Help in installing our stainless steel exhaust system - Forums - Official C3 Vette Registry

SPONSOR AD

Support our Vendors! | Advertise Here

Topic: Help in installing our stainless steel exhaust system

in Forum: C3 Fuel, Emission Control, and Exhaust Systems

Already a Member?
Login
Not yet a Member?
Register for Free!

Help in installing our stainless steel exhaust system (1/17)
7/29/08 7:43pm

77 Red Corvette
Former Member
Send Private Message

Joined: 3/23/2008
Posts: 81

I tell you this car has fought us every step of the way. Nothing has been easy.

We bought a stainless steel exhaust kit from Mid America including the mufflers.

The stainless steel exhaust pipes from the engine on back fit great. But when we try to attach the mufflers they don't want to both clear the spare tire carrier to fit on the rear hangers. We have the assembly manual so we know that we are putting them on correctly.

Has anyone else had this problem?

We spent the extra money for this whole package so that we wouldn't have problems hanging the exhaust system.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanx.

Anni ... 77 Red Corvette

Quote

Our Sponsors help support C3VR

Help in installing our stainless steel exhaust system (2/17)
7/29/08 8:51pm

ebo

Lifetime Member
Send Private Message

Holland Patent, NY - USA

Vette(s):
#1 *1980 White, Red interior 14,000 mile #2 *1980 Red, Oyster interior 93,000 miles Resto project car, rebuilt to 383 stroker

Joined: 6/3/2008
Posts: 4421

Yeah thats love.

So is the spare cover and tire out of the way? Do the new mufflers look to be the same size as the old ones?

Are you talkin nice to the car, they have feelings ya know. LOL

______________

Click on image for larger view!
LIFETIME MEMBER 151

ebo

Quote

Help in installing our stainless steel exhaust system (3/17)
7/29/08 9:05pm

Jaws79

Lifetime Member
Send Private Message

Sykesville, MD - USA

Vette(s):
1979 Corvette Coupe Corvette Light Blue Midnight Blue interior Mirrored Glass T-tops

Joined: 4/27/2008
Posts: 4238

Had the same problem with ours from Mid-America Motorsports. In fact on ours the front Y pipe didn't fit and we had to get one locally. The cat and the rear Y pipe fit well but we had to lower the mufflers (the polished stainless steel ones) in order to get them to fit. I ended up getting straight S/S Gibson polished tips. They still have great ground clearance and sound good ( but not as loud as I had hoped ).

Barry

______________
"Down on the Boardwalk...

(Click image to see a larger version}

Lifetime Member #181

Quote

Help in installing our stainless steel exhaust system (4/17)
7/29/08 10:08pm

77 Red Corvette
Former Member
Send Private Message

Joined: 3/23/2008
Posts: 81

Yes I do talk nice to Demon .... the name fits very well ... hahaha

We got it to work even though it looks ugly. I will take it to a local muffler guy in town and have him make it fit correctly. I plan to call Mid America and complain.

We never had the original on the car since someone had already put on after market ones and we wanted all stainless steel. So we bought these from Mid America. They look original from the pics that I have seen from OEM ones. The pipe that connects the muffler to the rear exhaust system looks like it is bent in to much towards the spare tire carrier thus causing this problem. The mufflers hit it.

Anni ... 77 red Corvette

Quote

Help in installing our stainless steel exhaust system (5/17)
7/29/08 10:08pm

mkapp7879
Former Member
Send Private Message

Joined: 10/21/2003
Posts: 1220

Is this a dual system or original style Y to Y single?

Quote

Help in installing our stainless steel exhaust system (6/17)
7/29/08 11:02pm

77 Red Corvette
Former Member
Send Private Message

Joined: 3/23/2008
Posts: 81

it is a original style Y to Y single.

Quote

Help in installing our stainless steel exhaust system (7/17)
7/29/08 11:33pm

mkapp7879
Former Member
Send Private Message

Joined: 10/21/2003
Posts: 1220

Can you drop the spare tire carrier out of the way, clamp the mufflers on to the pipes securely, and tweek the mufflers outward? Should be a little give in the muffler inlets. Use the spare carrier top cover as a guide.

Quote

Help in installing our stainless steel exhaust system (8/17)
7/30/08 12:32am

77 Red Corvette
Former Member
Send Private Message

Joined: 3/23/2008
Posts: 81

We just tried that and no luck. Still won't fit and it's very frustrating. I do appreciate everyones input on this. Time to call it a night and try again tomorrow.

Anni ..... 77 Red Corvette

Quote

Help in installing our stainless steel exhaust system (9/17)
7/30/08 1:25am

mkapp7879
Former Member
Send Private Message

Joined: 10/21/2003
Posts: 1220

How about removing it from the car as shown......

and giving it a few yanks with some room to work?

Quote

Help in installing our stainless steel exhaust system (10/17)
7/30/08 5:32am

tuxblacray

Lifetime Member
Send Private Message

Greensburg, IN - USA

Vette(s):
Previous: 1984 Silver / Charcoal Coupe, 1988 Maroon Coupe / 1989 Artic White Coupe / 2001 Speedway White Roadster / Present:1976 Stingray Black / Black, Auto, 350 slightly modified (355 hp) Luxor Wires Redline Tires. / 1989 Roadster Bright Red...

Joined: 9/24/2003
Posts: 5188

I replacemed mine with little trouble. I have always found the folks at Mid America to be reall helpful too. Have you called them and talked to them about your problem yet? They may offer some advice on the subject or have you to speak with the manufacturer.

Every year the have a gazillion exhaust put on for free at Funfest so I would think that helping you with this isn't to far fetched.

______________

Tuxblacray: She's Back In Black! Check out my pics @ My Link

(Click on image to see a bigger version)

Quote

Help in installing our stainless steel exhaust system (11/17)
7/30/08 7:09am

77 Red Corvette
Former Member
Send Private Message

Joined: 3/23/2008
Posts: 81

mkapp7879,

Tthank you for the picture. That's exactly what our system looks like. The parts that need bending are the two smaller tubes that connect the y's to the mufflers.

I will see about removing them and trying to tug on them to pull them out. If all fails then I plan to take it to a shop and have them do it.

I'm very disappointed with Mid America on this. I paid a lot of $$$ for a stainless steel set up to have an easy installation.

Thanx again to everyone's feedback.

Anni 77 Red Corvette

Quote

Help in installing our stainless steel exhaust system (12/17)
7/30/08 7:55am

KeBo
Former Member
Send Private Message

Kendall Park, NJ - USA

Vette(s):
1981 - 59 Beige over Cinnebar leather. Edlebrock top end, 2200 stall w/shift kit, 3:55s, Mufflex maniback exhaust, nice stereo, 16 in AREs w/BFGs

Joined: 3/9/2005
Posts: 789

I bought a manifold back kit for my 81. It was a disaster. The speed shop that did my work just crated the kit back up and I returned it. I ended up going to Mufflex (see mufflex.com) and they did a custom exhaust for me for not much more including install.

Quote

Help in installing our stainless steel exhaust system (13/17)
7/30/08 8:02am

Adams' Apple

Lifetime Member
Moderator
Send Private Message

Duncanville, TX - USA

Vette(s):
#1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas

Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20129

Sorry to hear you're having such a tough time with the exhaust...

One of the inherent problems with the SS stuff is it's tendency to not want to bend...that stuff is quite stiff. Makes it really hard to "tweek" it to fit. Remember also, that there are differences between cars...no two are exactly the same, and sometimes stuff just don't wanna fit right, no matter what ya do..

I would definitely give MAM a call before going any further...once you cut/bend/modify any of that exhaust, they won't want to take it back.

Good luck with it...I hope ya do get it taken care of.

______________

Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56
My Link

(click for Texas-sized view!) NCRS

"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

Quote

Help in installing our stainless steel exhaust system (14/17)
7/30/08 8:52pm

77 Red Corvette
Former Member
Send Private Message

Joined: 3/23/2008
Posts: 81