Side Exhaust Installation for a 65' (327)

[65Vert]

I am looking for any "gotchas" before I start the installation of my 2 1/2" side exhaust system. Please advise. Also, does the AIM give a good breakdown on how the system fits together?

The Vette is a 65' Convertible with a 327.

Thanks for your help,

Mike

 

[66427-450]

yup........ it's shows the body cuts needed, and how everything fits together.

the metal rocker panel brackets can either be bent up, out of the way, or cut off, your choice.

may want to just bend the brackets, and save the f-glass parts you cut off....... the next guy might want it stock.

 

[magicv8]

"may want to just bend the brackets, and save the f-glass parts you cut off....... the next guy might want it stock."

After you spend a few hours listening to the pipes on a long ride, you may BE the next guy.

Save the parts. There are more than a few side pipe owners trying to stuff mufflers under the pipe covers.:crazy

 

[Andy.E]

LOL...The previous poster is not entirely off the mark. Sidepipes are not for everyone and the experience can be good or bad depending on how you use the car. For example, the noise can be grating on very long drives and if you frequently use your Vette for long trips you may find yourself going back to the standard exhaust.

On the other hand, I mostly drive my Vette around town on trips less than an hour so the noise doesn't bother me (like you I have a '65 327 convertible). In the plus column: they look damn good; they bring a whole new experience to driving through tunnels/under bridges; race car sound on freeway on-ramps as you row through the gears; race car sound on freeway off-ramps as you blip the throttle on downshifts; and of course, everyone will hear you coming a few blocks away.

A couple of pieces of advice you are free to ignore. First, keep your neighbors happy and drive slowly and/or short shift around your neighborhood. The pipes are louder than you think, especially when accelerating! Second, consider wearing earplugs for trips over 30 minutes to prevent long-term hearing loss. It's the low-frequency stuff that really gets you over time. Your ears will thank you!

Andy
"LOUD PIPES SAVE LIVES"

 

[65TripleBlack]

Sidepipes

"I am looking for any "gotchas" before I start the installation......

I can tell you anything you need to know about the functional installation, but I will not give you any specific, minute details on the intricasies involved. Suffice it to say that there are many counterfeiters out there (albeit, not necessarily you) who would use any info. to make a Concours correct sidepipe car out of an undercar exhaust car.
Please, if you have any SPECIFIC questions, don't hesitate to ask, and I (we) will be very glad to help you.

Joe

 

[vettefinderjim]

A.O.Smith Body??

If there is a "A" in the body number, then the car never had side pipes.

Go for a ride in undercar RPO # N11 off-road muffler car. They sound great. They have a very unique and distinctive soumd.

Of the 729 true side exhaust cars, only 5000 are left.

 

[JohnZ]

Jim, A.O. Smith did produce sidepipe cars - I have the complete 500-page package of A.O. Smith (actually Dow-Smith) Corvette process sheets which detail the parts, processes, tools, fixture numbers and Bill of Material references and illustrations they made for every single part and operation they performed, and there is extensive documentation for all the unique N-14 operations they performed, from the birdcage welding deletions and sill trimming, through the front and rear body cuts.

The only real red flag for an A.O. Smith body is if it's a '67 big-block car after about the sixth week of production.

 

[NumberThree]

JohnZ:

You are bringing NEW information to the table: information I've NOT seen discussed before! But then again, I've been out of the loop for about four years.

I'm skeptical (which I hope is okay), and tend to agree with Jim Gessner... based on my (admitted limited) inspections of A. O. Smith bodied cars with side pipes... I've not seen one I was ever satified with as authentic (even close); they always appeared as obvious counterfeits.

EDUCATE US!

John A.

 

[vettefinderjim]

NEVER say never !!

John Z.........as John A says," Many of us old geezers have believed forever that A.O. Smith cars DID NOT have side pipes." But then again, if you have the paperwork to show otherwise, please share with us.

 

[Ken]

Hey Jim, I see you're up to 56 Vettes now. What's the latest addition? :cool

_ken

 

[vettefinderjim]

62 maroon 340

Had a 62 maroon / black 340hp original car with a good friend. We got it from an estate and brought it back from storage last October. Sold it April to a collector who loves it.

Working on a 64 Chevelle Malibu convertible now. What ever it taks to keep the world moving

 

[JohnZ]

Re: NEVER say never !!

John Z.........as John A says," Many of us old geezers have believed forever that A.O. Smith cars DID NOT have side pipes." But then again, if you have the paperwork to show otherwise, please share with us.

Here's a sample - the rework operation to cut the rear of the front fender for N14 clearance; all the other N14-unique operations we hold close to our chests are also detailed, part-by-part, tool-by-tool. A.O. Smith built the bodies under contract, and got paid based on work content, so they VERY carefully documented the gory detail of every single operation they performed in their process sheets - they were supported by time studies, and were the basis for their reimbursement.

Edit: If the pic doesn't show up, just cut-and-paste the URL (minus the tags at each end) into your browser.

 

[PTighe]

Here is a pic of the birdcage notches on my St. Louis factory sidepipe car. I think they would be almost impossible to duplicate, since they are so neatly trimmed.

Actually if you're adding new sidepipes I don't even think you have to cut the birdcage; looks like plenty of room to me.

 

[vettefinderjim]

Did they follow directions?

Very neat stuff John, But did they ( A.O. Smith) build any bodies that received N-14 side exhaust? I have never seen an A.O.Smith bodied car with factory real pipes.

Can anyone add to this neat discussion? Thanks for the print John. I have downloaded to my files.
Jim

 

[JohnZ]

Jim, I dunno for sure if A.O. Smith actually built any or not, but they went to the trouble of documenting and re-issuing all N14-related process sheets every year for three years - have never dug into that one in detail - however, Al Grenning would know - he has loads of midyear documentation that can identify both body source and options actually produced on those cars.

For the notches - we cut those in the sill with a hydraulic "nipper" with dies in the jaws, in the sill subassembly fixture on the birdcage line down in the basement. Same fixture where the rocker molding brackets were welded to the sill (or not welded on in the case of an N14 car).

 

[vettefinderjim]

School is Great

Every day is a new adventure. Thanks John.

I just received some new pictures of the Harley Earl 56 SR-2 and the 60 Camarodi Sebring /Lemans cars. They are all from Road America in 56 and Sebring 1960. Now do you think Rich Mason and Loren Lundberg might want to buy me lunch?......

Ah,....... School is great !!

 

[JohnZ]

Further research on this question is under way

 

[JohnZ]

Research complete - there are no order or production documents that indicate any A.O. Smith-bodied car was ever produced with sidepipes; until one is found, that's probably a pretty solid "rule of thumb". They processed the option, along with all the other options, but apparently were never allocated an order that specified N14.