Ceramic Coating

[BCompy]

Guys, I am opening the sidepipes on my car this winter. Does anyone have an opinion on the company that has the best finish as it relates to a chrome like shine. I know I am giving up the chrome finish but I have seen some that are downright dull.
Thanks Bill C.

[dscott]

Bill, I still use Jet-Hot. I tried a couple of other coatings but I think the bright silver that Jet-Hot has looks the best. If you wanted to take the time you can buff most of the ceramic coatings for a better shine. It's alot of work though.
Don

[CobraEd]

Lucien of Arizona Exhast sells stainless Cobra sidepipe mufflers that match chrome exactly. My sidepipes were chrome, but when I cut the mufflers out and inserted the T304 stainless mufflers, I found they are an exact match. You cant tell the difference.

Ed

[Jeff Frigo]

Bill:


The company that started it all is HPC Coatings. Had a set of coated pipes on my car for 9 years. Took the motor out last year and as Murphy would have it, I bent one of the short tubes that go from the head to the collector. I was able to get a replacement pipe for only $35.00, but it wasn't coated. I called HPC to see if the new pipe would match the old. They told me if I had the original reciept, they would re-coat the entire system side pipes and all for nothing (normally $450.00). They even went one step further and straightened out the tip of one of my side pipes that got damaged in shipment for no charge.

The coating buffs very easily by hand with a special polish that they send with your order. They look just like chrome. Can't say enough about the company!

HPC




Jeff

[BCompy]

Thanks all. Ed I would go your route except I have some major rust where the four pipes meet the collector. No sense putting on stainless if I have to coat them anyway. I have not called Lucien yet . Is there a part number you used ? If not could you tell me what specifications you gave him?

[CobraEd]

If you don't want the stainless, he makes the same muffler in aluminized steel for $28 if you can believe that!!! Make sure you tell him you want the straight thru glasspacks, because he makes other bullit mufflers too, and you don't want his other ones.

I told him:

Bullit: 4" od, 3" id, 30" long
Nipples: 3"id, 3" long
Total length 36" long

If you are going to weld the bullits in and not clamp them, then forget the nipples.

His number is: 602-415-9737

You will love these mufflers! They really make a Cobra sound like a Cobra. Very deep thundering sound. You can't imagine how many really smart car guys are convinced that I have a big block until I show them it's a 302. These mufflers will make your 302 sound more like a big block than a true big block does with generc sidepipes. Almost all of the manufactures use only 2" or 2 1/4" id on their sidepipe mufflers. You will have a big advantage with 3"id mufflers. The glass packing pulls out the short wave high frequency sound waves that cause a raspy exhast, leaving only the long wave low frequency sound waves for that deep sound. To gain maximum benefit, jet the carb richer to match the added exhast flow.

Ed

[BCompy]

Thank Ed, I will call Monday to order. I can't tell you how many times I get my chops busted for having the World Quietest Cobra. I would like to make a little noise, if I get more power ,good for me.
I will be welding them on . I remember there was a controversy as to which direction was best. How did you position your?

[Jack21]

Also running factory Classic Roadsters sidepipes behind a 351W. Nobody ragging me about quiet sidepipes, but they are rather mellow.

However some of the club guys have been telling me that factory CR pipes are fairly restrictive. 40 - 50 hp loss useing them? I can feel it when I'm in 3rd gear getting on it. Feels like it's holding back. I do have an extra set of uncoated sidepipes I could section, and put the new mufflers in.

Can you feel the power output difference with these things?

[Double Venom]

Jack,

We're the ones that originally started the "Sidepipe Modification" craze. The reason is simple...Horsepower!

We built a very, very strong 460 engine that should have dyno'd well over 500 plus horsepower. This engine was dyno'd numerous times. Adjusting timing, jetting the carb, changing cams, massive head work, etc., ec. All was a disappointment. Finally looked at the stock side pipes, cutting them apart.

Shocking, just shocking! Those stock 4" sidepipes, are actually two 1-inch (+/- can't remember the exact size now) pipe installed parallel internally. (One inlet, one outlet)

The search was on! That's when Lucien was located.(Forgive me if I have this wrong, but I think it was CobraEd that actually found the manufacturer - we were ordering them from JC Whitney!)

The old bullitts were cut out, new ones installed, welded, ground down and re-coated. Horsepower increase was (from memory again) right at 45 HP on this big block! We finally obtained our goal!

The torque readings went off the scale! You wont need to change the motor set up at all, but a one size larger jet, and a couple of degrees i timing, and you will swear your small block grew up!

The sound is more "deeper than louder", although it will be somewhat louder, but certainly not obnoxious.

I can't find the old thread here on the board, but we did have a full photo display with complete instructions on how we do it. Not hard really, after you cut the stock bullitt out of the pipes, bolt up
the collector to your headers, then take the "turn-out", bolt it up to the rear, then simply hold the new bullitt in place and tack weld both ends. Now you have a perfect aligned side pipe and a huge increase in power!

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask! This is almost becoming a "Must DO" mod to any Cobra!

DV

P.s. just went back through the archives and found the entire 4 page thread on this. Unfortunately the photo's are missing

http://www.clubcobra.com/forums/show...5&pagenumber=1

[Don]

I have a Classics Roadsters Cobra which had the CR side exhaust system. After having seen DV's previous posting that he mentions, I obtained the mufflers from Arizona Exhaust: Specs I used are:

*Open Chamber straight thru glasspack
*30" X 4" case
*3" ID ends, tapered from the case
*5 " length of ends
*Aluminized steel

Cost at the time was $25/ea and packing/shipping from AZ to CT
was $25

Followed DV's approach for the replacement, extremely satisfied with the quality of the mufflers and a nice deep roar. Turn time on the order was very quick

Lucien Donofrio
Arizona Exhaust
4009 North 39th Ave
Phoenix, AZ 85109

602.415.9737 ( no e-mail or web site )

Did not have any previous experience with coatings, so I used the company which is 10 miles from my house, no need to pack up and ship. Would definitely use them again.

Airborn Coatings
52 Village St
East Hartford CT 06108

860.528.8281

www.airborncoatings.com

They are also located in Charlotte NC and Oaklahoma City OK

[Jack21]

OK, I'm convinced. Here I am fiddling with carburetor and ignition, and it's the exhaust that won't breathe. @#$$%! A phonecall to Mr. Lucien is definately in order here.

My headers, sidepipes, and heatshields are ceramic coated by Airborne Coatings. My inclination is to go with plain aluminized steel, and get them coated prior to installation. I'm also inclined to use clamps instead of welding them together so I can replace them from time to time. Perhaps I can do this as a slip fit. Pros? Cons?

Now, what exactly do I ask Mr. Lucien for? Part numbers, specific muffler style, and dimensions?

DV, are you stocking and selling these things now?

[Don]

Jack21:

Burns Stainless offers an alternative to welding the mufflers. They offer a quick release, no bolts/nuts, V clamp and flange assembly. The flanges are welded to the extensions from the primaries and the muffler and are secured by the quick release V clamp. Allows for changing the muffler or running open pipes with a minimum of effort.

http://www.burnsstainless.com/

Don

[Jack21]

I like those Burns V-clamps. Thanks everyone for bringing this "problem" to light. I had no idea.

I've got the dimensions. Will give Lucien a call.

[Double Venom]

Jack,

We keep a half dozen in stock for our pipes, but we really don't sell them. So much cheaper to just get ahold of Lucien. If you want we can do the mods, but with shipping to and from it gets a little pricey.

However you do it, I can promise you that you will be glad you did it!

DV