Summerfun

Gentleman (and girlies),

Recently I was p... off with my peeling side pipes that turned out to be Metallic Ceramic Thermal Barrier Coated pipes from Hooker.
I thought they were SS.
Anyway, they're a year old and peeling like crazy.....$1000+ wasted!(whole system)

So, I tried to contact Holley for a chat and fix and they state that their guarantee is only good for three months.
Problem is: I have a nice car with s$%% a%$ looking side pipes.

I took them off with the idea of using a whole tub of Mothers and a lot of elbow grease to see if I could get them at least a bit more presentable.

Sitting in my garage sooking, everything ready, I was sizing them up standing
on their sides on the floor. Cursed a bit and then.....ping....light bulb went off.

Imagine two side pipes standing on their ends side by side.....what do they look like? ;) ;)

I will let you all ponder that thought for a minute ....just to torture you, before I tell you my secret.....

.....actually, I have two!! ;) ;)

Summerfun

No takers?
What's wrong with you lot....:-)

Anyway, I was sizin 'em up as they were standing there side by side.....bell went off.........Truck Exhaust Stacks!!!!

Jumped in my car and went searching in the industrial area .....found this heavy truck parts store, went in and asked if they sell exhaust stacks, what are they made of and how much do they cost...

This friendly gentleman tells me I can PICK AND CHOOSE to my hearts content.....so me all excited ask him if he has a catalogue.

Man, oh man.....they come in all sizes and shapes.

The ones I looked at had an ID 4" (perfect) and I looked at 36" and 48" with a curve like our pipes on the end...

Get this: 36" long ,4"ID Aluminum.......C$41.52 Chrome ....C$110.92
48" long ,4"ID Aluminum.......C$51.84 Chrome ....C$106.98


My second secret , for all you Canadians:
Those landing lights....GE 4537's....they sell them too....C$12.75

What do you think of that??? :thumbs: :thumbs: :thumbs: :party:

CrossedFlags77

Thats awesome I am going to go searching for a big truck store. Good find. :thumbs:

killervette666

thats a great idea, ill try to find someplace by me :thumbs:

Eddie 70

With aluminum, you would never have to worry about rusting again. Good find, may open a lot of new avenues for some that may be considering sidepipes. :thumbs:

mooty1

where can we get a catalogue! :party: :party:

JohnS_77

I actually ordered (2) 4" X 48" pipes last week from the local heavy duty truck store. Chrome is easy to find, if I wanted chrome I could have left the store with them... Last week.
I wanted aluminized so I could paint them. They were supposed to be here Monday. :sad:

CrossedFlags77

I thought aluminum did rust, I thought stainless steel didnt. Maybe I am having a brain fart. :confused:

Summerfun

Ibelieve that aluminum does not rust!
SS ,I believe, is CREST (corrosion resistant steel).....resists but will rust!

76Frankenstein

Hmmm. I think aluminum does not rust, but "aluminized" steel will.
Different grades of SS will vary on rust resistance..maybe an archive search
will turn up something....

For discussion of aluminum vs. various SS:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=174865

Oh, and sorry for the near-hijack. Great info - thanks for the tip!


[Modified by 76Frankenstein, 10:00 PM 5/18/2004]

lostpatrolman

Aluminum oxidizes, not rusts.

76Frankenstein

Ask a professor link, explains the difference...
http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasc.../chem00712.htm

Whoops...guess I hijacked after all...

Sun King

Great info! TTT :flag

CrossedFlags77

Good info learned!

Ok I found a website that had various sizes and lengths. http://www.qualitytruck.com/index_copy(17).html

I have a problem that needs to be solved. I want to run Hedman sidepipe headers so that means I would need a curved piece of pipe that would be 3'' diameter. How would I join that to a 4'' diameter piece of pipe without messing up the chrome.

I am thinking about getting a 36'' long piece of 4'' chrome pipe with a flat cut on both ends. Then getting a piece of 12'' long 3'' round cut pipe for the tip. How would I join these two pieces together. Welding? Clamping? Or is it not possible?

EDIT: Found these <A HREF="http://shop.airflowonline.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=AFSI& Product_Code=4315-340&Category_Code=EA" TARGET="_blank">http://shop.airflowonline.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=AFSI& Product_Code=4315-340&Category_Code=EA</a> Could have them chromed or polish them or something to match closer to chrome. They also sell chrome clamps on the same website.
Thanks. This is a good thread with good info. :chevy


[Modified by CrossedFlags77, 11:03 PM 5/18/2004]

wacked

I had a set from JC, $125, 5yrs ago. I sand blasted them then painted them with BBQ paint and when I sold the car last year thay steel looked the same.
It worked for me. :thumbs:

comp

rust is oxidation, metals just do different things, good save on your exhaust :thumbs:

Chuck Harmon

You are absolutely right. The only hassle is that you need to weld brackets onto the pipe to mount to the frame. Welding onto chromed pipe can be tricky. You may create a pealing problem all over again.

Drilling through the pipe to attach the mounting bracket might be an option to consider.

Chuck

mlub

well speaking of side pipes...
I'm wanting to put on some performance headers and exhaust kit on my 69. I was thinking, while i'm spending all that money why not convert to side pipes? Any idea about cost differences? Would it have a negative effect on value(considering it didnt come with side pipes)?
thanks :flag

Love My 72 and 77

Lets see some pics baby!!!!!!

John Dirks

Would the STS spiral turbo baffles fit into these truck stacks?
Sounds like a great way to save $ over me buying Hooker sidepipes.
I think I would buy steel, weld up the tabs etc... and then get them Jet Hot coated.