C2 Sidepipe Conversion

[Guest]

Hi - I'm currently fixing up a 1966 427/425HP Coupe. I'm converting the car to side pipes. I'm not going to use the correct terms, but here I go. On each side of the car there are 4 metal brackets around 4 inches long and one inch wide that I believe are used to hold on the rear exhaust 4 inch wide side moulding. With the exception of one out of the eight tabs all are broken off or damaged. To make the conversion as accurate as possible should I remove these where they are welded on the bird cage/frame? I'm assuming for a sidepipe car they have no function and would need to be completely replaced anyhow. Any advice would be appreciated. The body is currently off the car and this is as easy as it is going to get.

[Rob A.]

Re: C2 Sidepipe Conversion

Eric,

Removing the metal brackets you describe would make the car more "correct" for side exhaust. They are, as you say, for attaching standard exhaust rocker panels. Obviously, if you decide not to convert to side exhaust, this would be the time to replace them, and they are available. Also available are repair fiberglass pieces that are normally trimmed off at front and rear for side exhaust installation. If you really want to do it correctly, not only remove the metal brackets, but grind off traces of the welds that held them in place and spray the area with the green colored, zinc-chromate primer to match the rest of the area. One of the places checked now for originality of side exhaust cars that is often not duplicated is the notching of the birdcage frame where the U-Nuts are put that hold the side exhaust moldings on. The assembly manual is a good, and accurate guide to follow if you want to duplicate all the factory mods for side exhaust.

[Stephen L.]

Re: C2 Sidepipe Conversion

An additional item that is very difficult to duplicate is the bonding material that oozed out of the front lower fender pieces and will be there on a true side exhaust car. This typically gets cut off when t******* the front lower fender areas during a conversion so there would be no bonding glue protruding.....

[Patrick T.]

Re: C2 Sidepipe Conversion

Here is a picture of my car with the sidepipe notches. They are exactly identical and are very neat, clean cutouts, done with a special grinding tool used at St Louis. I think they would be almost impossible to duplicate to go undetected by a NCRS Judge. PT

[Guest]

Re: C2 Sidepipe Conversion

Thanks all!!