Can any one direct me to a picture (other than the assembly manual) showing the factory cutouts in the rocker panel for the "u" nuts that the side exhaust covers attach to? I can't remember where I've seen it, but I have. It's made with a special factory tool, if I remember correctly.
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Re: original side exhaust "u" nut cutouts in birdcage door sill
Rob, as I recall the cutouts (actually stamped out) is in the birdcage. Only St.Louis filled order for side pipe cars as AO Smith did not have the special machine needed to make the cutouts. I'm sure someone else will post a picture.
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Re: original side exhaust "u" nut cutouts in birdcage door sill
Thanks...I wasn't aware of the difference between the two assembly plants...good to know.Comment
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Re: original side exhaust "u" nut cutouts in birdcage door sill
Since A O Smith bodies were sent to St. Louis for actual assembly...were the "notches" cut in there to accommodate the "u" nuts?Comment
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Re: original side exhaust "u" nut cutouts in birdcage door sill
Hi Rob, here's a couple of photos of the birdcage notches on my 67
Notches 1.jpgNotches 2.jpgComment
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Re: original side exhaust "u" nut cutouts in birdcage door sill
Hi again Rob,
No AO Smith midyear cars had side exhaust - only St. Louis ones. So to check side exhaust originality, first thing to do is check the Trim Tag. If it has a St. Louis tag then side exhaust possible and many ways to check further, most of which are easily changed. However the birdcage notches are almost impossible to fake and therefore a very good place to check if the question is real or add-on side exhaust.Comment
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Re: original side exhaust "u" nut cutouts in birdcage door sill
Why don't we show more pics so every one can do correct fake cars.Comment
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Re: original side exhaust "u" nut cutouts in birdcage door sill
Thanks....I agree this particular modification would be almost impossible to duplicate and a good indication of factory installed side exhaust.Comment
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Re: original side exhaust "u" nut cutouts in birdcage door sill
Russ you make a very good point and that is the very reason I do not cover them in the Advance judging school. If one has a REAL side pipe car no discussion is required. If not then there is no need to disclose of there configuration.Comment
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Re: original side exhaust "u" nut cutouts in birdcage door sill
Gene, I agree with you. Isn't a correct fake car an oxymoron!
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Re: original side exhaust "u" nut cutouts in birdcage door sill
Well I disagree, both with the poster who said "Why don't we show more pics so every one can do correct fake cars" and with the current comment stating a real side pipe car requires no discussion of configuration. This information is well known, readily available on the internet on multiple forums, and well described in the literature. None of this is secret or privileged data. The information can be very helpful to one who has a C2 and wonders if the side pipes are real or added, information that would be very nice to know before that person has the car judged at an NCRS event. The information is also helpful to those looking to evaluate or buy a C2, to identify add-ons vs original equipment. The notches are nearly impossible to fake, and thus a very good area to evaluate for originality of side exhaust. Just my opinion, obviously others disagree
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Re: original side exhaust "u" nut cutouts in birdcage door sill
The factory notching fixture had a distinctive method of die cutting the notches. Once you have seen a real one up close it's fairly easy to tell..Comment
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Re: original side exhaust "u" nut cutouts in birdcage door sill
Maybe-with the body off. Are you as a prospective buyer of a high dollar restored car going to talk the owner into allowing you to pull the body off to investigate?? I don't think so. The notches would be easy for me to fabricate and I doubt any one could tell with the body on the chassis .Comment
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Re: original side exhaust "u" nut cutouts in birdcage door sill
While I understand not wanting to provide information that will encourage, or allow duplicating factory side exhaust installation, I think sharing information like this to allow perspective buyers to be able to determine originality of "factory side exhaust cars" is important and appreciated.Comment
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Re: original side exhaust "u" nut cutouts in birdcage door sill
Rob,
An Don Anderson so correctly stated, photos of the notches and lots of discussion about them are already easily found on the internet. In my opinion, your request for images does not make it any easier for people to create them.
But I do disagree with Don statement that it's virtually impossible to re-create the notches accurately. Where there's a will, there's a way. And as others have said, with the chassis on the car it is very difficult to get a very clear view of the notches. Having judged a few side pipe cars, I know this from experience. If I were a betting man, I would wager that someone with the right skills and intent (and there are such people in our hobby) could create notches that would pass all levels of judging. And I bet that has already happened more than once.
GaryComment
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