No, not true. Corvette manifolds whether original or reproductions fit on Corvettes just fine. If you're trying to use something from another car type, forget it.

 

i would seek out other enthusiasts in your country and see if they have encountered this nonsense. as in our country there are usually ways around a problem that the bureaucrats won't tell you. the are all power mad and won't ever help. good luck , i am sure there is a remedy to this.

 

If Aussieland is working from the 'baseline' of the intial EPA engine approval testing done by GM, then their [rigid] approach makes all the sense in the world. Trying to educate all the folks involved with this issue on "what modifications to stock could be allowable" would be a complete nightmare for them.

 

I lived in Manly, Australia for two years and had to get an Aussie driver's license. I took the written test and passed with flying colors. Then they scheduled my road test. When I arrived for the test they told me I needed a double booking because the clerk had failed to notice I didn't have a left arm. I've never understood why; maybe one-armed people are slower. Because my temporary permit was about to expire, they re-scheduled me for that afternoon at closing time. After the test the instructor said I passed with flying colors. The clerk left me at the counter while he looked though a foot-high stack of forms until he found a "missing left arm" application. He told me I would need a spinner on the steering wheel (apparently illegal to sell in auto supply stores) and was told "The Spastic Center" would be able to supply one for $84. I would also need the e-brake handle moved from the center console to the right side of the driver seat. When I suggested that the last thing I would do in the event of a brake failure was let go of the wheel and grab a hand brake. Sorry mate, those are the rules. They pointed me to an "engineering firm" who told me a 1953 Holden hand brake could be adapted to my brand new (1989) Toyota Camry for $800 (and another $800 to remove the Holden brake when I was ready to sell the car -- since it wouldn't be legal for another driver). I decided to live on the edge and not get the brake handle moved.

About a month after taking my test, my wife was returning home in a taxi and noticed the driver was missing his left arm. She also noticed he didn't have a wheel spinner **** and the brake handle was in the center console. When she told him the story all he said was "Oh no, he went to the Manly RTA office, didn't he."

I'm assuming you have few choices getting the roadworthiness inspection but if you can take it to a different station, maybe it would pass. Hey, at least you don't have to have the "LEFT HAND DRIVE" sign on the car anymore.

 

Hi Bob

To me that's actually a bit insulting and I'm really sorry you had to go through all that. They do have some really strange laws at times.

It can sometimes make a difference who the inspector is on the day. The guy who failed the car the other day said if I can come up with some proof they will most likely accept it. That's why I called on all you US Corvette experts for help.

It's probably not a big deal to change it back to stock manifolds, just more time and cost. I just wanted to keep the car exactly as it was from the US for nostalgia sake. We even got excited to find a 'quarter' under the seat!

I won't give up just yet. They want all the rubbers and bushings replaced as well, so while the boys are doing that I will keep searching the net. We will check the headers for the GM part numbers in the previous post and just keep digging up all the evidence we can. I was thinking today that if headers were an option for the LT1, and I can find something 'official' to prove that, then they were 'an option' in the year 1972, because that was the last year of the LT1 wasn't it?

Cheers Kathy

 

Hi Kathy,
No worries. My wife and I loved living down under and would move there in a heartbeat if we didn't have nine grandchildren here in the States.

I would try those part numbers but you might also want to point out that radial tires and synthetic oil were not options on a 1972 Corvette.

A set of those GM part numbered headers was on sale on eBay back in May 2013.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Original-GM-Kustom-Corvette-Headers-very-rare-/281116653675?ViewItem=&vxp=mtr&item=281116653675&nma=true&si=8k%252Fw%252FGon45z%252FPfs7rtU86Ikyua0%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557
Here's the writeup:
" these are a set of original GM Kustom headers for corvettes. very sought after for corvettes. they are old and havent been used in awhile. have rust on them but can be sanded and rechromed or just sanded and painted with header paint. very rare hard to find exhuast headers. not much info is available online for these bad boys. parts casting numbers are 3977971 and printed above are 1519 and the other is 3977972 with the same imprint above of 1519 which says theyre a legit set as for shipping that can be worked out..."

 

The side-pipe headers are listed in the GM parts manual (Super Sport Equipment).

http://www.gmpartswiki.com/getpage?pageid=88827
http://www.gmpartswiki.com/getpage?pageid=88826

 

You guys are amazing! Thank you so much to all of you and especially Dino '72m, leadfoot 4, and Bob. The catalogue reference, eBay listing and GM pages might be just what I'm looking for and I will certainly give it a try.

The headers on our car are exactly the same to look at as the ones in the eBay listing.

I can't thank you enough and I will be sure to let you know how we go with our next inspection.

Cheers, Kathy