1967 Exhaust Dilemma

[Tim G.]

[Patrick H.]

Re: 1967 Exhaust Dilemma

just leave it alone. This car will be a Bow Tie candidate.

Any questions?

[Roy S.]

Re: 1967 Exhaust Dilemma

Tim,

Can the original muffler be repaired? even a patch on it would still leave it with the original muffler!

[Mike M.]

Re: 1967 Exhaust Dilemma

agree with roy. when our 67 bow tied, it had a 3/4" hole in the intermediate pipe just before it entered the muffler.no problem back then. mike

[Tim G.]

Re: 1967 Exhaust Dilemma

The drivers side is fine, the passenger side had a new muffler installed in 1978. It has a U clamp holding it on and the tail pipe is very crooked. I'd like to have the muffler welded to do away with the clamp and this may help align the tail pipe better. Both still have some years left on them.

[Roy S.]

Re: 1967 Exhaust Dilemma

The drivers side is fine, the passenger side had a new muffler installed in 1978. It has a U clamp holding it on and the tail pipe is very crooked. I'd like to have the muffler welded to do away with the clamp and this may help align the tail pipe better. Both still have some years left on them.

[Patrick H.]

Re: 1967 Exhaust Dilemma

The reason I would not go ahead and weld them is that you may then bring into question the authenticity of the rest of the right side system. There are owners who cobble together original equipment pieces and attempt to pass them off as original to the car, and the judges then question it. Just be aware of that before you go welding.

If you loosen and reclamp it so that it's better aligned it may solve the alignment problem without affecting the interpretation of the rest of the system. You can always weld it later while you can't un-weld it.

Just my own thoughts.

As I look at the judging sheets you're probably talking about a 2 point loss in Flight judging as-is, or a 1 point loss if you weld it....

https://www.ncrs.org/sinor/63-67 Score Sheets/63-67 Chassis.pdf

[Roy S.]

Re: 1967 Exhaust Dilemma

The reason I would not go ahead and weld them is that you may then bring into question the authenticity of the rest of the right side system. There are owners who cobble together original equipment pieces and attempt to pass them off as original to the car, and the judges then question it. Just be aware of that before you go welding.

If you loosen and reclamp it so that it's better aligned it may solve the alignment problem without affecting the interpretation of the rest of the system. You can always weld it later while you can't un-weld it.

Just my own thoughts.

As I look at the judging sheets you're probably talking about a 2 point loss in Flight judging as-is, or a 1 point loss if you weld it....
https://www.ncrs.org/sinor/63-67 Sco...67 Chassis.pdf

[Patrick H.]

Re: 1967 Exhaust Dilemma

No doubt, he can declare it with no problem. However, we all know how those under-the-car discussions can go so I just wanted him to be aware before he did anything at all.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1967 Exhaust Dilemma

I just acquired a very nice original ’67 327/350 horse roadster and most of the exhaust is original. Of course, the passenger side muffler has been replaced and is clamped in place. I’m hesitant to replace the exhaust system since much is original and in good shape. I know that it’s not unusual for the passenger side muffler to wear out first due to the heat riser. My options are to have the passenger side muffler welded on the original exhaust pipe, replace the entire system with a reproduction or NOS or just leave it alone. This car will be a Bow Tie candidate, but I want it to Flight judge, also.

Tim-----


Whether you weld it or leave it clamped the basic configuration is going to be the same. Replacement mufflers usually use a forward extension with a slip joint. The original rear pipe is appropriately shortened and the replacement muffler with extension installed. This type of configuration is obvious whether the muffler is clamped to the pipe or welded. So, I really don't see anything to be gained by welding; it's not going to be welded as-original (i.e right at the muffler).

I doubt that there's more than a handful of 63-72 Corvettes out there with an original right side muffler. Maybe some with FI, though, since they don't use a heat riser.

[Nick C.]

[Patrick H.]

Re: 1967 Exhaust Dilemma

My 4 Star Bowtie car has had a replacement (Corvette Central) system on it both for Flight judging and for Bowtie judging. So, it should be noted that you can definitely get the award even if the entire exhaust system has been replaced. My brake calipers have also been replaced, or at least sleeved and repainted, so they too were disqualified. Due to the wear and tear of the Chassis this section is allowed a lower score to "pass" than other sections of the car.

Will replacing the muffler result in part of the system being disqualified? Only the judges on the day it is presented can answer that question. The left (driver's) side should receive full credit if it appears to be the original equipment.

I don't think that one replaced muffler will disqualify the car but not having inspected the car myself I cannot say what else may or may not rule in its favor. My comments have only been to make sure that Tim understands that there are consequences to each decision which may affect both Flight and Bowtie judging even if we're only talking about one weld seam. As you can see I tend to err on the side of "do less."

[Tim G.]

Re: 1967 Exhaust Dilemma

I'll leave it clamped at this time and work on the alignment of the tail pipe, the alignment bothers me more than the clamp at this point.

Thanks guys.

[Bob D.]

Re: 1967 Exhaust Dilemma

Tim

I hope we will see this beauty ar Frisco in October.

Bob