Paragon exhaust fit problems

[G B.]

Yesterday, after waiting a month for delivery, I received a '65-7 396/427 full exhaust kit in aluminized steel from Paragon. The front header pipes do not fit. The left side hits the oil filter canister, and both sides are about 6" too long. This makes the joint with the rear pipe fall behind the transmission crossmember rather than in front of it under the mounting bracket.

Has anyone encountered fit problems with Paragon exhaust kits before? I ordered from Paragon because their catalog says "tested on Corvettes for 10 years and the patterns are exact". Am I the first and only person to receive pipes that don't fit right?

[G B.]

Part Two: "The Stainless Works"

Paragon's supplier for exhaust systems is The Stainless Works in Ohio. Paragon politely told me to call them for resolution. I talked to Jim at The Stainless Works. He asked me to check the front pipes for number of bends, distance between the bends, and the angle of the bends. After comparing my descriptions to the patterns that he had, he concluded that my pipes weren't made correctly. He agreed to remake a pair of front pipes for me and send them right away.

[John]

Re: Paragon exhaust fit problems

HI, I ordered Exghaust from Mid-America about two years ago for a 75 vette. Same problems and I had to take it to an exhaust shop to rebend, cut and fit the pipes at a cost of $300.00. I complained to MA and they sent me a gift certificate for $50.00. Send the pipes back if you can and get a refund. Use the money to have a local shop install a custom bent set of pipes. It will cost you the same amount or less. I could have installed headers for what I wound up paying.

[G B.]

Part Three: "Heat until cherry red, then...

I checked the rear pipes after struggling mightily to make the "slip fit" connection at the mufflers. Obviously this union had never been attempted before. One muffler inlet had to be notched as well as heated in order to get the pipe to enter it. I'm not talking propane hot either - I'm talking glow-in-the-dark bright red.

Of the two rear pipes, only the right one appears to be significantly misaligned. Jim at The Stainless Works has assured me they will furnish another right rear pipe when they send the replacement front pipes.

If you folks are interested, I will keep you posted. Somehow I don't think this has been completely resolved yet.

[Joe L.]

Re: Paragon exhaust fit problems

Jerry-----

I had the same problem about 12 years ago when I got the stainless exhaust system for my '69 from a company in Ohio called R/S Industries. The system was absolutely beautiful----really a work of art, but it didn't fit right. With mine the problem was front pipes that were too long. R/S Industries, now out of business, sent me new pipes and I was able to complete the installation.

I've heard of the same problem happening to many others as far as fit regardless of who the manufacturer/supplier of the system was, except for OEM GM systems which are long-since discontinued. I'll never understand this. When GM supplied the systems, they all fit perfectly. In "reproduction" there are many fitment problems. Why? Certainly bending exhaust pipes to factory specifications is a well known and, presumably, masterable science. Whoever did it for GM, probably Walker, didn't have any problems getting it right.