How far past the chrome exhaust bezels should the tailpipe be exposed?? 1/2".... 3/4"....or???
I've seen pictures of some that are almost even with the edge of the bezels, some that are longer. Is there a specified length shown somewhere??

 

I have mine about 1/4" they expand and come out a little when they get hot..

 

Ttt

 

A 1/2 inch is just a little too much. No more than 3/8 inch is OK. I know it's not much but it will look correct. It will expand a little like Prestige6 said.

 

What is correct is debatable.
FROM THE FACTORY, WHEN NEW, they did not all protrude perfectly exactly the same dimension. Approximately 1/8-1/4in is about "correct". BUT, with that short of a length protruding beyond the exhaust bezel, there is enough reversion from the airflow coming off of the bezel, that some amount of exhaust will get into the space between the pipe and bezel----------------EVENTUALLY CAUSING CORROSION AND RUST, not to mention black exhaust deposits around the chrome bezel. As everyone knows, moisture condenses inside exhaust systems, and after startup, it's common to see water blowing out the end of a tailpipe. On cars with the tailpipe pointing down, this water goes straight down to the ground (NOT, ever notice black ex deposits right around the very end on the OUTside of a tail pipe?). But on a tailpipe that is horizontal, when the engine is shutoff, if any moisture is at the tip of the tail pipe, it will often run along the bottom of the pipe before dripping off. If the tailpipe tip is close to the bezel, this moisture (which contains corrosive ex particles) may run back far enough ALONG THE OUTSIDE of the tailpipe to drip down onto the bezel or even back inside the bezel.
So, a correct look is one thing, but saving your nice chrome exhaust trim would seem to be a more important concern.
Also, as mentioned, PARTICULARLY depending on the alloy material of the pipe, there will be some expansion of the pipe when it heats up. Just recently, there was discussion (and some of it somewhat confrontational) about the amount of expansion (or lack of expansion) that occurs with stainless steel pipe. Some people with stainless exhaust have seen close to 1in expansion at the end of the tail pipe, some have seen less than 1/4in of expansion. Many years ago, I bought a complete SS exhaust system from Zierden (anyone remember them? They advertised a lot in Vette Vues) for the 56. In a short time, I got sick and tired of it!!! It expanded and contracted a lot! I just could not bring myself to scrap such an expensive ex system, so I put up with it for many years until one day I decided enough was enough and pulled it off and had my muffler shop custom make an aluminized 2 1/2in system (Sorry, didn't mean to get off on such a tangent).
My point here is that for the sake of keeping exhaust particles from accumulating on the chrome exhaust bezels (seems to be worse with 58-60 style exhaust outlets) and causing corrosion, it would be better in the long run to have the tail pipe to protrude a MINIMUM of 1/4in with the thought in mind that it will probably grow an additional 1/8-1/4in when hot.

Tom Parsons

 

Thanks to all for the above. I think I've got my answer. I always enjoy reading Tom's explanations. Anybody else want to chime in??

Al