Side pipes on mid-years.
10-10-2006, 10:17 PM
#1
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Side pipes on mid-years.
Were those a factory option or a dealer add-on? I see a lot of the mid-years for sale with side pipes, claiming they are factory installed. Was that an available factory option?
-Glenn I made a mistake once but i divorced her so it dosent count against me ??
10-10-2006, 10:23 PM
#3
Melting Slicks
Starting in the 65 model year were factory installed option, but there are a lot more out there with side pipes today that didn't come installed from the factory.
10-10-2006, 10:27 PM
#4
Melting Slicks
AO smith bodied corvettes were never, Never available with side pipes. So if it you are looking at a car and it is an AO Smith and it has side pipes, there are add ons. John Z has written on this topic, very interesting.
oWEN
oWEN
10-11-2006, 06:20 AM
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Originally Posted by mbroadway
Were those a factory option or a dealer add-on? I see a lot of the mid-years for sale with side pipes, claiming they are factory installed. Was that an available factory option?
They were a factory option beginning in mid 65. 65's ,66's, and 67's had a factory option for side exhausts.
NO 63 or 64 EVER came from the factory with side exhausts.
The AOS body and side exhaust question is well documented.
On St. Louis bodies, you can easily tell if the side exhausts are "factory installed" or "add ons".
The easiest was to tell is by looking underneath the rocker channel. If the car has the clips for the rocker panels present, or if they're bent back or cut off, the side exhausts are add ons.
Factory side exhaust cars never had the clips welded on to the bottom of the birdcage. In addition there are "notches" cut in the birdcage on factory side pipe cars.
I don't have a pic, but I bet JohnZ does.
Chuck
10-11-2006, 10:51 AM
#6
Melting Slicks
"Factory side exhaust cars never had the clips welded on to the bottom of the birdcage. In addition there are "notches" cut in the birdcage on factory side pipe cars."
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Chuck,
What "notch"??? Why would they put a notch in the birdcage for side exhaust. Everything is hung on the outside of the body and frame as far as I can remember. Just an inquiary on my part and trying to learn.
Steve
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Chuck,
What "notch"??? Why would they put a notch in the birdcage for side exhaust. Everything is hung on the outside of the body and frame as far as I can remember. Just an inquiary on my part and trying to learn.
Steve
10-11-2006, 11:19 AM
#9
Safety Car
"What "notch"??? Why would they put a notch in the birdcage for side exhaust. Everything is hung on the outside of the body and frame as far as I can remember. Just an inquiary on my part and trying to learn."
Here's the rocker channel:
Joe
Here's the rocker channel:
Joe
Last edited by 65tripleblack; 10-11-2006 at 11:24 AM.
10-11-2006, 12:49 PM
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[QUOTE=66BlkBBWhat "notch"??? Why would they put a notch in the birdcage for side exhaust. Everything is hung on the outside of the body and frame as far as I can remember. Just an inquiary on my part and trying to learn.
Steve[/QUOTE]
The flange on the birdcage sill on N14 cars was notched to provide installation clearance for the U-nuts that received the side cover attaching screws. This was done to the sill panel with a hydraulic piercing tool before the birdcage was welded together, and it made nice, clean rectangular notches that are easily recognized. Added-on sidepipes almost never have any kind of notch in the sill.
Steve[/QUOTE]
The flange on the birdcage sill on N14 cars was notched to provide installation clearance for the U-nuts that received the side cover attaching screws. This was done to the sill panel with a hydraulic piercing tool before the birdcage was welded together, and it made nice, clean rectangular notches that are easily recognized. Added-on sidepipes almost never have any kind of notch in the sill.
10-11-2006, 01:50 PM
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Originally Posted by skidder865
John is the sill the same as the rocker channel( see Pic above) trying to understand your pic (Location) Thanks Don
10-11-2006, 03:19 PM
#17
Le Mans Master
Originally Posted by Chuck Gongloff
I knew JohnZ would have a pic. 
Chuck
Chuck I am always amazed at the photos he has; like the "number stamp" shown in the article of Corvette Enthusiast. It really is just a chisel with numbers on the bottom (you really don't want to know what I was thinking it was).
numbers match 
10-12-2006, 06:29 PM
#18
Great shot of the notch. These are sometimes reproduced on a restored car with add on sidepipes, but it's hard to get it just right.
Years ago, these notches and the hangers were not really inspected to determine a real sidepipe car, but in todays judging world, they climb up and look with lights and mirrors. Glad my sidepipe '67 has a window sticker with the option listed.
Years ago, these notches and the hangers were not really inspected to determine a real sidepipe car, but in todays judging world, they climb up and look with lights and mirrors. Glad my sidepipe '67 has a window sticker with the option listed.
10-12-2006, 07:29 PM
#19
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For the longest time, those notches were considered "secret knowledge" by many when evaluating "factory" side pipes.
Now, the "trick" is widely known. It's near impossible to duplicate them and they were punched out, not cut, as JohnZ says. Chuck
Now, the "trick" is widely known. It's near impossible to duplicate them and they were punched out, not cut, as JohnZ says. Chuck
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66coupe427 (04-26-2018)
10-13-2006, 10:55 AM
#20
Instructor
Another way to tell if the sidepipes were added or not is to look at the two triangular splash shields (passenger and driver side) just behind the front wheels. Original sidepipe cars did not have the rubber weather stripping that runs along the one edge. Since these were stapled in place, the staple holes would still be there if someone just ripped them off.
