Side Pipes - replacement options

[cobra de capell]

Originally Posted by Don

If you replace the side pipes and muffler and want a white coating, an alternative is Swain Technology:

White Lightning Exhaust by Swain Tech for Automotive Coatings including engine piston coatings, ceramic coating services engine, automotive ceramic coating, ceramic header coating, dry film lubricant, race engine coatings, exhaust header coating

The Swain coating is only available in white and with the ceramic particles has a finish of coarse sand paper

Might want to use the Search feature with various terms such as sidepipes, coatings, mufflers etc., there are a number of Threads on the topic

The Swain option - how does that work as they are in Scottsville, NY and I'm in CA? Would I come secure new sides pipes and then it's a shipping exercise back and forth?

[era556]

I replaced my factory ERA side pipe mufflers with 22" classic chambered mufflers.I then had them ceramic coated and then I wet sanded & polished the side pipes. Looks great ,a lot louder and noticably more power.

[cobra de capell]

Originally Posted by era556

I replaced my factory ERA side pipe mufflers with 22" classic chambered mufflers.I then had them ceramic coated and then I wet sanded & polished the side pipes. Looks great ,a lot louder and noticably more power.

So, you retained the pipes, simply replacing the mufflers, right? At what point did you have the side pipes coated - when they were re-setup with the new mufflers or in pieces? I'm thinking that the best option is to just replace the mufflers, but have the pipes coated at whatever point that's best to have that done. What type of coating is still an issue and probably the key to a nice long-term look.

Thanks for the response.

[cobra de capell]

Originally Posted by era556

I replaced my factory ERA side pipe mufflers with 22" classic chambered mufflers.I then had them ceramic coated and then I wet sanded & polished the side pipes. Looks great ,a lot louder and noticably more power.

I visited the Classic Chambered Mufflers site - three choices:

1. You can be QUIET & lose major HP (stock).
2. You can be a little louder, sound great, be totally streetable, & gain MAJOR HP.
3. You can be downright aggressive loud, sound great, & gain MAJOR HP.

Which one did you go with?

Thanks!

[RonNichols]

Better late than never, but I've used several pairs of Classic Chambered's in the past several months. I'm not sure of the muffler's you had on there, but on my SPF, the difference in sound is amazing. Factory mufflers are meant to pass local sound restrictions and cater to the general public. If you really want to get the most out of your motor, start with the exhaust. Otherwise, you just trying to exhale through a straw.

Dyno comparisons later this month.

Ronnie

[carmine]

Wait till your classic chambered side pipes start to rattle. Mine did after one season and still waiting for my return call from Eric at Performance Engineering for there fix on there warrantied side pipes. Its been about 4 months now.

[era556]

I went with the 3" inner and 22" long .I have been happy so far. Great sound and power increase.LOUD. by the way mine are installed backwards (baffles facing so exhaust flows over them insted of through them.

[Rare Iron]

Originally Posted by carmine

Wait till your classic chambered side pipes start to rattle. Mine did after one season and still waiting for my return call from Eric at Performance Engineering for there fix on there warrantied side pipes. Its been about 4 months now.

Carmine, who is Performance Engineering? They are not one of my dealers, & those aren't my mufflers you are talking about. No complaints to date.

-Eric S.
Manufacturer of COBRAPACK Mufflers

[RonNichols]

Eric S.

I believe Performance Engineering was installing Howes muffler, but I may be wrong. PE is also run by an Eric, not to be confused with you, but it may already have. If we meet again, I'll have to fill you in on PE's reputation. Then again, maybe I'd rather keep my mouth shut.

Carmine, if you could pipe in on this?

R

[RonNichols]

Sure thing MeatMaster. You know your always welcome to come over to watch. In fact, when I'm mounting them, you can reach around from the underside and help position it.

D/1689

[MEATMASTER]

That won't be necessary RonNichols. Just take photos of the procedure so we can better visualize it and post when it's all over.

Thanks.
MEATMASTER v2.0

[mr. oz]

Originally Posted by RonNichols

Better late than never, but I've used several pairs of Classic Chambered's in the past several months. I'm not sure of the muffler's you had on there, but on my SPF, the difference in sound is amazing. Factory mufflers are meant to pass local sound restrictions and cater to the general public. If you really want to get the most out of your motor, start with the exhaust. Otherwise, you just trying to exhale through a straw.

Dyno comparisons later this month.

Ronnie

I have a set of stock SPF sidepipes. Bring your car down and we will do a back to back dyno test with only changing the sidepipes.

[RonNichols]

Excellent Mr. Oz. Actually, I have a second pair that I was working on until yesterday. They will be cut up and redone with a weld on merge collector from Cone Engineering and a 3.5" louvered bore muffler. If you don't mind, and you have hot gloves, we can kill three birds with one stone.

[mr. oz]

Originally Posted by RonNichols

Excellent Mr. Oz. Actually, I have a second pair that I was working on until yesterday. They will be cut up and redone with a weld on merge collector from Cone Engineering and a 3.5" louvered bore muffler. If you don't mind, and you have hot gloves, we can kill three birds with one stone.

I have a side pipe swap down to about 35 minutes and I don't even unstrap the car from my dyno. I that you in your avatar? You are a fine looking man.

[Don]

Swain is not a franchise, might be cost prohibitive to ship CA to NY to CA. I have had two different sets of side pipes coated.

The 1st time I wanted to see their facility, each round trip to deliver and pick up from CT was 12 hours, gas was less expensive and also an easy/scenic drive to upstate NY. The 2nd time, I had the local UPS Store construct corrugate containers and shipped. Swain returned the side pipes in the same containers which had protective packing, no damage. Turn time was 2 weeks, but varies at the start of the racing season and good weather.

Due to their location, a number of coating jobs are with the pieces shipped rather than delivered in person.

Insured the shipments with UPS for the value of the side pipes and the coating.

[cobra de capell]

Thanks for the response, but I'll pass on that option - to much hassle and potential hassle.