Black Pipes or Not?

[Springbok]

I am going thinking of toning down the bling factor on my car. I am going to be adding the quick jack bumpers in black and was thinking I would go black on the exhaust as well. Here is the car with and without the black. Curios what others think?

[Paul F]

Black pipes in Santa Cruz? No way.

It doesn't matter what we think. If you want to lower the bling, do it.

But since you asked, I'd wouldn't do it. You've got silver fins, silver light bezels, silver roll bars, silver wheels, probably silver gauge bezels, silver stick, silver emergency brake, silver steering wheel column, silver license holder, and white racing stripes.

Now all we need is an even number of pro and con responses and you will be back where you started.

Ignore the responses and do it!

[Joe's Garage]

It's really your call, if black pipes subtract the level of bling you're after then do it.

If you want an opinion then I agree with Paul F. Once you start going black,
the question becomes where do you stop.

[moore_rb]

Originally Posted by Joe's Garage

. Once you start going black,
the question becomes where do you stop.

It should stop at black side pipes, and black roll bars...

I agree with the others here - go with what suits your own taste - Asking us (or anyone) what we like better on your car should not be as important as what you like.

Also- How important is tradition to you? From what I understand, all the original 427 comp and s/c cars rolled out of the Shelby LA factory in the 1960's with black pipes and black rollbars, so going with that look can be seen as a tribute to the look of the original 427's... And, if you are replacing your bumpers with quick-jack brackets, then your car will have more of the race-car attitude than the street car attitude, and I think Black (or white) sidepipes would be a more appropriate match for that race-car look and stance (JMHO)

Your edited photo gives you a near-perfect visual of what the car would look like, so the decision should be easy.

[Pman1961]

I got rid of some of the bling myself. Black pipes, roll bar and quick jacks with no regrets.

[joyridin']

I would leave them unless you follow those posting above and ditch the rollbars etc. i think the car looks good the way it is. You really do not notice the chrome etc so much with the bright red paint.

[mdross1]

I say get both exhausts then when the mood strikes you will have the option of choice. These cars look great with either.

[patrickt]

Black Pipes, Black Quick Jacks, Black Roll Bars = mucho cool.

[1795]

Go black! I have chrome for the bumpers, but then again my car is black so some contrasts needed. Black roll bars go nice with the black side pipes.

[Millsy]

Leave it chrome

[moore_rb]

I should also point out that there are silver hi-temp paints out there that closely approximate the silver color of your current ceramic coated pipes.

You can scuff sand the ceramic with 320 grit, and paint the black right over it.

Later, if you decide to go back to silver side pipes, you can sand the black back off, and re-spray them silver again...

just another 2 pennies....

[TheExtreme]

I used the DEI header wrap in black on mine. It broke up the coloring very well, I think.

[lippy]

I have black pipes and quickjacks and a chrome rollbar. Looks great to me. I considered a black rollbar but decided the chrome one adds a bit of shine and matches the windshield and trim. Happy with the choice.

[KirkV]

The top car looks like my car! I love the black pipes.

[RodKnock]

Black pipes for sure. No doubt about it for me.

One roll bar in chrome/stainless is enough, but two? I'd change to black with the quickjacks.

[patrickt]

Ceramic coating your pipes black will give you a lesser burn when you put your calf on them getting out of the car. If you're really fast, you can sometimes get away with almost nothing more than a sunburn type feel.

[Springbok]

im gonna start with the quick jacks and then photoshop it again with the black pipes and see if it balances out.

[Dimis]

Whichever way you go, I recommend matching the carpets to the drapes.

[wkooiman]

I have a red car with rattle can flat black. The flat black looks nice next to the red.

[Bernica]

I recently bought a set of Classic Chambered exhaust mufflers and accessories (non packed) and wondering same thing. With the blue car, I always thought white was right, but wondered about maintenance...