Need help determining "correct" dimensions of DS exhaust head pipe
Hello All:
I have an "originality" question about the driver's side head pipe on 1965 small blocks with the 2.5 inch exhaust. The basic question is how far the driver's side (DS) head pipe should hang down next to the oil pan, especially when compared to the passenger side (PS). This affects ground clearance and aesthetics.
The details of my question are bit complicated to explain, but if you will bear with me I think I can present the issue clearly, and it may be of interest to some of you. At the heart of it is an "originality" question. So, here goes:
1) I recently put 1965 2.5 inch manifolds on my 67, and ordered a new 2.5 inch exhaust system from Allens.
2) During installation, I noticed that the DS head pipe from Allens did not seem to align well. I got it in, but it was difficult.
3) In a subsequent effort to install oxygen sensor bungs in the head pipes, I screwed up the work and had to order a new set of head pipes. Since the Allens DS pipe didn't seem to fit well, I ordered the second set of head pipes from Corvette Central (CC).
4) The DS head pipe from CC lines up better than the Allens version and goes in easily, but it hangs down a LOT farther than the Allens head pipe. The difference is about two inches.
It seems to me that the DS and PS head pipes should both hang down about the same amount, but with the CC set, the DS side is about 2 inches lower than the PS side. In the Allens set, the height of both pipes is about the same, and looks better. Note that in all cases, I have a heat riser installed on the PS, so this is not affecting the results.
I talked to CC and they claim that in the original GM design, the DS pipe does hang down somewhat lower than the PS pipe, although they don't know why. They say that their pipe is "correct."
I'm not sure I believe this, but I figured there might be some members here who have (or have seen) original pipes. I think the attached photos clearly show the difference between the CC and Allens pipes, both side-by-side and installed on the car.
Note that the CC pipe is so low that if you could push it sideways, it would pass completely under the OEM oil filter cannister. It is, by far, the lowest point on the underside of the car in that area.
So, did GM really design their pipes this way? Anyone else have CC pipes on their car that look like this? The last photo shows the "height" dimension of the DS pipe from CC.
I have an "originality" question about the driver's side head pipe on 1965 small blocks with the 2.5 inch exhaust. The basic question is how far the driver's side (DS) head pipe should hang down next to the oil pan, especially when compared to the passenger side (PS). This affects ground clearance and aesthetics.
The details of my question are bit complicated to explain, but if you will bear with me I think I can present the issue clearly, and it may be of interest to some of you. At the heart of it is an "originality" question. So, here goes:
1) I recently put 1965 2.5 inch manifolds on my 67, and ordered a new 2.5 inch exhaust system from Allens.
2) During installation, I noticed that the DS head pipe from Allens did not seem to align well. I got it in, but it was difficult.
3) In a subsequent effort to install oxygen sensor bungs in the head pipes, I screwed up the work and had to order a new set of head pipes. Since the Allens DS pipe didn't seem to fit well, I ordered the second set of head pipes from Corvette Central (CC).
4) The DS head pipe from CC lines up better than the Allens version and goes in easily, but it hangs down a LOT farther than the Allens head pipe. The difference is about two inches.
It seems to me that the DS and PS head pipes should both hang down about the same amount, but with the CC set, the DS side is about 2 inches lower than the PS side. In the Allens set, the height of both pipes is about the same, and looks better. Note that in all cases, I have a heat riser installed on the PS, so this is not affecting the results.
I talked to CC and they claim that in the original GM design, the DS pipe does hang down somewhat lower than the PS pipe, although they don't know why. They say that their pipe is "correct."
I'm not sure I believe this, but I figured there might be some members here who have (or have seen) original pipes. I think the attached photos clearly show the difference between the CC and Allens pipes, both side-by-side and installed on the car.
Note that the CC pipe is so low that if you could push it sideways, it would pass completely under the OEM oil filter cannister. It is, by far, the lowest point on the underside of the car in that area.
So, did GM really design their pipes this way? Anyone else have CC pipes on their car that look like this? The last photo shows the "height" dimension of the DS pipe from CC.
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