JUDGING QUESTION - SIDE PIPE CAR

[Jerry W.]

Did original side pipe cars have the two holes for undercar exhaust mounting in the rear of the center crossmember? Were they there but not treaded?

[William C.]

Re: JUDGING QUESTION - SIDE PIPE CAR

Original sidepipe cars had the two large holes for the undercar exhaust and two small holes for the bolt that grounded the exhaust system strap the other end of which was attaqched to the exhaust clamp. These holes are unthreaded on an original sidepipe car as the original bolts are self-tapping.

[Larry S.]

Re: JUDGING QUESTION - SIDE PIPE CAR

Dont let that be the only deciding factor.

Some one can just drill the hole out one index bigger and the threads remnants disapeer.

[Patrick H.]

Re: JUDGING QUESTION - SIDE PIPE CAR

Smart chassis judges know the correct size of the hole, and use a screw or similar to check the size. So even lack of threads doesn't always mean much. Check the hole size, too.

Patrick

[Jack H.]

Re: JUDGING QUESTION - SIDE PIPE CAR

You'll find the original hole diameter called out in chassis section of the AIM. But, even checking for the presense/absense of threads + the diameter of the hole isn't the entire story....

What if the car WAS a factory original 'piper' and underwent a frame transplant to cure midwest rust during restoration? What if the original owner (or a subsequent owner) got tired of the acoustic annoyance of side pipes and installed a through-frame exhaust system for awhile. Could also have been a case of $$$$, where side exhaust 'wore out' (covers can look pretty doggy after a while) and did a 'butch job' with aftermarket through-frame exhaust to save money but actually went to the due diligence effort of mounting ground straps.

I don't think there's a correct answer absent an unassailable paperwork trail back to the car's factory order configuration. But, judges will 'trigger' on any of the minor items that leave telltale evidence of a conversion to side exhaust, and put the burden of proof upon the owner per our judging rules....

[Larry S.]

Re: JUDGING QUESTION - SIDE PIPE CAR

You know I would think the more tattle tale sign would be the tangs for the side rockers being taken off

I just dont see how you can camoflouge that.

Also No ao smith cars had them

[Patrick H.]

Re: JUDGING QUESTION - SIDE PIPE CAR

Easy:

Lift off body.

Use saw or similar to cut off tabs at the center of the rocker channel where they were originally spot welded on. Maybe drill them out if you think you can drill out the weld without going through the channel.

Drop body. Rocker channel now wraps around frame, and the original spot welds are impossible to see.

Don't think it hasn't been done. Often.

Patrick

[Wayne W.]

Re: YEA, BUT

There are still ways of blowing it out of the water.