'57 Exhaust System

[Bob A.]

I would greatly appreciate your advice on selecting a good exhaust system for a '57, 2x4, Automatic Transmission car. Stainless or Aluminized? Oval or Round Mufflers? Off Road or Not? Suggestions on where to purchase would also be helpful.

Thanks for sure and Best Wishes!

Bob Adams

[Wayne P.]

Re: '57 Exhaust System

I got my stainless, round, off road from Corvette Central for a 62. It fits and looks real good, but has no sound. I've heard this on everybody's off road(no sound). Too bad that's what I like. I had to as the original finally gave up, was full of holes. Not bad I guess. It lasted 40 years.

[Steve Junkersfeld]

Re: '57 Exhaust System

Bob,

I installed an aluminized, off road, round muffler setup on my 56 2X4 car. It was a Zip system - although it had Corvette Central tags on it. I am very happy with it - good fit (with a few minor adjustments) and great sound. I opted for aluminized for originality issues and my car is not a daily driver. Steve

[Art B.]

Re: '57 Exhaust System

Bob:
I also installed an aluminized system from Corvette Central using round "off road" mufflers. The fit was excellent with only a little shortening at the tail pipes. The sound is good.

[John H.]

Re: '57 Exhaust System

All 57's had round mufflers - oval were used from '58-'62 (except for the '62 off-road option) and are incorrect for '56-'57.

[Dave Suesz]

Also '55...

GM spec says the same round mufflers were installed on all 55-57. My July '55 built car had the 55-57 4" round mufflers, which agrees with GM specifications, drawings, etc. There may have been some oval muffler V8 '55's, but it was probably leftover '54 parts GM was using up. Anybody still have documented original exhaust on a '55 out there?

[Bob A.]

Re: '57 Exhaust System

Steve-

I noticed in the Corvette Central catalog some systems use a crossover pipe. What would have been original on the car I described? Where did you purchase the Zip system? Did you use gaskets on the exhaust manifolds? Have you heard any comments about a Paragon system?

[Bob A.]

Re: '57 Exhaust System

Art-

What did you install the system on and did you use the crossover pipe?

Thanks!

Bob

[Steve Junkersfeld]

Re: '57 Exhaust System

Bob, The 56 2X4 cars did not use a crossover - I can't say for sure, but I believe that the 57s are the same. I live about 40 miles from Zip in Northern Virginia, so I drove to the Zip facility in Mechanicsburg to pick up the system. I did not use gaskets on the manifold to head seal - I just surfaced the manifolds and torqued to spec (just as the General did in 56). The 56 header pipe to manifold flange is a fixed, welded piece that is less forgiving than the 57 "slip flange". I believe that the 57 would use a doughnut gasket at the header pipe to manifold, while the 56 uses a flat asbestos/steel gasket. Although I have never used a Paragon exhaust system, the parts I have gotten from Paragon are always very good - I suspect that their exhaust pieces are also. Good luck, Steve

[Art B.]

Re: '57 Exhaust System

Bob:
I installed the system on a '57 with 2x4 carbs. I did not use a crossover pipe.