Loud Side Exhaust

[Eric S.]

I have a '66 with a 427 and side exhaust. The car was getting loud so I replaced the pipes with what are claiming to be "Factory Sound" pipes. Where the pipes attach to the manifold it seems I missed something. All that was there was the packing and the pipe. Doesn't seem like a good fit to me and it's louder than before. I noticed that on a regular piped car there is a heat riser and a spacer at that point. Should the be on a side piped car as well? Help need soon as I'm going deaf..

[Bob H.]

Re: Loud Side Exhaust

Hi Eric

Yes, the side pipe car should have the heat riser and gasket on the right side. Should be 2.5". I can imagine you would be having all kinds of issues without it in place.

You can also purchase a sleeve that the donut fits over and it fits into the pipe. They are cheap.



Bob

[Joe L.]

Re: Loud Side Exhaust

I have a '66 with a 427 and side exhaust. The car was getting loud so I replaced the pipes with what are claiming to be "Factory Sound" pipes. Where the pipes attach to the manifold it seems I missed something. All that was there was the packing and the pipe. Doesn't seem like a good fit to me and it's louder than before. I noticed that on a regular piped car there is a heat riser and a spacer at that point. Should the be on a side piped car as well? Help need soon as I'm going deaf..

Eric-----


Yes, as Bob has indicated, there should definitely be a heat riser on the right side. Even if the heat riser is removed, an equivalent-thickness spacer must be installed (such as that used for 63-65 FI and 67-69 L-88 applications). The installation of the extensions, pictured in Bob's post, is also very important. With all the correct parts installed, the exhaust pipe-to-manifold junction should be "tight", with no exhaust leakage.

Now for the bad news: even with everything installed and functioning correctly, I think you'll still find the pipes too loud. I wouldn't have side pipes, original style or not, on ANY Corvette I own. Even back in 1969, which model year had side pipes as an available option, when I ordered my original-owner 1969 , it was the one option I did not even consider. I wouldn't consider it now. I wouldn't do it on a $50,000 bet. Never. Ever. Period.

[William B.]

Re: Loud Side Exhaust

Joe, are you sure you don't like side pipes??

[Stuart F.]

Re: Loud Side Exhaust

Ironic that side pipe exhaust pipes on the 69 (even with an L-89) are only 2", while I believe on the C-2's they are 2-1/2" at least with the SHP engines. Weird. why do you suppose that is??

I learned my lesson well way back on my first car, a 50 Chevy V8. I had a completely welded system with "lakes type". side exhausts that dumped right before the rear wheels. I used 50 Olds glaspak mufflers, but it was still too loud. I got my first muffler ticket when I broad slid it around a stop light corner in front of a cop. He was one I knew and he said he had to ticket me for something because a lot of people saw what I did.

Stu Fox

[Joe L.]

Re: Loud Side Exhaust

Ironic that side pipe exhaust pipes on the 69 (even with an L-89) are only 2", while I believe on the C-2's they are 2-1/2" at least with the SHP engines. Weird. why do you suppose that is??

I learned my lesson well way back on my first car, a 50 Chevy V8. I had a completely welded system with "lakes type". side exhausts that dumped right before the rear wheels. I used 50 Olds glaspak mufflers, but it was still too loud. I got my first muffler ticket when I broad slid it around a stop light corner in front of a cop. He was one I knew and he said he had to ticket me for something because a lot of people saw what I did.

Stu Fox

Stu------

ALL 1969 Corvette exhaust systems, whether standard under-car or N-14, base engine to L-88 were 2".

The 1965-67 N-14 systems were all 2-1/2". However, the powertrains they were available with also used 2-1/2" under-car exhaust.

Addendum:

One slight correction to the above. For 1966-67 small blocks with Powerglide were equipped with 2" exhaust. However, I believe these cars were available with N-14. If so, they got 2-1/2" exhaust if N-14 was ordered. For 1965, all base engine or L-75 cars with Powerglide were not available with N-14.