70 Corvette 2 1/2" welded pipes

[Patrick B.]

Does any supplier make a welded pipe/muffler assembly for a 1970 Corvette with 2 1/2" pipes that actually fits. I am presently using Allen's stainless steel pipes with Corvette Central mufflers. The fit is so poor that I have to hold the pipes to the rear spring with coat hanger wire to keep them from scraping the pavement, and the chrome exhaust outlets won't clear the bezels. Previously, I had used Dynomax Turbo mufflers, and they actually fit better with the Allen pipes but I got tired of the noise.

[Patrick H.]

Re: 70 Corvette 2 1/2" welded pipes

I have installed the 2 inch Corvette Central ones several times, and never been disappointed with the fit.
I have not had a chance to try the 2 1/2 inch ones, but have heard good reports.

[Patrick B.]

Re: 70 Corvette 2 1/2" welded pipes

Are they available as a factory welded assembly?

[Joe L.]

Re: 70 Corvette 2 1/2" welded pipes

Are they available as a factory welded assembly?

Patrick------


Yes, Corvette Central does offer welded assemblies. I've never used them, though. If they fit as well as their separate pipes and mufflers they ought to be fine. However, it would seem to me that a welded assmbly would be potentially more problematic than separate pipes and mufflers since they need to be perfect from the get-go. With separate pipes/mufflers there is some amount of adjustment possible. With welded assemblies there is essentially none. Of course, GM got it right this way in PRODUCTION but I'm less confident with reproduction.

By the way, I've had fitment trouble with Allen's stainless steel pipes, too. I once sent some back for adjustment and they still didn't get it right.

[Patrick H.]

Re: 70 Corvette 2 1/2" welded pipes

I have more faith in the jig that Corvette Central uses than in any ability of myself or some Bubba muffler shop dude to get them right.
IMO, they are the only way to go.

[Patrick B.]

Re: 70 Corvette 2 1/2" welded pipes

Thanks Patrick --- My faith in my own ability to align them is not too strong considering how embarrassing my wired up pipes are. I remember how well the original GM welded pipes fit. I had them on and off several times between the various side pipes and headers I used over years for autocrossing and drag racing until they finally got too rusty. They always went on perfectly. I take it your 2" set were welded by Corvette Central.

[Mike E.]

Re: 70 Corvette 2 1/2" welded pipes

I recently installed a 2 1/2" welded set from Central on my 71 and am pleased with the fit.

[Patrick B.]

Re: 70 Corvette 2 1/2" welded pipes

Mike and Patrick -----Did you pick up your welded assemblies at Carlisle or were they shipped? Is shipping outrageous for such large pieces?

[Mark E.]

Re: 70 Corvette 2 1/2" welded pipes

Shipping is outrageous for anything over sized. I recently paid UPS $44 to ship one door panel across Texas.

[Mike E.]

Re: 70 Corvette 2 1/2" welded pipes

I don't remember exactly how much shipping was, but I expected that I would get it in the shorts. It was less than I expected, that much I do remember. One end of one pipe was bunged in shipping in spite of excellent packaging. I was able to easily restore to round with my pipe expander tool.

[Dennis C.]

Re: 70 Corvette 2 1/2" welded pipes

If your not in a hurry, Corvette Central offers free shipping on exhaust systems several times a year. Possibly coming up around the end of November.

Dennis

[Patrick H.]

Re: 70 Corvette 2 1/2" welded pipes

If your not in a hurry, Corvette Central offers free shipping on exhaust systems several times a year. Possibly coming up around the end of November.

Dennis

Exactly what I was going to say. Sign up for their email notifications.

[Gene M.]

Re: 70 Corvette 2 1/2" welded pipes

Why are you mixing two different manufacturers products? When doing this and expecting them to fit together correctly is the results you get..... it don't work. The correct style pipes for your car s/b a muffler welded to the exhaust pipe not a separate muffler and pipe.

Both suppliers provide good fitting welded systems in their entirety. I've used both. Always expect to tweet parts some what it's just the nature of the reproduction world.

[Patrick B.]

Re: 70 Corvette 2 1/2" welded pipes

Gene ---- I bought the Allens stainless pipes at least 25 years ago at Carlisle because I did not want to mess with rusty pipes anymore. Allens did not sell welded assemblies then ( do they now?). I assumed that the Allens pipes were supposed to match GM service pipes, and they did not suggest otherwise. I was still taking the car to the drag strip occasionaly then, and I wanted turbo mufflers for maximum streetable performance, and I also assumed that the turbo mufflers were designed to match GM service muffer geometry. How else would you sell separate Corvette mufflers? The fit of the Allen's pipes to the turbo mufflers was not terrible. No wire was needed but the chrome extensions did not fit right. I put this down to the shortcomings of the cheap turbo mufflers. When I got old and wanted less noise, I got the Corvette Central mufflers because people on this discussion board suggested that they were as close to original LT-1 mufflers as possible. They sound fine, but fit problems were encountered. I am attracted to the CC welded pipe/mufflers and will probably go for them since the comments in this thread said they fit well.

[Gene M.]

Re: 70 Corvette 2 1/2" welded pipes

Gene ---- I bought the Allens stainless pipes at least 25 years ago at Carlisle because I did not want to mess with rusty pipes anymore. Allens did not sell welded assemblies then ( do they now?). I assumed that the Allens pipes were supposed to match GM service pipes, and they did not suggest otherwise. I was still taking the car to the drag strip occasionaly then, and I wanted turbo mufflers for maximum streetable performance, and I also assumed that the turbo mufflers were designed to match GM service muffer geometry. How else would you sell separate Corvette mufflers? The fit of the Allen's pipes to the turbo mufflers was not terrible. No wire was needed but the chrome extensions did not fit right. I put this down to the shortcomings of the cheap turbo mufflers. When I got old and wanted less noise, I got the Corvette Central mufflers because people on this discussion board suggested that they were as close to original LT-1 mufflers as possible. They sound fine, but fit problems were encountered. I am attracted to the CC welded pipe/mufflers and will probably go for them since the comments in this thread said they fit well.

Pat, I think you will be pleased using all one designed and manufactured system for fit and performance. It is my opinion there are little tweaks that each manufacturer does within their own products that is just a bit different from another that cause fit issues. Example is angle of bends on each end to get the resulting path. That's why if mixed and matched the amount of "rework" necessary to fit to one's liking can be excessive. The small differences can be non compatible with even original parts.