[QUOTE=Autom8r]Steve,

Where did you find the snorkles? Are they the factory L-82 tubes??? Mine were missing when I bought the car.

Dave[/QUOTE]

actually, my engine is in fact an l-48, and what you see is totally stock and original. its got every single piece it came with from the factory

The only thing on mine that came from the factory is the body......

Dave

looks like circumstance has upped my decision making- last saturday, i was taking the vette out for a ride, i went into a deli for a coffee, and left half the exhaust in the parking lot! turns out there was a deep pot hole that i did not see till too late, and the car bottomed out and seperated the y pipe (which was shot anyway) from the cat! I could not believe the noise it made! almost needed earplugs just to get home! gotta admit id did sound pretty cool with open exhaust!

ordinarily, id be pissed off, but i look at it as a chance to upgrade- after looking around, i think im going with corvette centrals l-82 kit with magnaflows. they seem to have the best price of all the places, including allens stainless and the other big vette catalogs.

anyone have magnaflows? are they good?

anyway, this is what im thinking of ordering:
http://www.parts123.com/parts123/yb.dll?parta~dyndetail~Z5Z5 Z50000050q~Z5Z5Z5ABMTP~P321.55~~~~S1V40RMDO670211510906a~Z5Z 5Z5~Z5Z5Z50000050Q

That looks like the perfect way to go. Price is right too. I like those hideaway mufflers. Mine ruin the looks of the rear end of the car....

Dave

BTW.... When you get ready to unbolt the remainder of the pipes from the ramshorns, it would be a good idea to saturate the studs and nuts with "PT Blaster" and let it sit for a day or two. You can't apply the stuff too much or too often. I did this to a '76 a few years ago and ended busting an ear off the ramshorn, and they are REALLY hard to find now.. I had to give 90 bucks for one back then. I found a couple of spares later on at a junkyard and bought them for $85.00 for the pair. Since everything I have now has headers, I'll part with them If you bust one.Autom8r38931.491412037

[QUOTE=Autom8r]That looks like the perfect way to go. Price is right too. I like those hideaway mufflers. Mine ruin the looks of the rear end of the car....

Dave

BTW.... When you get ready to unbolt the remainder of the pipes from the ramshorns, it would be a good idea to saturate the studs and nuts with "PT Blaster" and let it sit for a day or two. You can't apply the stuff too much or too often. I did this to a '76 a few years ago and ended busting an ear off the ramshorn, and they are REALLY hard to find now.. I had to give 90 bucks for one back then. I found a couple of spares later on at a junkyard and bought them for $85.00 for the pair. Since everything I have now has headers, I'll part with them If you bust one.[/QUOTE] i sure hope that doesnt happen! the nuts/studs are kinda rusty, so ill go very carefully- if i feel its gonna be a bitch, ill have a shop do it.

There is another post where I went into detail on header operation.  It may be quite some time back.  If it isn't found I can redo a very good description of how and why headers work, and the difference in performance in different types of headers.   If anyone is interested let me know.  Be happy to do it.

well, finally took the plunge and ordered a true dual exhaust from corvette centrals exhaust website! i got the true dual kit with the magnaflow mufflers. got all the parts last friday and started to dismantle the old system.

a few observations:
1) a muffler cut off tool and a tap and die set would have been REAL handy to have
2) old cats weigh MUCH more than they appear
3) nothing is more stubborn than that last bolt or nut to remove!
4) there is nothing worse than  that rust particle crap that gets in your hair when youre spending a few hours being up close and personal under the greasy side of your vette!

in the end i took everything off that i could and left the front y-pipe and manifold studs for a competent mechanic to deal with! you could imagine the noise it made as i drove it down to the shop!
all goes well, by tomorrow ill have a sweet new exhaust and a couple of pics to post!


and for the record- the center exhaust hangers will require drilling the cross member to attach them. i thought it would have been a bolt in job, but alas no.

Re: #4...

That crud that falls off under there is always a pain in the eyeballs....

Dave