Side exhaust / Side pipes?

**tyler.maulding** · 12-26-2009

I've been toying with the idea of side pipes / side exhaust on my '76 280z... having trouble imagining it, anyone see it done before?

I'm thinking Shelby Cobra only subtler.. don't want it too gaudy and showy

Thoughts?

**ajmcforester** · 12-26-2009

First off some info on your car would help and pictures. With the inline 6 you are only going to want to side-pipe the drivers side, I'd look at the 60's Corvettes for your exhaust look, they had a nice heat gard on them that help you from burning things like your leg, or dry grass. Also look at white or black ceramic coating I've always like the white.

The other thing is what are you trying to achieve? If your looking for a more aggressive look I have some great ideas that are easier to pull off like fender skirts, spoiliers, hood scoops, hood and side vents, racing stripes, fender mirrors . . . For a good sound how about Thrush muffler or a Cherry Bomb, maybe even an over under glass pack setup, very vintage racing for this car.

**tyler.maulding** · 12-26-2009

Yeah, sorry about that.

She's got a '94 300zx engine (non-turbo)

Since these pictures I added side skirts and shaved door handles with key less entry.

The side exhaust really is just an idea.. I like the classic racing look. Racing stripes and possibly other graphics are on my list. I have seen the corvette side exhaust, it's a little too big for my taste, I do like your idea of having it white or black rather than chrome. White would look great with white racing stripes.. If i did get the side exhaust I'd have it custom made, I don't really like the look of any pipes I've seen on other cars and money isn't an issue. I also want to keep the low throaty sound my current exhaust has, so whatever i do i want to be sure and keep it like that, I will not drive a weed eater. :P

What's an over under glass pack?

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**mayitin** · 12-26-2009

Loooong time ago JC Whitney had them I do not know if they do now you can check.

**ajmcforester** · 12-26-2009

OK now I know what you have how about a 3 into header going into a Cherry Bomb Long tube mufflers made for side piping. For a while they made them in black, but white pipes would look great with that color. Make the opening right about weir the 280Z logo is with a round-bar rolled edge like the Banshee had from the 60's

Also with what you have going how about a G-nose kit for the front. The G-nose was a Japanese market only Z for aerodynamics, that you can get aftermarket (they don't make the chrome bumper any more but you can get it in carbon fiber). That would give a modern/classic look Also a 240z rear bumber. Maybe a louvered hood or the factory hood scoop (rare item) these items help release trapped air around the engine. I'd also look at some different wheels if you do side pipes something European in fell or mid to late 60's, those aren't bad rims, with the side pipes the car would take a late 60's European look, or mid 60's american cramming a V8 look like the Cobra or the Sunbeam Tiger.

By the way nice job with the engine I like how it is set back, it looks like you got it slightly behind the front steering.

**Dlorence** · 02-21-2010

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/705726 check this site out this z has side pipes look good to me

**BadDog** · 03-21-2010

I put side pipes on my 1st Z (20 years ago). I bought them from Summit Racing. I used a 3 into 2 header from Motorsport, and had a good muffler shop bend custom pipes to hook 'em up. My car was black, debadged (not intentionally), had true wire wheels, tinted glass and louvers on the sides and back. I didn't have fender flares like that red car in the link above. I don't think mine were all that flashy... I loved the way they looked and sounded. I was constantly asked if my car was a Ferrari (yeah right!) or a Stingray - and this was only about 12 years after the S30 body style "ended" in the U.S.
Anyway, the bad: Burned calves, they scraped on certain on/off-ramps (but my suspension was stock, and probably worn out!) and they probably had no performance gain over any other system.
In the end, it's your car. Your call :-)

**Curtis240Z** · 03-21-2010

As previously mentioned, you will need to make only one side "live" and even then you will lose low end torque over more conventional systems. But if it is the sound and look you are after, then to by all means it is a personal choice.

**qmtran** · 09-29-2010

**Z Speed** · 09-30-2010

IMO, Libre's would look great with either a white or black ceramic coating on the pipes....

Many other wheels would look good to, but side pipes and Libre's ooze old school....