Should I or shouldn't I?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 203
Likes: 0
From: Elgin Texas
Should I or shouldn't I?
Okay, I bought this really neat 1969 a couple of months ago. It is fairly stock, numbers matching etc. Well, it originally came with the duel exhaust, but somewhere along the line, the 69 Vette sidepipes were put on, and they look and sound fantastic. The dilemma I have is this: should I fill in the exhaust ports on the rear so it looks like the sidepipes were original, even though the build sheet shows that the sidepipes were not an option on this car, or should I just leave it like it is, and - if I ever get a wild hair to start showing the car, replace the sidepipes with the original exhaust system?
It would take a lot for me to take the sidepipes off, but I don't want to modify something that can't be unmodified.
And while I'm at it, since the 69 came with an alarm system that doesn't appear to be there now, how hard is it to reinstall a repro alarm system, if they are still available?
Thanks for letting me bore you to tears!
It would take a lot for me to take the sidepipes off, but I don't want to modify something that can't be unmodified.
And while I'm at it, since the 69 came with an alarm system that doesn't appear to be there now, how hard is it to reinstall a repro alarm system, if they are still available?
Thanks for letting me bore you to tears!
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 19,659
Likes: 34
From: Lenoir City Tennessee
Ci 6, 8 & 10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
I think I would go ahead and put the rear filler panel on and keep the sidepipes IF you like the sound of the sidepipes.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,927
Likes: 67
From: Saw' em off TX
Are you crazy? That vette looks ten times better with those sidepipes. Would you rather have a 60 year old enthusiast tell you its original, or watch a 21 year old blonde snap her head back to look at your car? 
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 203
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From: Elgin Texas
Settle down killer. Who's computer are you using anyway? I guess I am basically asking: how much bad would it be from a show car point of view to fill in the ports and keep the pipes, as if it were original?
Like I said, it would take a whole lot for me to take off those exceptionally fine automobile enhancing side pipes!
I guess I am basically asking: how much bad would it be from a show car point of view to fill in the ports and keep the pipes, as if it were original? Like I said, it would take a whole lot for me to take off those exceptionally fine automobile enhancing side pipes!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 2,083
Likes: 2
From: Montreal Qc.
Originally Posted by 03ki11er
Are you crazy? That vette looks ten times better with those sidepipes. Would you rather have a 60 year old enthusiast tell you its original, or watch a 21 year old blonde snap her head back to look at your car?
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 10,153
Likes: 15
From: Texas
Do it. The valance looks silly with those two empty holes if you have side pipes. There's a guy here in town that has huge Hooker side pipes on a big block '69. It looks cool until you see the rearend. It's obvious there's something missing. If you did fill the holes, it's not a huge chore to cut them open and go back to a undercar exhaust if you wanted to later.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 421
Likes: 2
From: Long Grove, IL
Another option is to buy the rear filler panel that has the outer half of the cutouts attached so you don't need to modify the quarter panels. It is more or less of a bolt on thing other than some work to fit the panel to your car. I bought my panel from Ecklers but others carry it as well. The Ecklers part number is C356.
Here is a picture of the panel.
Jay
Here is a picture of the panel.
Jay
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 203
Likes: 0
From: Elgin Texas
Aha, I KNEW I would get some good advice on this. I already have the center piece, but I didn't know they had a filler piece that would take care of the outer half. Thanks folks. As usual, you have exceeded your very high standards.
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 124
Likes: 0
From: Brighton Colorado
i agree with killer "Are you crazy? That vette looks ten times better with those sidepipes. Would you rather have a 60 year old enthusiast tell you its original, or watch a 21 year old blonde snap her head back to look at your car?"..... Id keep the sidepipes, and keep em the way they are they look wild, but then again i have nothing thats stock/original, it suc's they've made better parts to make the car better so why not make it better, and then again, im 16 and the 21 year old blonde sounds nice!!! 
"Are you crazy? That vette looks ten times better with those sidepipes. Would you rather have a 60 year old enthusiast tell you its original, or watch a 21 year old blonde snap her head back to look at your car?"..... Id keep the sidepipes, and keep em the way they are they look wild, but then again i have nothing thats stock/original, it suc's they've made better parts to make the car better so why not make it better, and then again, im 16 and the 21 year old blonde sounds nice!!!