Side-pipe option

[Nick I.]

Hello to all. I am a new NCRS member and in the middle of restoring a customers 1969 Corvette Convertible. It is the 400hp 427 tri-power model and currently has side-pipes. The current owner purchased the car in 1979 and is only the 2nd owner since new. He stated too me that the side-pipes were original as far as he was aware. He did some research and was told that the side-pipe option for these cars was not done at the factory, but that they were all dealer installed. I do see evidence on the rear valance panel and lower quarters where the old cut-outs were, but they had been filled in some time ago. I am restoring this car to 100% as-built condition. The tank sticker is too far gone to read. Only small pieces of it remain. Could someone tell me what the scoop is for these side-pipes and how to tell if his car was ordered with them?? If his car did not come with them, we are not going to put them back on.

Thank you,
Nick

[Warren F.]

Re: Side-pipe option

Nick,

On a factory installed side pipe optioned car, there will be NO evidence of the rear horseshoe shape exhaust outlets. Factory sidepiped cars have different quarter panels and use a different lower rear valance panel.

Standard exhaust cars have one half of the exhaust shape cut out formed in the rear quarter panels and the other half formed in the valance panel.

[John H.]

Re: Side-pipe option

Nick -

Although dealers no doubt added sidepipes bought over the parts counter to many 69's post-sale, if the car was originally ordered with them, they were installed at St. Louis, with unique body parts as noted above.

[Nick I.]

Re: Side-pipe option

Thanks for the info. I am going to pass it on to the owner and see what he decides to do. I'm pretty sure I will be putting the rear exit pipes back on the car as it had when new.

Thank You,
Nick

[Joe L.]

Re: Side-pipe option

Nick-----

I think that going back to the original undercar exhaust is a VERY good idea. In fact, even if the car had been originally equipped with side pipes I would say that converting it to undercar exhaust would be a VERY good idea.

[Philip C.]

Re: Side-pipe option Disagree

Hi Nick the owner in my mind should do what he thinks is best for him not what anyone else thinks. Its his car, I think I stated here a couple of hundred times (almost as many as Roy has posted photos of his 55) there is 15k or so members of NCRS, and there were 38k corvettes built in 1969 alone. Its the old gotta "Drive"em argument, I dont, you want to, go ahead, Thats A-OK with me, but dont tell me I have to drive'em to enjoy them. Phil 8063 P.S no offense Roy