"Lake Pipe" Installation

[ILLBIRD]

Hi everyone; I have a 2004 Merlot T-bird that I purchased new. I purchased Lake pipes from Powersport Customs in Calif and can't find anyone around Belleville ILL to install them. 1. You have to come up with your own hangers and 2nd reason shops say its against the law...Could I get your insight Please??? Thanks, Larry

[NotU]

Re: "Lake Pipe" Installation

They may very well be illegal. The exhaust has to go through the catalytic converter. I would contact the place you purchased them and ask for advice. Good Luck!
Randy

[JAB02LHS]

Re: "Lake Pipe" Installation

Most lake pipes would be installed after the cats with

OUR PACKAGE INCLUDES CHROME-PLATED PIPES AND DUAL CROSSOVER SWITCHES. PIPES CAN BE MADE 'ACTIVE' OR INACTIVE AT THE PUSH THE REMOTE SWITCH, WHICH CAN BE MOUNTED CONVENIENTLY OUT OF SIGHT IN YOUR CENTER CONSOLE GLOVE BOX.

so what the shop is most likely talking about are the strict new regulations about any modifications to factory exhaust systems.

[MATBird]

Re: "Lake Pipe" Installation

Check yellow pages for Custom Exhaust shops.

[rodeknyt]

Re: "Lake Pipe" Installation

Not to be a stickler, but it's actually Lakes pipes.

[Leroy]

Re: "Lake Pipe" Installation

I can see were they might be against the law if you ran your car with them open on the streets, they're supposed to be used for racing only. You would probably have to readjust your engine timing and fuel injection to compensate for the absence of back pressure in the exhuast manifolds before you would see any improvement in engine performance. And I'm sure it would have to be done by a custome exhuast shop. Good Luck, Leroy

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[JAB02LHS]

Re: "Lake Pipe" Installation

Not to be a stickler, but it's actually Lakes pipes.

Maybe he only wants to put one on one side!
BTW he did say lake pipes in his post!

[4LOWBIRDS+7]

Re: "Lake Pipe" Installation

I THOUGHT IT WAS LAKE PIPES.

[JAB02LHS]

Re: "Lake Pipe" Installation

I THOUGHT IT WAS LAKE PIPES.

Lake pipesNonfunctional side pipes attached along the lower sides of a vehicle for decorative purposes only. Also called Lakes pipes or lakers

[blue731]

Re: "Lake Pipe" Installation



So... what are they called if they are functional, and not for decorative purposes only?

Growing up, we just called them "side pipes".
Yeah.. in the mountains, we are practical.

My only concern would be that they may hang down lower than the bottom frame... this would be bad if you hit a speed bump, or went off a curb.

[JAB02LHS]

Re: "Lake Pipe" Installation

So... what are they called if they are functional, and not for decorative purposes only?

Originally Posted by DICTIONARY OF AUTOMOTIVE TERMS
Lake pipes nonfunctional side pipes attached along the lower sides of a vehicle for decorative purposes only. Also called Lakes pipes or lakers

The term "lake pipes" was originally used on the coupes and roadsters that were raced on dry lake beds in California. The lake pipes were capped, so the exhaust ran through normal mufflers on the street, but out on the lake, the caps came off and the exhaust was unrestricted for a bit more power. The kustom guys picked up on the fashion statement, but not the purpose.

[Chuck]

Re: "Lake Pipe" Installation

I would like to see a picture of them installed on a bird. Growing up we also called them "side pipes"

[Leroy]

Re: "Lake Pipe" Installation

There is a difference between Lake Pipies and Side Pipes. Lake pipes are caped at the ends with usually a two bolt flange with a gasket. If you were going to drag race you would take the front bolt out and untighten the rear bolt enough for the flange to drop and hang along with the gasket, leaveing the end of the pipe open. After racing you reverse the procedure, yes the pipes are hot. You can get Lake pipes in all sizes from just a short straight pipe sticking out just behind each front wheel to what was called full length, witch would run the full length of the rocker panel and turn out at the end just in front of the rear wheels, with the flange, all in chrome of course. You had to warn your girl freind to be carefull not to burn her legs on them, they could get pretty hot even when they weren't open. Side Pipes are always open and in some cases have a muffler built into them and heat shields to protect you from burns. In the 60s you could order Corvettes from the factory with side pipes. Leroy

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[JAB02LHS]

Re: "Lake Pipe" Installation

I would like to see a picture of them installed on a bird. Growing up we also called them "side pipes"

[EBird]

Re: "Lake Pipe" Installation

No...