Trouble installing Mid-Year Exhaust

[Richard W.]

I am having some difficulty in trying to install a new exhaust system on my 1963. The car came with a 327 cu. in./340 h.p. engine. The block is from a 1962 to 1963 327 Chevorlet.

I bought the system from Mid-America. It consists of front pipe from the manifold, rear pipe and mufflers with adjustable outlets. It is a 2 1/2 system.

I seem to have about 1 1/2 to 2 inches too much length. Of course, neither the instructions or the pipes/mufflers tell which side they are for. It may be that I have something backward but it seems OK.

The pipes coming from the manifold look good. Is it possible that the 324 Chevorlet block is the problem? I don't think so since it does't look like there is 2 inches of space from where the pipes come down now and the a-arm.

The rear pipes seem clear the tool trays but who knows, the could be on the wrong side.

Finally, I think that I have the mufflers on the correct side but, again, they could be backward.

I had thought of cutting a couple inches off of the back of the rear pipes (where the mufflers are joined) but I hate to do that unless I know it will work.

Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

[George R.]

Re: Trouble installing Mid-Year Exhaust

Richard, Do you have any repair manuals for 63-67 corvettes in particular your year car that contain any under carriage pictures? If someone has a 63 ask them to send scan or e-mail you a picture of a stock exhaust.

Sorry my car has a N14 side exhaust and I don't have a scanner. I'd wait until I hear from some 63 owners before I started cutting anything.

Good luck,grr#33570

[Richard W.]

Re: Trouble installing Mid-Year Exhaust

George, thanks for your response. I will look through some tonight. After looking at it with a friend tonight it looks like either the rear pipe or the muffler inlets too long. As I said, the front pipe goes into the manifold with no trouble and extends to the crossmember holes. The front pipe (male) goes into the rear pipe (female)easily with the female overlaping 2 inches in front of the crossmember holes. This looks right for the factory hander system. I am going to call Mid America on Monday and see if they have any suggestions. Any additional thoughts are welcome.

This is one of the neat things about old cars--right?

[Joe L.]

Re: Trouble installing Mid-Year Exhaust

Richard------

The problem which you describe is not a totally uncommon one. It sometimes results by exhaust system manufacturers trying to make parts a "one size fits all" type of thing. This problem has absolutely NOTHING to do with your block, however.

I would recommend calling Mid-America before performing any alterations on the pipes. However, if you do need to shorten the pipes, you cannot do so at the rear of the rear pipe as this will not accomplish any length reduction. To shorten, you need to trim material off of the rear of the FRONT pipes. However, in doing so you have to be sure that the resulting location of the rear pipe bell section (where the clamp is installed) is within the very short range of the "ox yoke" clamp. This is where the u-bolt exhaust clamps must attach to support the exhaust system just forward of the trans crossmember.