C3 restoration nightmare

[C3C7NIC]

Originally Posted by RMVette

Holy crap.... he didn't listen to what you wanted a bit did he? Maybe that's why he didn't want me to see it last year.

Agreed, you need a template, and it will need to be repainted however the half moon cutout is in the valance panel and the fender.... see example below...

Attachment 70823

It would seem not.

So a cut would need to be made on both the rear lower filler panel as well as the rear fender. I have the old pictures of the OG rear parts. As I was looking at it today, it hit me that he had those filled in.

Trying to decide of it would be cheaper to just say screw it and put side pipes on or modify the body to put it back to original (as I wanted).

At this point, going to have to try to cut corners where I can.

[Rodnok1]

If it was me I wouldn't cut the body... Not now anyways. The exhaust can just be turned down instead of straight out the back.

[Grey Ghost]

Yeah, but damn...a big block through side pipes is ear candy. And it's not like you are going to be driving it across country or every day.

[Old Ben]

Originally Posted by Rodnok1

If it was me I wouldn't cut the body... Not now anyways. The exhaust can just be turned down instead of straight out the back.

[RMVette]

Originally Posted by C3C7NIC

It would seem not.

So a cut would need to be made on both the rear lower filler panel as well as the rear fender. I have the old pictures of the OG rear parts. As I was looking at it today, it hit me that he had those filled in.

Trying to decide of it would be cheaper to just say screw it and put side pipes on or modify the body to put it back to original (as I wanted).

At this point, going to have to try to cut corners where I can.

I guess two thoughts on this. If you're going to need anything else painted during the restoration process, then go ahead and go back to original. If no paint work will need to be done, then go with side pipes. I think the cost of a quality paint job and the sides would equal.

If it were mine, I'd keep it original. Sides are hot, loud and will burn your leg if you accidently touch them getting out of the car. The turn down idea would be the cheapest resolution but to me not right for a '68. Just my $.02 worth.

[LATB]

Originally Posted by C3C7NIC

It would seem not.

So a cut would need to be made on both the rear lower filler panel as well as the rear fender. I have the old pictures of the OG rear parts. As I was looking at it today, it hit me that he had those filled in.

Trying to decide of it would be cheaper to just say screw it and put side pipes on or modify the body to put it back to original (as I wanted).

At this point, going to have to try to cut corners where I can.

Could you leave the closed rear fender/panel and do a turn down exhaust and not exit through the body panels?

[C3C7NIC]

Will have the local shop doing the other work take a look too, when they get it in their shop. Not sure if you all can tell from previous pictures of the exhaust what has been done under there.

The car being “loud” was never one of my priorities. And I believe I stated, new exhaust had been installed literally a month before it went to NC. I have no idea where the side pipe idea came from.

DUB kept going down rabbit holes; ones I now have no answer to.

[Aerovette]

Originally Posted by C3C7NIC

Will have the local shop doing the other work take a look too, when they get it in their shop. Not sure if you all can tell from previous pictures of the exhaust what has been done under there.

The car being “loud” was never one of my priorities. And I believe I stated, new exhaust had been installed literally a month before it went to NC. I have no idea where the side pipe idea came from.

DUB kept going down rabbit holes; ones I now have no answer to.

It is personal preference, of course, but I loved having sidepipes on my C3. the side view looks great.

[Strats-N-Vettes]

Originally Posted by aerovette

It is personal preference, of course, but I loved having sidepipes on my C3. the side view looks great.

And they dont have to be so loud they makes your ears bleed.

Like mine.

[dvarapala]

Originally Posted by C3C7NIC

Trying to decide of it would be cheaper to just say screw it and put side pipes on or modify the body to put it back to original (as I wanted).

If you did an EV conversion you wouldn't need exhaust cutouts in the rear valence panel. Just sayin'.

However, I vote side pipes.

[StaticCling]

There was a guy in my neighborhood that had a Big Block 65 (396) Vette with Side Pipes.

He had a custom exhaust on it that had standard mufflers (hidden) and he could switch back and forth between Quiet (hidden mufflers) and Loud (Side Pipes) with an electric switch. Really cool setup. BEAUTIFUL car. He ended up with Dementia unfortunately...family sold that car.

Edit: Just realized this was post 9000

[C3C7NIC]

Thanks all, appreciate the input..


I had no idea you could do either! That sounds interesting!!!

[Grey Ghost]

Tough call. One part of me says just to fix the thing and get it going and make any changes down the road. Another voice tells me while it's in the shop to fix it the way you want to live with it forever.

I had side exhaust on my '66. I was much younger, but, the sound wasn't bad even with the top up/down.

There is an electric valve they can install if you want to flip between side or rear.

[markids77]

Dedicated side pipes require bespoke headers along with the pipes as they are needed to direct the gasses out the side. That would mean replacing the entire system (again).
Adding either side pipes and/or cutouts (the electric doors which open and close for volume control) to the current system would entail even more massive cutting and welding butchery than has already befallen your poor baby, if there is even room under there with the big block, big transmission and oversized exhaust tubing....possible? sort of...but not very practical.

[outrunm]

Originally Posted by C3C7NIC

It would seem not.

So a cut would need to be made on both the rear lower filler panel as well as the rear fender. I have the old pictures of the OG rear parts. As I was looking at it today, it hit me that he had those filled in.

Trying to decide of it would be cheaper to just say screw it and put side pipes on or modify the body to put it back to original (as I wanted).

At this point, going to have to try to cut corners where I can.

I vote no sidepipes. My modded small block C3 had long tube headers and sidepipes, and the car was Hella loud with the pipes exiting right at my ear. That was cool until one day it wasn't. Big block will be X2. My youngest daughter's bedroom backs up to the garage. I was parking one day and vibrated some stuff off her wall shelves. One of the items was a crystal music box gifted to her by her deceased great grandmother. Of course it broke, and it has proven to be irreplaceable.

[Hardluck]

Originally Posted by Strats-N-Vettes

And they dont have to be so loud they makes your ears bleed.

Like mine.

Quite ostentatious looking!

[mrvette]

I dunno if I posted about my pipes in this thread or not....but I have the stock looking through pipe looking with glass pack toward the back, I can look through the muffs when off the car....2.5 inch use square stainless pipe ends in the stock square rear location....

[Aerovette]

1. Not all side pipes require headers
2. The ones I had, had removable mufflers. I could unclamp them from the collector, slip the mufflers in, and reduce the noise
3. If you start with side pipes and then decide you don't like them, the cut outs in the rear valance can be easily made. If you don't start that way and decide you want them later, the valance will have to be patched...like they already are.

Again, purely personal preference.

We'll all like the car either way.

[Big bob]

you need this

[Dan47]

I had the side pipes on my C3 and loved them but occasionally burned my leg on them, when exiting.