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I am wanting to buy a side exhaust but as i’m about to I realized how weird it would look with my current rear bumper which has rectangle cut outs for my rear exhaust.
I tried searching and couldn’t really find anything on if people just leave it for it in with something other than their might be a different panel I can put in?
is that the best option if I want to close off the holes back there? Does it have to be blended into the bumper or does that piece just unbolt?
You just need to buy the aftermarket fiberglass panel that covers the holes. When (if) it becomes time for a paint job I'm going to fiberglass mine in permanently..
You just need to buy the aftermarket fiberglass panel that covers the holes. When (if) it becomes time for a paint job I'm going to fiberglass mine in permanently..
Are these what the stock side mounted exhaust cars came with or were the bumpers completely molded closed? I’d like it to look as stock as possible and not have a bunch of odd looking lines if I did go side mount.
Are these what the stock side mounted exhaust cars came with or were the bumpers completely molded closed? I’d like it to look as stock as possible and not have a bunch of odd looking lines if I did go side mount.
I "glassed" mine in to look stock like the factory, adding the attachment points as well, so I could still remove the panel in the future if required. Not a hard job or expensive, just time consuming.
Are these what the stock side mounted exhaust cars came with or were the bumpers completely molded closed? I’d like it to look as stock as possible and not have a bunch of odd looking lines if I did go side mount.
No only 1969 Corvette's could be ordered with side exhaust. Special rear quarter panels and rear valance panel were installed on those cars.
Are these what the stock side mounted exhaust cars came with or were the bumpers completely molded closed? I’d like it to look as stock as possible and not have a bunch of odd looking lines if I did go side mount.
Instead of the regular rear panel with the cutouts, the factory would have merely installed a rear panel without the cutouts. Simple substitution and no further panel work involved.
Instead of the regular rear panel with the cutouts, the factory would have merely installed a rear panel without the cutouts. Simple substitution and no further panel work involved.
Again original 1969 side pipe Corvette's has special rear quarter panels left and right molded with out the exhaust tip opening. Than a special rear valance panel without exhaust tip opening. No 1968 or 1970 to 73 ever came from the factory with side exhaust. So just installing a rear valance panel will not complete the project as it will only cover half of the opening.
Are these what the stock side mounted exhaust cars came with or were the bumpers completely molded closed? I’d like it to look as stock as possible and not have a bunch of odd looking lines if I did go side mount.
The lines do look better when the bumpers are installed. If you have some fiberglass skills, the 69 version is the way to go.
Again original 1969 side pipe Corvette's has special rear quarter panels left and right molded with out the exhaust tip opening. Than a special rear valance panel without exhaust tip opening. No 1968 or 1970 to 73 ever came from the factory with side exhaust. So just installing a rear valance panel will not complete the project as it will only cover half of the opening.
Ah, yes. I see what you're saying. I was thinking the entire cutout was contained within the rear valance but now see that the cutout was split by the valance seam. That's quite an unusual assembly process compared with the '65-'67s.
Do you know where in the body molding process a body got tagged as a side pipe car? Did this option add to the delivery time so that a specific body was made up for each side pipe order? Or, were lower side panels replaced by St. Louis body/paint shop? What do the backsides of the panels look like?
Bodies were assembled at St. Louis so when an N14 was ordered those particular rear quarter panels were installed at the normal assembly point. Later down the line the rear valance was installed. The quarters had the same appearance as a standard quarter other then the extension at the exhaust tip area. It was an complete panel from the mold for a side exhaust no mods had to be made. Also on the inside behind the seat a large N14 was applied with a white grease marker as a quick reference for line workers. There were other changes to an N14 car rear wheel well lower frame shield was removed, left and right front fenders lower panel was trimmed for pipe clearance, Heat insulation was installed both sides of the body U channel or sill channel, No ground wires for the exhaust and a plate was installed where the mid exhaust pipe hanger would have been.
Bodies were assembled at St. Louis so when an N14 was ordered those particular rear quarter panels were installed at the normal assembly point. Later down the line the rear valance was installed. The quarters had the same appearance as a standard quarter other then the extension at the exhaust tip area. It was an complete panel from the mold for a side exhaust no mods had to be made. Also on the inside behind the seat a large N14 was applied with a white grease marker as a quick reference for line workers. There were other changes to an N14 car rear wheel well lower frame shield was removed, left and right front fenders lower panel was trimmed for pipe clearance, Heat insulation was installed both sides of the body U channel or sill channel, No ground wires for the exhaust and a plate was installed where the mid exhaust pipe hanger would have been.
The bodies aren't A.O. Smith and arrived on a railcar to be dropped onto the chassis as it was assembled - like the C2s?
Thanks for explaining the detailed differences with the side exhaust option.
Just to be clear A.O. Smith C2 Midyear bodies were shipped by rail to St. Louis from Ionia, Michigan. All others were assembled by the St. Louis plant workers.
Not to be the fly in the ointment but before you go to all that trouble make sure this is really what you want.
The first time she burns her leg getting out will be her last ride. Just saying. You can not hear your self think with the pipes next to your head.
My suggestion would be ride in a side pipe car for a short time and see if the conversion is worth it to your driving style.
i did and found i like out the back on my 68 BB better. I can have a conversation, listen to the radio when I chose and my wife doesn't hate the car.
Just sayin cause I see on here from time to time owners switching back.
Marshal
Not to be the fly in the ointment but before you go to all that trouble make sure this is really what you want.
The first time she burns her leg getting out will be her last ride. Just saying. You can not hear your self think with the pipes next to your head.
My suggestion would be ride in a side pipe car for a short time and see if the conversion is worth it to your driving style.
i did and found i like out the back on my 68 BB better. I can have a conversation, listen to the radio when I chose and my wife doesn't hate the car.
Just sayin cause I see on here from time to time owners switching back.
Marshal
Side Exhaust questions
