picking up a pace car
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 2,748
Likes: 90
From: Sacramento California
C2 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
2018 C2 of Year Finalist
She cleaned up pretty nicely.
Not bad for an unrestored 34 year old car.
Not bad for an unrestored 34 year old car.
Last edited by DucatiDon; Nov 10, 2012 at 06:38 PM.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 2,748
Likes: 90
From: Sacramento California
C2 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
2018 C2 of Year Finalist
Winter project this weekend was to replace the rusted out factory exhaust pipes.
Ordered a complete dual conversion from Corvette Central, with Magnaflows.
Step one, was removing the old rusted pipes. Wasnt bad, except that the Cat bolts wouldnt budge, which made it impossible for the front pipe to slide through the crossmember. So, I removed the crossmember.
Oh, and one stud on the exhaust manifold broke, rather than let the nut loose.
Step 2) Cleaned up the crossmember and reinstalled. Removed the Cat hangers and heat shields while I was at it. (Anyone want a factory 78 Cat?)
Step 3) Reinstalling the pipes. Driver side was a breeze, but the Pass side pipes seem to be too short, the muffler tips and rear hangers dont match up. Also, the broken (and bent) manifold stud is too tweaked to get the exhaust flange on. I was hoping to get it on and chase the remaining threads..no. Local Vette store didnt have a manifold in stock, so...Rather than fuss with replacing the stud, I got pissed off and ordered a set of McJacks. So much for keeping it stock.
Step 4) Now I wait. The pass side looks too low, and doesnt seem t line up correctly...Oh, and the dual exhaust hanger bracket that goes under the transmission mount doesnt line up with these pipes. Well, it works ok on the driver side. Note also, that the 78-82 dual exhaust hanger bracket attaches to the frame, but there is no existing hole on the driver side. Go figure.
Im hoping once I get the pass side header pipe secured correctly, and adjust the mid-hangers, that the pipes will line up. If not, I guess its off to the muffler shop.
Next I have to rig up a mount for the heat riser and the Stove pipe. Anyone do this already? Save me some effort?
Ordered a complete dual conversion from Corvette Central, with Magnaflows.
Step one, was removing the old rusted pipes. Wasnt bad, except that the Cat bolts wouldnt budge, which made it impossible for the front pipe to slide through the crossmember. So, I removed the crossmember.
Oh, and one stud on the exhaust manifold broke, rather than let the nut loose.
Step 2) Cleaned up the crossmember and reinstalled. Removed the Cat hangers and heat shields while I was at it. (Anyone want a factory 78 Cat?)
Step 3) Reinstalling the pipes. Driver side was a breeze, but the Pass side pipes seem to be too short, the muffler tips and rear hangers dont match up. Also, the broken (and bent) manifold stud is too tweaked to get the exhaust flange on. I was hoping to get it on and chase the remaining threads..no. Local Vette store didnt have a manifold in stock, so...Rather than fuss with replacing the stud, I got pissed off and ordered a set of McJacks. So much for keeping it stock.
Step 4) Now I wait. The pass side looks too low, and doesnt seem t line up correctly...Oh, and the dual exhaust hanger bracket that goes under the transmission mount doesnt line up with these pipes. Well, it works ok on the driver side. Note also, that the 78-82 dual exhaust hanger bracket attaches to the frame, but there is no existing hole on the driver side. Go figure.
Im hoping once I get the pass side header pipe secured correctly, and adjust the mid-hangers, that the pipes will line up. If not, I guess its off to the muffler shop.
Next I have to rig up a mount for the heat riser and the Stove pipe. Anyone do this already? Save me some effort?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 2,748
Likes: 90
From: Sacramento California
C2 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
2018 C2 of Year Finalist
The AC bracket was a bitch. Otherwise the exhaust manifold removal was pretty straight forward. Appears that Cyl #8 was leaking at the exhaust gasket too. Loose bolt likely....
These still need to be adjusted once I get the headers and front pipe back on.....
These still need to be adjusted once I get the headers and front pipe back on.....
