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I recently removed the headers from my 71 Corvette, 350, auto trans. I installed the factory manifolds and purchased a factory reproduction exhaust from a well know vender. The exhaust fit perfectly on the passenger side. The drivers side is a no go. Muffler won’t line up and mid pipe seems to be too short. I can force the system together but the muffler is way off. Something isn’t bent right. I contacted the vendor I purchased the system from. They had to contact the vendor they purchased from. I was asked to send pictures of the system on and off the car. I’m still waiting for a response. Has anybody else had this issue? All the drivers side parts were marked drivers side.
I fill your pain, I too purchased a system from a well known vendor, the passenger side fit correctly and driver side was off. It took about a month of back and forth, and they made me another driver side, it fit better but still no as well as the passenger side.
I’ve lost interest in the exhaust, I’m at a loss on what to do with it. I’ll probably toss it it before my wife questions me about it.
Last edited by boat196; Oct 18, 2023 at 12:04 AM.
Reason: Correct wording
HT1663WB
I plan to drop the exhaust on my 68 tomorrow. My exhaust is from corvette central and fit like a dream. I don't even have pictures of the mufflers because they were such a non-problem. Should be similar to yours.
I can take pictures when I drop it if you wish to see them just say so....
Here is a remote view.
Two years ago I purchase the stock exhaust system from Volunteer Vetts (from exhaust manifolds to the mufflers). I am an older guy, and know my limitations, so I had them installed at a really good muffler shop. The exhaust looks great, however when I questioned the actual installer, he told me that he had to make adjustments, and that he normally has to make adjustments on Corvette installations. From my past readings I recall anyone claiming their exhaust fit perfectly!
I made my own years ago, laying under the car for a week, not pretty, don't care about pretty on the exhaust, fits just perfect, easy to take apart, short front center section, long
rear 1 piece, poke the front thru the cross member, hook up the back or leave back in place & remove short front section for trans / clutch work. NO SLIP JOINTS = can't stress that enough V band clamps
This is the only way I would go anymore & now have a 4 post lift so all this stuff is so much easier
HT1663WB
Here are a couple of pictures of the driver side muffler rear attachment point.... before I drop it. I will take more pics after I drop the exhaust. Hope this helps.
Originally Posted by HT1663WB
Please send pictures when you take it down..I would appreciate it.
Last edited by carriljc; Oct 18, 2023 at 04:25 PM.
I can't tell if you are using a clamp to attach that muffler.
My intermediate pipe is "semi flattened" so that it stays farther above the deck as it passes under the rear suspension. I cannot really tell what is going on with yours but it does not seem "flattened" like mine.
If there is a problem there then it is just built incorrectly, eH?
Originally Posted by HT1663WB
Thank you! I appreciate the pics. I think the problem is the area circled in this pic. Don’t mind the mess just installed the engine as well.
My exhaust system from Corvette Central fit perfectly with the Manual. And I even mixed in some 64-65 full 2.5" downpipes and 2.5" smoothie ramhorns to the rest of the 68 2.5" system (the intermediate pipes and the mufflers).
The only reason I have modified it is because I put in a 200-4R, which is fatter than the Richmond 6-speed (and the M-21 Muncie for that matter), and since I had to modify it I then made my exhaust pass-under at the tranny crossmember.
Originally Posted by Eliredandblack
Two years ago I purchase the stock exhaust system from Volunteer Vetts (from exhaust manifolds to the mufflers). I am an older guy, and know my limitations, so I had them installed at a really good muffler shop. The exhaust looks great, however when I questioned the actual installer, he told me that he had to make adjustments, and that he normally has to make adjustments on Corvette installations. From my past readings I recall anyone claiming their exhaust fit perfectly!
No mater who you purchase your exhaust system from, they must be building them with a fixture. So how can it be that were both experiencing a fitment problem when I’m sure we’re not the first system they made. If you research the feedback on premade exhaust systems it’s been positive.
On my ‘69 350 I installed a welded/one piece 2” exhaust from CC last year. Passenger side fit perfectly. The drivers side rear section was too short to meet the headpipe at the crossmember. If you stressed the muffler hanger pushing the muffler and pipe forward to meet the headpipe the entire system twisted. CC sent me a replacement that was better but still short. I ended up welding an extension (buried in the crossmember) onto the rear pipe and then everything aligned perfectly. From memory it needed about 1.5” added. The ‘69 is a no-hit unrestored car and I removed a 25 year old Allens exhaust to put on the CC exhaust so it wasn’t the car. There was something up with the jig.
I can't tell if you are using a clamp to attach that muffler.
My intermediate pipe is "semi flattened" so that it stays farther above the deck as it passes under the rear suspension. I cannot really tell what is going on with yours but it does not seem "flattened" like mine.
If there is a problem there then it is just built incorrectly, eH?
The only part that is flat is the center section, nothing is flat in the location I circled. Probably just going to take it to a muffler shop. The vendor isn't being very helpful.
HT1663WB
Found another picture. You can kinda get a different perspective from this angle and see where it is get "flattened" for the section that goes under the differential.
Since I can drop my exhaust straight down with the pass-under tranny crossmember I removed those clamps and welded my mufflers on yesterday (after ensuring it was tucked in nicely),
Exhaust question
