1967 Small-block 2 1/2 inch front exhaust pipes

[Len Gerstner]

Hello NCRS Members

I am replacing the exhaust system on my '67 small-block car. The front exhaust pipe is 2 1/2 inch pipe which is swedged to reduce to a 2 inch diameter to connect to the exhaust manifold. This appearance is consistent to that described in the NCRS judging manual I have.

I purchased a set of front exhaust pipes from a vendor which stated that their products are manufactured to the original factory specifications. However, upon receiving the pipes via UPS I found that their method of reducing the pipe diameter from 2 1/2 inch to 2 inch was by means of a welded reduction joint rather than the "swedging" technique originally used by Chevrolet.

I returned the pipes to the vendor without any problem. However, the vendor insists that the welded reduction technique and the swedging technique are both Chevrolet orginal production designs because more than one vendor supplied the exhaust pipes to Chevrolet.

I would like to hear thoughts about this subject from other NCRS members and would appreciate any names of vendors that do sell the "correct" 2 1/2 inch pipe having the swedged reduction to 2 inch.

Thanks for your cooperation!

[G B.]

I've owned a welded '67

My old '67 convertible had the welded pipe reduction from the factory. When I first noticed this in 1971, I assumed that this was some sort of freak cob-job. Since then I've seen other factory welded reductions. In fact, I've never seen a factory pipe that had a formed reducer, but that doesn't mean beans. There's a lot of stuff that I've never seen.

[Joe L.]

Re: I've owned a welded '67

Jerry----

I've never seen a swaged reduction, either, for the 2-1/2" to 2" small block engines. Every one that I've ever seen was the welded type.