Sidepipe question
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 53,988
Likes: 9,355
From: Sitting in his Nowhere land Hanover Pa
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2015 C2 of Year Finalist
they say the big give away is if the car body was made at the St louis plant, not at AO smith plant.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 41,732
Likes: 1,718
From: Springfield MO
If the car came from the factory without side pipes, there will be a series of tabs welded to the bottom of the frame rails that the wide aluminum rocker molding attached to. The side pipe cars didn't have the wide rocker molding. Sometimes if someone is trying to build up a car they will grind the tabs off, but close examination will usually show some signs of them being there.
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
From: federicksburg Virginia
There are several give a ways that are alot of effort to cover up.
1. Properly cut body panels behind the front wheel and forward of the rear wheel
2. Signs the the Rocker panel brackets have been bent back or cut off
3. Signs that ground straps for under car exhaust at the transmission cross member have been removed. The holes in the cross member would be threaded if the car originally had under car exhaust
4. Splash shiels would have no signs of staple holes where the rubber seal is attched
5. Signs that the rear valance has been replaced or holes where the exhaust exit the valance have been filled.
I'm sure there are more I just cannot think of them all now.
Good luck
Gary
1. Properly cut body panels behind the front wheel and forward of the rear wheel
2. Signs the the Rocker panel brackets have been bent back or cut off
3. Signs that ground straps for under car exhaust at the transmission cross member have been removed. The holes in the cross member would be threaded if the car originally had under car exhaust
4. Splash shiels would have no signs of staple holes where the rubber seal is attched
5. Signs that the rear valance has been replaced or holes where the exhaust exit the valance have been filled.
I'm sure there are more I just cannot think of them all now.
Good luck
Gary
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 11,593
Likes: 173
From: Clayton NC
Originally Posted by Nowhere Man
they say the big give away is if the car body was made at the St louis plant, not at AO smith plant.
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 169
Likes: 3
From: New Jersey
Originally Posted by youwish2bme
It has been said before this is the way to tell.. Why bother looking for the other stuff...
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 11,593
Likes: 173
From: Clayton NC
Originally Posted by EWJ
So what is so different about a St. Louis body that only they were used for sidepipe cars?
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 3,596
Likes: 8
From: Grosse Ile MI
Originally Posted by ckulchar
How do you determine if a 1965-67 BB was ordered with sidepipes or if they were added later?
Thanks in advance.
Charley
Thanks in advance.
Charley
If you are looking at a 65, odds are it is not an original sidepipe caara,as there were only 759 made that year.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 6,808
Likes: 24
From: Westport CT
Originally Posted by EWJ
So what is so different about a St. Louis body that only they were used for sidepipe cars?
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1026907
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 8,918
Likes: 27
From: New Hill NC
I dont know that I can say just why all or most all sidepipe cars were St. Louis cars, but there is one thing that may have been a factor. The body was known to be, and was built as, a side exhaust car from the start of assembly. In other words the bird cage was different and this is the first thing, the foundation of the body. So each side pipe car was built as a side pipe car. It may have been too much of a logistical problem to build up ahead like was done at AOS and ship to St.Louis to be inserted into the line. They probable just decided that it was easier to use the in house bodies.
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 169
Likes: 3
From: New Jersey
Originally Posted by ctjackster
see JohnZ's posts in this thread for the serious background info on the no sidepipes from AO Smith:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1026907
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1026907
That is exactly the information I was seeking to explain why sidepipe cars are STL bodies. 
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 2,083
Likes: 0
From: Summerfield North Carolina
St. Jude Donor '10
Don't forget the VIN clues also. I think the magic number as car #12,000. Anything before that is suspect from what I remember, but my AIM isn't handy here.
