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1953 through 1962 Corvette production (C1) used flat, oval mufflers with the exception of 1956-57 which used round quiet versions similar to but NOT of the off-road varity.
The RPO 441, off-road muffler, was first introduced in 1962 and was quite loud.
...And my Dad (a retired engineer) has always done the maintenance (until I took over), including replacing the originals, which he describes as "round and loud". The Sep 2001 issue of Vette Vues had a very detailed article by Ken Kayser on the 55-57 exhaust system, with part numbers, and he states mufflers were the same for 55-57, including the optional "off road" mufflers. When I replaced the system in '85, I used the "56-7" round mufflers, and Dad says it sounds just like the "old days". This has always been controversial, and the only way to get this system from vendors is to "mix and match", but I have always taken my Dad's word on this.
and a month of research that I just finished has me believing what I stated. The only contradictory information I found was in Corvette News Volume IV.
There was effort afoot to supply solid lifter cars with a flow-through design off road muffler and drawings as well as other documentation were done. However the actual USE of these mufflers never happened until 1962 when RPO 441 was introduced. The 56-57 Corvettes with round mufflers were loud BUT they weren't as loud as the RPO 441s.
...I believe the car was built in July. My Dad replaced the original round mufflers with oval ones in the early '60's (it needed new exhaust) and used the oval replacements to make it quieter because the car was a daily driver!!!
Doesn't supprise me. Must have been made with the 1956 muffler. Wouldn't supprise me either if I saw an early 1956 with an oval mufler! Inventory control at St. Louis is incomprehensible.
The round mufflers on my 56 were replaced with oval mufflers due to noise. PS I wonder what your upper limit was on your recent muffler purchase on E-Bay?
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