Exhaust Installation Tips?
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,458
Likes: 1
From: Collinsville MS
St. Jude Donor '08
make sure you have plenty of jackstands around. Also, study the way you want to fasten the pipes to the center crossmember so they dont bang around on the sides of the holes! Also, for a cleaner look, throw away the old u clamps and buy ss bandclamps for all the connections!
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 534
Likes: 2
From: Connecticut
make sure you have plenty of jackstands around. Also, study the way you want to fasten the pipes to the center crossmember so they dont bang around on the sides of the holes! Also, for a cleaner look, throw away the old u clamps and buy ss bandclamps for all the connections!
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 236
Likes: 0
From: Clearwater Florida
Corvette Central Part Number 322186 or the correct one for your application. They came in 2-inch, 2 1/2-inch, 4 speed, and automatic versions. Get the one the matches whatever front pipes you bought.
I did the same thing you are doing with a 4-speed 77 car. I used 2 1/2-inch factory exhaust manifolds from a 64 or 65 car, bought 64 2 1/2-inch front pipes for a 4-speed, the center bracket I mentioned above, and the rear pipes/mufflers for a 77 car. I bought it all from Corvette Central except the manifolds. Everything bolted up fine with no modifications. It looks like a factory dual exhaust set up even though they never made one for a 77.
I did the same thing you are doing with a 4-speed 77 car. I used 2 1/2-inch factory exhaust manifolds from a 64 or 65 car, bought 64 2 1/2-inch front pipes for a 4-speed, the center bracket I mentioned above, and the rear pipes/mufflers for a 77 car. I bought it all from Corvette Central except the manifolds. Everything bolted up fine with no modifications. It looks like a factory dual exhaust set up even though they never made one for a 77.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 534
Likes: 2
From: Connecticut
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
From: Glendale AZ
I started at the front, installed everything loose, then began aligning and tightening. It's been some time, but I want to say I may have left the last section off until the front stuff was pretty much tightened and done. This was on a '68 and getting the outlets centered took some time.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 534
Likes: 2
From: Connecticut
I started at the front, installed everything loose, then began aligning and tightening. It's been some time, but I want to say I may have left the last section off until the front stuff was pretty much tightened and done. This was on a '68 and getting the outlets centered took some time.
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Drifting
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,458
Likes: 1
From: Collinsville MS
St. Jude Donor '08
I think I got them from Corvette Central. Part 323264. That is their pic, I didnt have a pic but I found it online. I didnt use the rubber pieces, drilled into the crossmember and bolted them on and then tack welded so it would'nt move around. Lot cheaper than having to fight the tranny mount bracket.
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 142
Likes: 0
From: Northwest Louisiana
The rubber on these hangers are to help isolate the engine vibration from the frame and ultimately from the body, so it's ridiculous not to use them. They hangers are good to use if you are using headers, to keep the the strain of of the them, but if your'e not.....so be it. Unless you have a broken motor mount, or you don't know how to center your exhaust through the hole, you don't really have to have them. The kit come withs two self tapping bolts... to weld something after that is just plain ****. There seems to be a bunch of keyboard expert mechanics that are clueless to real life mechanicing. 
Racer
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 396
Likes: 3
From: Buffalo New York
I just finished my '76 today. I Installed the front pipes first. Then, after wrestling with the rear pipes, I just let them hang. I attached the rear muffler bracket, and put a jackstand under the front of the muffler. Then I connected the rear pipe to the muffler, made adjustments for clearance, and tightened everything. It's much easier to get the rear pipes lined up after the muffler is in place.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,458
Likes: 1
From: Collinsville MS
St. Jude Donor '08
The rubber on these hangers are to help isolate the engine vibration from the frame and ultimately from the body, so it's ridiculous not to use them. They hangers are good to use if you are using headers, to keep the the strain of of the them, but if your'e not.....so be it. Unless you have a broken motor mount, or you don't know how to center your exhaust through the hole, you don't really have to have them. The kit come withs two self tapping bolts... to weld something after that is just plain ****. There seems to be a bunch of keyboard expert mechanics that are clueless to real life mechanicing.
Yes I did tack weld them on. And yes, I am running headers and had to use them to center the pipe in the tunnel. I can break the tack weld with a cold chisel in a minute or so and I dont have to worry about the self tapping screws backing out again. My car, my choice. Clueless? I dont think so, just glad to see all the sharpshooters out there are alive and well!
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 142
Likes: 0
From: Northwest Louisiana
Glad your an expert on my car.
Yes I did tack weld them on. And yes, I am running headers and had to use them to center the pipe in the tunnel. I can break the tack weld with a cold chisel in a minute or so and I dont have to worry about the self tapping screws backing out again. My car, my choice. Clueless? I dont think so, just glad to see all the sharpshooters out there are alive and well!
Yes I did tack weld them on. And yes, I am running headers and had to use them to center the pipe in the tunnel. I can break the tack weld with a cold chisel in a minute or so and I dont have to worry about the self tapping screws backing out again. My car, my choice. Clueless? I dont think so, just glad to see all the sharpshooters out there are alive and well!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,191
Likes: 1
2 - run down to your local cheap tool store and get a tail-pipe expander tool. Hopefully you have an air impact driver to use with it - otherwise you'll be mouting the pipe sections in a vise in order to turn a ratchet on it.
3 - pre-fit the pipe sections off the car and look for leaks - this is where the tail-pipe expander tool comes in - and you may be using it on both ends of a connection. Make sure the pipes don't rotate or move once you've tightened the clamps, or you've got more expanding to do, as you'll have a leak.
4 - bolt up your pipe, fire the engine, check for leaks, go for a short check-run, and re-check for fit and leaks.
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
From: Glendale AZ
Sorry for the delay in posting this reply. No, I didn't attach them to the crossmember. I stuck a few small pieces of wood in there to keep them centered during the install. I have never had a problem with the pipes hitting the crossmember and it's been driven quite a bit. I do have poly motor and transmission mounts, but I doubt that makes any difference. I should probably mention this is a 2.5" undercar chambered setup from Allens.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 534
Likes: 2
From: Connecticut
Sorry for the delay in posting this reply. No, I didn't attach them to the crossmember. I stuck a few small pieces of wood in there to keep them centered during the install. I have never had a problem with the pipes hitting the crossmember and it's been driven quite a bit. I do have poly motor and transmission mounts, but I doubt that makes any difference. I should probably mention this is a 2.5" undercar chambered setup from Allens.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 200
Likes: 0
From: Falls Church Virginia
make sure you have plenty of jackstands around. Also, study the way you want to fasten the pipes to the center crossmember so they dont bang around on the sides of the holes! Also, for a cleaner look, throw away the old u clamps and buy ss bandclamps for all the connections!
