63 SWC: Advice on Exhaust Changes

[Jason S.]

[Michael W.]

Re: 63 SWC: Advice on Exhaust Changes

Jason-

The original system was not aluminized, just plain steel. That's part of the reason they rotted out so quickly. A modern day aluminized system will probably last multiple decades. No need for s/steel.

[Joe R.]

Re: 63 SWC: Advice on Exhaust Changes

The only real manufacturer of exhaust systems that you have mentioned is Allen's. The other two are just selling exhaust systems. No knowledge or background with those two. They just want your money.
Allens is certainly a great choice for a stainless system!
Also, you need to specify if your 63 has the early cubby's under the seats.

JR

[Gene M.]

Re: 63 SWC: Advice on Exhaust Changes

The only real manufacturer of exhaust systems that you have mentioned is Allen's. The other two are just selling exhaust systems. No knowledge or background with those two. They just want your money.
Allen's is certainly a great choice for a stainless system!
Also, you need to specify if your 63 has the early cubby's under the seats.

JR

Yes, what he said. Allen's fit well and sound great. May require a small tweak. But with the separate muffler most times not. The best feature NO RUST.

[Jason S.]

Re: 63 SWC: Advice on Exhaust Changes

Regarding the cubby's - it's interesting you bring this up. Some of the companies I called didn't even know what I meant when I asked if they would fit the undertrays, whereas Mike Allen INSTANTLY knew why I was asking about this aspect. As soon as he asked what my VIN was and knew off the top of his head it was an early cubby-equipped car, I was impressed. He seems very knowledgeable, and nice to deal with. I may drive down to his shop over the holidays to see it first hand.

[Jason S.]

Re: 63 SWC: Advice on Exhaust Changes

Regarding your comment about sound - Mike Allen has mentioned he offers 3 muffler tunes (stock, offroad, and loud).
I was interested in something like the N-11 Off road muffler tuning - which he said his "OffRoad" is like.
I figured I'd have to ask what was meant by "OffRoad", because some folks confuse N-11 "OffRoad" with Side Pipe "Offroad" sound.
The side pipe sound (I'm sure you know) is different - typically people put chambered mufflers on their cars to get the side pipe sound.
I originally was going to go after the Corvette Central N-11 system, since they claim to have designed their systems off of NOS N-11 mufflers and GM blueprints - but I'm not crazy about the fact all their exhausts are aluminized.
I know one poster mentioned S/S may not be necessary........but I know from experience with daily drivers that S/S will hold up much better.
Perhaps S/S is overkill on a weekend "garage queen".....but I'm willing to pay for it and do this once.
OK.......so what I've been trying to get to during my rant is......when you say Allen's has good sound - which of the three muffler types have you experienced?

[Patrick H.]

Re: 63 SWC: Advice on Exhaust Changes

I have installed aluminized systems on many Corvettes. So far none of them has ever failed or rusted. The one on my own car is about 15 years old and looks like I installed it last week. To date I have only used the Corvette Central aluminized systems for 70-72 except for one aluminized system from MidAmerica. All are doing well.

I would highly recommend getting the welded system. I have installed many more of these than the non-welded ones, and find them much easier to install and get lined up.

Just my thoughts based on my experience so far.

[Jason S.]

Re: 63 SWC: Advice on Exhaust Changes

I have installed aluminized systems on many Corvettes. So far none of them has ever failed or rusted. The one on my own car is about 15 years old and looks like I installed it last week. To date I have only used the Corvette Central aluminized systems for 70-72 except for one aluminized system from MidAmerica. All are doing well.

I would highly recommend getting the welded system. I have installed many more of these than the non-welded ones, and find them much easier to install and get lined up.

Just my thoughts based on my experience so far.

Regarding the aluminized systems, I think I'm just basing my comparisons of S/S versus aluminized based on experiences I've had with daily drivers. Granted, the Corvette will never be driven in snow and salt, etc so I'm sure there is something to be said about your point of aluminized lasting just fine on a garage-kept car. Perhaps I discriminate against the aluminized system too much. But I really only want to be 100% sure I pay for the material that has "the best chance" at lasting.

Regarding the welded system, I too was gravitating towards that initially. First, because it just looks more "correct", but also because that's just one less joint to worry about leaking and aligning. I started changing my mind toward the non-welded type because I was concerned if I picked the wrong muffler tune, I could always play around with different mufflers without too much trouble by having the liberty of being able to swap different ones in and out. Oddly, some people have been telling me that the non-welded system seems to give them yet one more "degree of freedom" to get everything aligned. As we write this, I realize the 30+ year old exhaust on the car now is a replacement-style non-welded type and has held up all these years.

It's interesting you mention Corvette Central.......originally I was contemplating their N-11 system as I was impressed by the efforts they have claimed to have undertaken to replicate the construction of original NOS N-11 parts. What caused me to start looking elsewhere is because all they offer is aluminized systems.

[Patrick H.]

Re: 63 SWC: Advice on Exhaust Changes

I started changing my mind toward the non-welded type because I was concerned if I picked the wrong muffler tune, I could always play around with different mufflers without too much trouble by having the liberty of being able to swap different ones in and out.

You really going to play around installing pairs of mufflers at $200-400 per set until you find "the" sound you want?
Believe it or not, my favorite sound in replacement Corvette mufflers was the set of Midas mufflers on my 71 when I bought it. No joke. It now wears the Mid America chambered exhaust system which is a whole other level of fun.

Here's the ones that Corvette Central sells as the N-11. See what you think:

http://waldronexhaust.com/corvetten11offroad.htm

[Jason S.]

Re: 63 SWC: Advice on Exhaust Changes

You really going to play around installing pairs of mufflers at $200-400 per set until you find "the" sound you want?
Believe it or not, my favorite sound in replacement Corvette mufflers was the set of Midas mufflers on my 71 when I bought it. No joke. It now wears the Mid America chambered exhaust system which is a whole other level of fun.

Here's the ones that Corvette Central sells as the N-11. See what you think:

http://waldronexhaust.com/corvetten11offroad.htm

Indeed....I've listened to that sound bite many times. I can replay it over and over.
I know the comment "swapping different mufflers in and out" does sound ridiculous at the face of it. Let me explain.
I've had a car or two over recent years where I've swapped in exhausts that I regretted (now that I'm getting older, I suppose I can't tolerate what I used to ). Now that I'm looking at putting an exhaust in this car......I suppose I'm gun shy.
The "good news" is that CC has those sound bites - but I may go with Allen's Exhaust, and they don't have any sound bites on their site. I may be travelling to see Mike Allen's shop over the holidays - so maybe that could be my opportunity to hear what they have.

[Joe R.]

Re: 63 SWC: Advice on Exhaust Changes

Jason,

You have only three choices to deal with when buying an exhaust system direct from a manufacturer.

Allens
Gardner
Corvette Central

I believe Allens is the only one that has the SS exhaust system from manifold to tips. Mike has the N-11 also which I would recommend.

JR

[Timothy B.]

Re: 63 SWC: Advice on Exhaust Changes

Jason,

I installed the aluminized Allen's exhaust with there "off road" mufflers on my 63 300hp car and I am very pleased. The stainless IMO is hard to seal and you will hear the expansion and contraction with the heat, that's my memory of it FWIW, over kill.

[Gene M.]

Re: 63 SWC: Advice on Exhaust Changes

Regarding your comment about sound - Mike Allen has mentioned he offers 3 muffler tunes (stock, offroad, and loud).
I was interested in something like the N-11 Off road muffler tuning - which he said his "OffRoad" is like.
I figured I'd have to ask what was meant by "OffRoad", because some folks confuse N-11 "OffRoad" with Side Pipe "Offroad" sound.
The side pipe sound (I'm sure you know) is different - typically people put chambered mufflers on their cars to get the side pipe sound.
I originally was going to go after the Corvette Central N-11 system, since they claim to have designed their systems off of NOS N-11 mufflers and GM blueprints - but I'm not crazy about the fact all their exhausts are aluminized.
I know one poster mentioned S/S may not be necessary........but I know from experience with daily drivers that S/S will hold up much better.
Perhaps S/S is overkill on a weekend "garage queen".....but I'm willing to pay for it and do this once.
OK.......so what I've been trying to get to during my rant is......when you say Allen's has good sound - which of the three muffler types have you experienced?

Jason,
I've installed the 2" w/seperate mufflers on my '65 (base engine) and all my other cars (L79) have 2 1/2" stainless off road systems. Keep in mind the Allen's stainless is .060 wall so a lot of the tin sound is eliminated. As far as my ear goes the off road sounds the best. The regular 2" system is much quieter inside but burbles outside behind the car. A prefer regular for the long road tour ride which my '65 sees.