Side Exhaust Pipes

[Paul L.]

Is there any way to determine if the side exhaust on my 1966 Coupe was original from the factory?
There are no records or build sheets for this car that was built in March of 1966. it was shipped to Harvey Chevrolet in Chagrin Falls, OH and the dealer is no longer in business.

[Michael J.]

Re: Side Exhaust Pipes

If it is an AO Smith body, they are not original, beyond that you have to look at how they are attached, etc.

[Harry S.]

Re: Side Exhaust Pipes

If you look at the underside of the birdcage and see cut-off mounting brackets for the rocker panels, they are not original. If not, then a close inspection of how the holes were cut in the frame is the next inspection.

[Paul L.]

Re: Side Exhaust Pipes

I forgot to mention that the car was built in St. Louis and is not an AO Smith product.

[Paul L.]

Re: Side Exhaust Pipes

St. Louis born and Bred

[Michael J.]

Re: Side Exhaust Pipes

OK, just checking, AO Smith made lots of '66 bodies for assembly in St. Louis.

[William D.]

Re: Side Exhaust Pipes

If you look at the underside of the birdcage and see cut-off mounting brackets for the rocker panels, they are not original. If not, then a close inspection of how the holes were cut in the frame is the next inspection.

Here is a picture of the frame notches!DSC08161.JPG

[Paul L.]

Re: Side Exhaust Pipes

Can you be a little more specific about these mounting brackets?

[Paul L.]

Re: Side Exhaust Pipes

I am uncertain of what I am looking at. Where are these notches?

[Harry S.]

Re: Side Exhaust Pipes

Can you be a little more specific about these mounting brackets?

There are 10 of these, five per side, spot welded on to hold the rocker panel. Screws attached the rocker panel to nylon inserts that fit in to the bracket. On a side-pipe car these should not be there or the remains of them.

http://www.parts123.com/parts123/yb.dll?Parta~ShowPicTxt~Z5Z5Z50000370a~Z5Z5Z5AAJCQ~Z5Z5Z51

[John H.]

Re: Side Exhaust Pipes

I forgot to mention that the car was built in St. Louis and is not an AO Smith product.

Paul -

All Corvettes were built at St. Louis, but 50% of the bodies were built outside at A.O. Smith; the "Body" number on the trim tag has an "A-" prefix on an A.O. Smith body, and an "S-" prefix on a St. Louis-built body. If the car has an A.O. Smith-built body, it wasn't "born" with sidepipes.

[Wayne M.]

Re: Side Exhaust Pipes

Here's another shot (sidepipes removed) of the birdcage with the rectangular snip-outs in the steel by special machinery at St.Louis only. This is in addition to the bracket hangers (non sidepipe cars) that others mention.

[Michael J.]

Re: Side Exhaust Pipes

This is the way an original side pipe car looks, from our chapter frame-off project.

[Paul L.]

Re: Side Exhaust Pipes

Michael,
I just finished my side pipe cover insulation replacement and looked at the side pipes when I had the covers off. The birdcage showed no evidence of the brackets needed for the side moulding so I am convinced that this is an original side exhaust car.
I was disappointed to see that the side exhaust pipes were not the original style. they were larger in diameter and smooth with no dimples like the original. Any clue as to who made these? They are actually so large that they touch the ionsulation but no rattles yet. They do sound good and I will probably replace them with some offerings that are more "factory". "Sweet Thunder" has some nice pipes. Do you have any manufacturer in mind that offers nice looking and sounding replaements?

[Michael J.]

Re: Side Exhaust Pipes

The ones I used were from Corvette Central, carbon steel with chrome tips, the proper internal baffles and chambered exterior. It is here:

http://www.parts123.com/parts123/yb.dll?parta~dyndetail~Z5Z5Z50000050b~Z5Z5Z538314~P514.00~~~~S3LU0J0K6Z17428218350x~Z5Z5Z5~Z5Z5Z50000050B

I don't know about Sweet Thunder, but if they are factory original style they should be OK.