C1 tail pipe installation

[Mike Tess]

I have a 1960 and am in the process of installing a new exhaust system. It's a round muffler system from corvette central and fits great, at least what I have installed so far. It's a 4-piece system counting the front pipe, muffler pipe, and 2 tail pipes (I will call them pipe #3 and #4). I can't figure out how to install the tail pipe extension (pipe #4) through the bumper and get it to fit onto the other tail pipe. Pipes #1, #2 and #3 are all in place and fit into the brackets nicely. I tried fitting pipe #4 through the exhaust tunnel from underneath the chassis, but then there's not enough room to connect it to pipe #3 correctly. The original tail pipe retainers are still in the bumper--I haven't removed them--don't know if it's necessary. Pipe #4 had to be installed after body drop, but I haven't figured out how. How was this done on the assembly line? How have others on this board had success?

Thank you for any help you can offer to shed light on this puzzle.

Mike Tess
Member #38092

[Howard M.]

Re: C1 tail pipe installation

Mike:
Finished installing my new CC exhaust system yesterday on my '60. I used the oval mufflers but I would guess that the round mufflers have the same inlet and outlet pipe positions.
Install the tail pipe extension first-pull it out past the bumper as far as it will go. Then install the front (manifold) pipe, muffler, and #3 pipe. With the hangers installed but left loose, pull the tailpipe extension back to the #3 pipe. It's easier if you work on the extension from outside the car with the car at shoulder level. You'll have to fool around a little with the whole system until it falls in place. You might find that the tailpipes stick through the bumpers after all joints are butted up tight, in which case you may want to cut the tailpipe extension to length. The tailpipe retainers can't be removed without removing the bumper.

I didn't have any trouble installing the passenger side system but the driver side muffler did not fit very well. I had numerous conversations with CC and returned the muffler for inspection on their fabrication fixture. I ended up cutting out a 3/4" section of the pipe in front of the muffler, rotating the muffler to the correct angle and rewelding the pipe.
This now gives me about 1" clearance between the muffler and shock.

The hanger positions do not line up with the pipe joints so CC provides an extra clamp for the passenger side muffler pipe to the manifold pipe with the hanger to the rear of the joint.
Hope this helps.

[Mike Tess]

Re: C1 tail pipe installation

Howard, thanks for the reply. I tried your method of pulling the tail pipe extension out past the bumper, but on my car I didn't have enough room to connect the #3 pipe to muffler outlet. I even tried loosening the hangers and taking the front pipe off--played with it for 2 hours yesterday with no luck.

I figured it out though. I just returned from removing the driver's side bumper and installing the #4 pipe from that side. I fit the bumper back to the car and that's the ticket. I will have to cut the length of the #4 pipe, it sticks out 1 3/8" from the bumper.

Overall, I'm pleased with the fit of the CC system. I don't need the extra clamp like you mentioned, and all the hangers lined up well for me. The pipes run close to the shocks, but no more than in pics of cars in Noland Adams' book. I looked in his book and the AIM but don't see the extra clamp on the passenger side, so I'm not sure if that is an original feature or a by-product of CC's exhaust line.

Mike

[Howard M.]

Re: C1 tail pipe installation

Mike:
I'm glad things worked out. There must be some difference in CC's round vs oval mufflers as far as fitup is concerned. The extra clamp must also come from CC's fabrication difference between types of mufflers.

[David Dawdy]

Re: C1 tail pipe installation

Mike - I installed mine from the rear thru the rear retainers, just slid them into position and then crawled underneath to install the clamps. '60 #2348