1959 Exhaust System - Corvette Central - Problems Anyone?

**Richard M.** · February 8, 2012, 06:53 PM

Re: 1959 Exhaust System - Corvette Central - Problems Anyone?

Pictures.....
1- DS muffler too close to shock.
2- DS left in center of frame, PS at right, hitting frame.
3- PS engine pipe looking from rear, hitting frame.
4- PS joint of engine pipe(right) to muffler pipe(left). Note position of hanger.

Attached Files

**Russ S.** · February 8, 2012, 07:02 PM

Re: 1959 Exhaust System - Corvette Central - Problems Anyone?

This won't help you any but on the CC system for my 66 sb I had too cut off two of the pipes and on the PS I had to bend the angle of the tail pipe to the front of the muffler in order to get the rear (outlet) of the muffler to align with the rear valance panel hole.

**Richard M.** · February 8, 2012, 07:24 PM

Re: 1959 Exhaust System - Corvette Central - Problems Anyone?

Russ, Sounds like my friends '65 nightmare he had in the past with a CC shp system. IIRC he had one pipe too long, called them on it and they told him he must be doing something wrong.

This is disappointing. I really thought it would all fit.

**Thomas H.** · February 8, 2012, 08:11 PM

Re: 1959 Exhaust System - Corvette Central - Problems Anyone?

Rich,

Out of all of the things I did to my 60 to get it back on the road (including seat covers, which were a bear), I think I used more expletives when doing the exhaust than anything else. At one point I think the neighborhood mothers were calling their children inside........... I had to walk away many times. It didn't help that I was doing it with the car on jack stands either. I probably spent the better part of three weekends on it.

But, one thing I discovered was that I was trying to put the mufflers on the wrong sides. My mufflers didn't have the welded in front pipes, but individual pipe extensions which I think led to some of my confusion. I was also following a picture in the CC catalog and I either misinterpreted it or it is actually wrong. Either way, once I figured that out, I was able to get them installed but they still didn't fit to my liking.

I actually ended up buying a set of off road mufflers with the welded in front extensions and they fit much better. I still have some alignment things to tweek once I get it on a lift, but it fits. One area I had issues with was the front hangers. They really didn't line up where the pipes needed to be clamped. Plus the saddles distorted way before there was enough clamping force on the pipes. I ended up useing a second clamp beside the hanger clamp to get enough force on the pipe. Again, somthing else to fix when I get it on a lift.

Good luck.

Tom

**Dick W.** · February 8, 2012, 08:17 PM

Re: 1959 Exhaust System - Corvette Central - Problems Anyone?

Pretty typical with most of the exhaust systems I have bought over the years. I finally started taking the cars to the muffler shop and having them help me tweak the systems to fit. Call the vendors and it was always my fault.

Have not had that problem with a Gardner set (yet)

**John F.** · February 8, 2012, 08:54 PM

Re: 1959 Exhaust System - Corvette Central - Problems Anyone?

Rich, After reading all the problems with exhaust systems on the forum, I think I would lay the old system on the floor after taking it off and compare side-by-side with the new. That would be the time for corrections to be made or calling the vendor. When all else fails let the professionals install it.

**Joe M.** · February 8, 2012, 09:38 PM

Re: 1959 Exhaust System - Corvette Central - Problems Anyone?

i purchased a CC exhaust system for my 1960 in October. I spent at least 3 hours and realized that I had taken the process as far as I could. It fit good, but not good enough. It needed a few extra bends. I took the car to the muffler shop and they adjusted it for a couple of hours of labor and charged me $98 and they cut off the pipes to the correct length at the bumper. Best $98 I have spent on my car.

You would think that CC would have manufactured enough systems that they would fit as is out of the box, but my muffler shop told me that it is next to impossible to bend the same pipes using the same jigs 100% of the time.

**Richard M.** · February 8, 2012, 10:02 PM

Re: 1959 Exhaust System - Corvette Central - Problems Anyone?

Thanks for the replies.

I don't have the original system. It was a muffler shop system and was a mess of different pipes welded and clamped with many wrong pieces. I will likely have to double clamp the engine/muffler pipes at the X-member on both sides after looking again.

I'm going to get back to it tomorrow and see if I can make some progress. If not I'm going to call CC for some serious discussion. I will try to control myself.

It's pretty obvious that this is a system with questionable quality control. I wonder what the percentage of these systems actually fit without modification.

Lesson learned.
Rich

**Patrick H.** · February 8, 2012, 10:32 PM

Re: 1959 Exhaust System - Corvette Central - Problems Anyone?

Interesting. I've installed CC systems several times on 70-72 small blocks and have zero issues. On the lift they install very quickly.

Patrick

**Russ S.** · February 8, 2012, 10:55 PM

Re: 1959 Exhaust System - Corvette Central - Problems Anyone?

Originally posted by Joe Maulsby (17166)

i purchased a CC exhaust system for my 1960 in October. I spent at least 3 hours and realized that I had taken the process as far as I could. It fit good, but not good enough. It needed a few extra bends. I took the car to the muffler shop and they adjusted it for a couple of hours of labor and charged me $98 and they cut off the pipes to the correct length at the bumper. Best $98 I have spent on my car.

You would think that CC would have manufactured enough systems that they would fit as is out of the box, but my muffler shop told me that it is next to impossible to bend the same pipes using the same jigs 100% of the time.

Joe, In defense of the people bending these pipes,I know that the very slightest difference in a bend at one end of a pipe will make a large misalignment at the other end. Having said that, one would wonder why GMs supplier was able to have better repeatability.

**Richard M.** · February 9, 2012, 08:38 AM

Re: 1959 Exhaust System - Corvette Central - Problems Anyone?

Interesting info at the end of this page about their C2 system....

http://www.corvettecentralexhaust.co...ck_systems.php

I copied the text here in case the link breaks in the future.

63-65 Exhaust Bend

We received our "original sample" in the mid 1980's from a customer's Hi-Performance 1964 Corvette. We never questioned its originality, due to the condition of the part in relation to the car.
Over the years, we had a few complaints regarding the fit on the left side of our systems, but we double-checked our fixtures and bending procedures and could never pinpoint a real problem. In late 2007, a customer contacted us after receiving a new system for his 65. He claimed that the left header didn't fit right because it didn't match his original pipe. The following week, we had his original pipes in our shop. We could actually make out the original part number and there was one small bend at the end of the pipes which changed the whole attitude of the secondary pipe. We changed our bending program to match the new sample.
The customer did the install and checked the fit for us and we believe we have solved the left side fit problem on 63-65 systems. This mainly affects the welded type OEM systems, and it is easy to overcome this problem with an independent pipe and muffler. Those same fit issues on the left side pipes will occur when installing new off road secondary pipes using old CC headers. So, unless you're sure of what you have, a new system is the way to go.

**Dan D.** · February 9, 2012, 09:25 AM

Re: 1959 Exhaust System - Corvette Central - Problems Anyone?

Rich,

FYI, I bought a new exhaust system for my 57 from CC 3 years ago, but I had it for a year before I installed it, so I did not complain to CC because of the time lapse. Figured it was not worth the aggravation for presumably no recourse.

But the problems I had are different than yours and any other other posts here I have read. First all, CC brags that they make their own pipes and systems, but my pipes had paper bands on them indicating they were manufactured by a company in Canada. I don't have a problem with that, and the pipes were not the problem. They actually fit pretty well. But I can't believe the quality of the clamps. They were fine thread, as per the originals and what CC brags about, but they looked like they were formed in a vice. The 'U' would not fit in the clamp, the holes were off center and not bent 90*. No excuse in this day and age - any basement shop can form and bend better than that. I ended up filing and oversize drilling all the clamps and re-bending the 'Us' in a vice.

Actually the center clamps at the X-member probably do not fit the pipes all that well, but I don't know how well the originals fit as everything was long gone way before I got the car. The pipes are pretty much centered in the X-member holes, and there appears to be ample clearance to the shocks.

I can understand the precise bends that pipes must be formed to, per CC's response above. But there is no excuse for the quality of their clamps. No excuse at all.

Good Luck Rich, I know it is frustrating, but you will make them work and you will not have to go through it again. I too have fought many fit issues with re-pop parts from CC and others. -Dan-

**Patrick H.** · February 9, 2012, 09:47 AM

Re: 1959 Exhaust System - Corvette Central - Problems Anyone?

Dan,

They don't make the clamps. The last set I have from them is obviously from China. The writing on them is actually quite funny when you figure out what happened.
The pipes are made in Canada as straight sections, but bent at Corvette Central. I've been there and watched them do it.

Patrick

**Jerry K.** · February 9, 2012, 10:31 AM

Re: 1959 Exhaust System - Corvette Central - Problems Anyone?

Richard,
I've experienced problems with CC aluminumized system for my 62. The passenger side clamp was hitting the axle housing and no matter how I adjusted the gaps in the frame or what sequence I tightened the clamps. I removed the muffler and pipes, cut the flange on both ends of the muffler and pipe by 3/8" this gave me a bit more clearance to miss housing and shock . To get the correct gaps, first loosen all Clamps, including manifold studs,take wooden shims(split 2x4s)wedged between pipes and frame.I took a propane torch and heated pipes in areas of the bends until cherry red. Some prying with a long lever (a big screw driver)to help bend the pipe. The last bolts tightened are the manifold.This reduced the rattles and gave me enough clearance at the shock.My exhaust system was purchased in 1993.Hope this helps.
Jerry Koryciak

1959 Exhaust System - Corvette Central - Problems Anyone?

1959 Exhaust System - Corvette Central - Problems Anyone?

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