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My question is: When purchasing a C2, what would you look for to determine if the car originally came from the factory with side pipe exhaust (N14). Here is what I have dug up so far: 1) No AO Smith cars were produced with side pipes. 2) There would not be muffler brackets present on the frame. 3) There would be a riveted side pipe bracket on the frame. 4) The presence of bonding material that oozed out of the front lower fender pieces where the body was cut for side pipes (I am not sure that I understand this one, wouldn’t the bonding agent already have cured before cutting? What if the front clip has been replaced?) 5) Rear quarter panel and inner skirt smoothly cut to provide a 3.5 inch radius and lower front side fender cut as outlined in AIM. Is there anything special to look for in regard to these factory cuts that would make it possible to determine if they were in fact made at the factory? 6) Birdcage notches for the U-Nuts. It was mentioned in an earlier post that the "Birdcage Notches" are difficult or impossible to replicate. How can you determine if the notches are factory? Are there certain markings or impressions left on the birdcage when they were notched? 7) The absence of thread marks in the ground strap hole in frame. The absence of staple holes in the fender skirt splash shields. Anything else I am missing here? Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Dave.
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Re: C2 Side Pipe Exhaust
Dave. Welcome to the board! It's good to see you on here.
Tony -
Re: C2 Side Pipe Exhaust
I am curious as to what item 3 is? Riveted bracket......
I have a side pipe car and don't recall any bracket.Comment
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Re: C2 Side Pipe Exhaust
--------Agree with Steve on the riveted bracket.
--------Also, as with so many parts of these old cars, you just have to see a real one to get an idea what you are looking at. For instance, the rear cut, while perfectly circular was anything but smooth. That cut is always sort of ragged and a few glass hairs almost always stick out. I have seen so called experts sand the edge down and smooth it out but, obviously thats not the way the assembly worker did the job.
--------And rarely are two front cuts exactly the same. I have seen a bunch of the tab sticking down below the rocker trim on many original side-pipe cars. And, infrequently you will see the cut at a very discernable angle.
--------Alot of being able to spot pipes that have been added is just having seen others, especially untouched others. All this description stuff is definetly helpful, but in the end go to the meets and the cruises whenever you can. Hope this helps...........Bill SComment
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Re: C2 Side Pipe Exhaust
Thank you all for your comments. #3 was an error on my part, I was refering to the bracket that is riveted to the side pipe cover. The bracket then bolts to the frame. In regard to the birdcage notches for the U-Nuts, what would be the best way to determine if the notches are factory? Are there certain markings or impressions left on the birdcage when they were notched?Comment
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Re: C2 Side Pipe Exhaust
The knotches were not ground out, but were punched or nipped out. There is a detectable shear that should be present. It would not be impossible but difficult to duplicate this.
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