with the pipes,
-Chris

 

[Shakin' Chevy]

Thanks for the advice ill check out the prices on the hooker sidepipes, and ur right about them targeting young drivers but i really want some pipes, if they pull me to much ill just take them off but ill see what they do.

 

[1979toy]

Just get used to driving 5 MPH under the speed limit in the highest gear that you can and you'll be fine.

 

[73stinger]

Side pipes on any corvette built after 1975 are illegal because you have to remove the catalitic converter.

 

[1979toy]

Side pipes on any corvette built after 1975 are illegal because you have to remove the catalitic converter.

Thank you for the reminder.

 

[Shakin' Chevy]

ur point is.....

 

[Shakin' Chevy]

i was planning on removing them anyway

 

[1979toy]

Given the comment that 73stinger made I wouldn't make any written statement about an illegal activity. He may want to launch a federal investigation.

 

[Shakin' Chevy]

hey, now i havent even bought the vette yet im still tore between it and a 85

 

[Shakin' Chevy]

But, just so ya know man if cats are the case i think me and my friends could probaby jury rig somthin up they mainly for looks but i wanna add power too.

 

[wrc3]

Hooker Warning

Hooker sidepipes are a ***** to fit. I am in the middle of an install on a 1976 Small Block right now and the passengers side is just about impossible with A/C. You can use their A/C bracket if you purchase it separately, but the bolts they give you with it don't fit in at least one of the positions because they are too long. The alternative is to fab some spacers and grind down your original bracket to fit. After all that you can't get a socket wrench on at least 3 of the plugs, so that is another bit of fun. Regardless, just be aware that fitting hooker sidepipes into your vehicle will take considerably longer than you are probably thinking.

 

[Bob Chadwick]

ur point is.....

That you won't even have to be doing anything wrong, other than having the car on the road, to get pulled over.

With very few exceptions you will get more power out of straight pipes out the back than sidepipes. Big bends equals restriction.

 

[bossvette]

Hooker sidepipes are a ***** to fit. I am in the middle of an install on a 1976 Small Block right now and the passengers side is just about impossible with A/C. You can use their A/C bracket if you purchase it separately, but the bolts they give you with it don't fit in at least one of the positions because they are too long. The alternative is to fab some spacers and grind down your original bracket to fit. After all that you can't get a socket wrench on at least 3 of the plugs, so that is another bit of fun. Regardless, just be aware that fitting hooker sidepipes into your vehicle will take considerably longer than you are probably thinking.

the later model 76 with the smaller AC compressor are easier fit, you may want to change out your compressor to the later style

 

[wrc3]

the later model 76 with the smaller AC compressor are easier fit, you may want to change out your compressor to the later style

I am pretty sure I have the smaller compressor. It is just that the most forward pipe on the header comes back at such a tight angle that the mounting hole just rear of that pipe is almost covered. I can get a regular header bolt in there, but with the A/C bracket from Hooker you need a slightly longer bold to make up for the thickness of the brack and header combined. If i were to use my old A/C bracket that position would use a regular bolt but then I would have to fab all the other brackets and spacers as described in this article.

http://www.corvettefever.com/howto/4680/

 

[bossvette]

this is the later style AC compressor all you need to do is make a spacer about 1/2 inch and reuse your origional bolt in the front hole.

BTW tighten the header bolts a little at a time the install goes easier that way

 

[Bob Chadwick]

I just went through all this from the header perspective and tried to post the progress.

 

[72Mako]

I am pretty sure I have the smaller compressor. It is just that the most forward pipe on the header comes back at such a tight angle that the mounting hole just rear of that pipe is almost covered. I can get a regular header bolt in there, but with the A/C bracket from Hooker you need a slightly longer bold to make up for the thickness of the brack and header combined. If i were to use my old A/C bracket that position would use a regular bolt but then I would have to fab all the other brackets and spacers as described in this article.

http://www.corvettefever.com/howto/4680/

Bill, if you've got the same a/c compressor as pictured in the CorvetteFever article, you've got the long style. Thats the same one I have on my '72. When I put the Hooker sidepipes on, I ended up grinding the original bracket to get the clearance around the pipe. I did not care for the fitment of the supplied Hooker part. All I had to do is cut down some pipe (I.D. big enough for longer bolts to fit thru) which acted as spacers and get longer bolts to bolt the whole affair up to the head. It's rock solid. While I didn't want to grind up my original bracket, it worked better and I later bought another one used at a swap meet in case I ever want to put it back to original. The sparkplugs are a bear to get to but with an assortment of tools, it's doable. Charles

 

[wrc3]

Ah so I do have the longer compressor. Thanks Charles. Anyways it's all installed now and running great. The suspension I put in from VBP really makes the car handle well too. Now all i need is a little power...

 

[brit_trader2003]

I have Hooker Headers and 4" Side Pipes on my 69 Big Block (454 not 427). Although the 69 was designed to be able to have Side Pipes I have to say that there is no problem with them, in fitting them or getting at Spark Plugs or anything else. I have no experience in other years though.

Two things that I will say though is; one, the noise from the pipes is gorgeous and LOUD and when you are putting your foot down whilst tooling around you get a fabulous reponse. Second, given that it is loud then it makes it difficult to travel any great distance at any decent speed. 3,500 or 4,000 revs for half an hour will be too loud and irritating. You have to decide what you want the car for. Cruising, scaring the pigeons and posing or long distance travel. If you want to travel at speed for any distance then forget the Side Pipes. Your ears will not thank you !

On the other hand letting rip from the lights is fantastic ! ! !