1963 Survivor Exhaust

[Rob A.]

I have a 70,000 mile survivor SWC and am in the process of preserving it as much as possible. This weekend I put it on my lift to assess the underside, specifically the exhaust system. I've attached a few photo's of the underside and would like to know if the current system is close to being original. The mufflers and tips are definitely wrong and have been replaced at some point in the cars life. The rest of the system I am unsure about.

I've been considering replacing the system with an Allen's Exhaust but if possible I'd prefer to retain as much of the original as possible. Thanks for your input.

[Frank D.]

Re: 1963 Survivor Exhaust

Hard to tell much from those pictures - my split window (very original) had the wrong tips and missing tail pipe exhaust shields...other than that VERY original with nearly EVERYthing blacked out back there. Spare tire tub had been amateurishly painted flat black (which I corrected) and the antenna ground was all messed up (also corrected)...

[Mike M.]

Re: 1963 Survivor Exhaust

someone replaced at least the mufflers and i think i see muffler clamps securing the intermediate pipe to the muffler assembly. a closeup of the headers pipes to intermediate pipe may reveal whether the headers are original or also replaced. mike

[Joe R.]

Re: 1963 Survivor Exhaust

That system is not original so don't worry about preserving the originality. Just order you an Allen's system and go on down the road. If you are trying for a survivor award changing the exhaust system will not hurt you.

JR

[Alan D.]

Re: 1963 Survivor Exhaust

Save all muffler clamps (if you decide to take off) and post pictures, lots of us on the Board want to see some originals.
thanks Alan

[Joe L.]

Re: 1963 Survivor Exhaust

I have a 70,000 mile survivor SWC and am in the process of preserving it as much as possible. This weekend I put it on my lift to assess the underside, specifically the exhaust system. I've attached a few photo's of the underside and would like to know if the current system is close to being original. The mufflers and tips are definitely wrong and have been replaced at some point in the cars life. The rest of the system I am unsure about.

I've been considering replacing the system with an Allen's Exhaust but if possible I'd prefer to retain as much of the original as possible. Thanks for your input.

Rob------


The mufflers are definitely non-original. In fact, they're not even GM SERVICE mufflers. Clamped joint to rear pipe is also a dead-giveaway of non-originality.

The pipes, themselves, might be original. I can't see enough of them to say one way or the other.

[Bill L.]

Re: 1963 Survivor Exhaust

Doc Rebuild had an original survivor type exhaust system the last time I looked --- spendy piece of equipment --

Otherwise you can't go wrong with Allen's --- I just put a set on my '67 --- really nice welded set that did not cost a fortune-----

[Richard M.]

Re: 1963 Survivor Exhaust

Hmmm,

Me thinks that the downpipes may be original as they have flat lower sections.(edit....maybe my eyes are tricking me, now they look rounded at the bottom)

Rob, are the pipes flattened on the bottom, like my photo below?

If the rear sections have flat bottoms they may be also? I think? However, service replacements I've seen have the flat bottoms also, so they may be that.

I also think it was common practice to cut the center pipes and swedge the ends for them to fit and clamp replacement mufflers. I'd imagine that may have happened to these.

Here is what I feel is original on a '63 that was here a while ago. The left side only. The right appears non-original.

[Rob A.]

Re: 1963 Survivor Exhaust

The head pipes on my car are not flattened so they have been replaced the tail pipe section is flattened through. The head pipes are also missing the heat shields. The muffler hangers and center support all seam to be there and in good shape with the ground straps still present.

Looks like I will go ahead and replace the system.

[Gary B.]

Re: 1963 Survivor Exhaust

Rob,

Is there any way you could post a couple close-up photos showing each side of one of your rear tail pipe tip exhaust clamps?

Gary

[Joe L.]

Re: 1963 Survivor Exhaust

The head pipes on my car are not flattened so they have been replaced the tail pipe section is flattened through. The head pipes are also missing the heat shields. The muffler hangers and center support all seam to be there and in good shape with the ground straps still present.

Looks like I will go ahead and replace the system.

Rob------


I don't think the original front (head) pipes were "flattened". A section of the the rear ("intermediate") pipes were, though.

[Mike M.]

Re: 1963 Survivor Exhaust

rob is correct. the header(front) pipes were not flattened, only the intermediate pipes got the flattening treatment. mike

[Bob J.]

Re: 1963 Survivor Exhaust

[QUOTE=Gary Beaupre (28818);775322]Rob,

Is there any way you could post a couple close-up photos showing each side of one of your rear tail pipe tip exhaust clamps?

Gary[/QUOTE

For those who might think they're blank.


Bob Jorjorian

[Richard M.]

Re: 1963 Survivor Exhaust

So it is just the center sections. My eyes were tricking me.....Sorry for the error.....

Rich

[Rob A.]

Re: 1963 Survivor Exhaust

I am traveling this week. When I get back Friday I will post some better pictures including detailed pictures. My goal with the car is to preserve as much as possible. So if the majority of the exhaust system is original I will only replace the parts that have been "serviced".