How to do Side Exhaust Correctly

As of right now, im in the process of redoing EVERYTHING with the front suspension, but thats slowly coming to a finish. The next part is moving to the engine. I really want to add side exhaust back on the vette. What is the best way to go? I do want headers, and ive heard things both good and bad about the Hookers, some say they are great, others say the mufflers too quiet. Also heard about the place Spiral Turbo Specialties. So i want to hear everything , and hopefully i can make a good choice from all the info thank, Joe R.

[69MyWay]

Joe,

Welcome to CAC.

There are several members here with side exhaust. I prefer the HOOKER version as it looks so aggressive the way it twists out behind the tire. You have a variety of choices on the actual muffler from mild to wild.

You can search the threads here and you will see this topic has come up before. Tom Conners just put some on his 69 convertible.

[Brutus]

Would anyone have an idea as to the best place for me to buy a set of side pipes or even just the headers and have them shipped over here?
It may turn out to be the easiest and cheapest option than having them made up here. I could only use the LH side headers as is, but the RH pipes would have to be modified to clear the steering box.

[Ken]

Hey Bob, check out Jeg's and Summit for some kits to build side exhaust systems.

_ken

[Brutus]

Thanks Ken. I'll do that.
Just called Australian Customs and found out a sneaky way to avoid duty. If I can get parts sent over and have them marked for marine use only the the customs duty is negated.
Now to find a supplier who's willing to play ball.

[Ken]

Buy the Hookers through a marine supply house.

_ken

[Brutus]

Do you know of any in good old Ca where I might get some?

[Ken]

What? Australia ain't got boats?

I'll look around for ya Bob.

_ken

[69MyWay]

Brutus,

Contact TZracer here on the forum. He can get you any part you want. He may very well be able to do what you need.

[Brutus]

Ken...there's no place here that has anything I want or need for the Vette regarding headers or side pipes that is "off the shelf".
Because of the RHD conversion everything virtually has to be custom made and as I've discivered, it ani't bloody cheap! As it is even if I buy some headers from the US, I'm still gonna have to get one side of them altered to fit. Life wasn't meant to be easy.

Chris...Thanks for the tip...I'll try to raise him. Sounds hopeful.

[Ken]

Originally posted by Brutus
Ken...there's no place here that has anything I want or need for the Vette...

That's what I meant - find somebody there with a marine supply house and have them import the set of headers, or the header kit, as a "marine" application, although both you and he would know that they would be for a car. You'd save the duty to which you referred.

_ken

[Scott81]

Joe,

I have an 81 with the Hooker sidepipes and love them, they are high maintenance items though. Since you have a 73 I think you could go with the factory type or Hookers and still look good, a friend has factory pipes on a small block car and they sound great. Both are around the same cost, $1000+ I currently have mine apart so I can send them out to Jet-Hot for recoating, 3 years of daily driving wasn't kind to them although they held up well. Now if only I could get the mufflers out of the sidepipes I'm going to order a set of the Spiral Baffles this week.

[Brutus]

Ken...I see your point but it's more a matter of having them shipped from their origianl point of purchase as marine parts rather than who receives them. If they come into the country labeled as car parts in any way then the game is over.

[1979toy]

Do a search on Hookers web site for side pipes. I seem to recall seeing a set of pipes there that looked like the regular Hookers but only one of the pipes was functional. That would let you use stock manifolds or shorty headers.

[Brutus]

Chris...Where can I locate TZracer please.