1980 Exhaust Judging manual wrong?

[Mark A.]

My 1980 4 speed, has 15,000 original miles. The entire exhaust including mufflers is original. The judging manual says that the entire exhaust system is stainless steel, except mufflers. The front header pipe is stainless on my car, but the rear Y pipe is carbon steel. It has a couple dents in it, and I would like to replace it. Not sure what is the correct course to take on this. Replace with S/S, or try to find a carbon steel Y pipe? Any judges out there with suggestions?

[Tom R.]

Re: 1980 Exhaust Judging manual wrong?

We don't like to say its wrong...rather its not current! Which means an item has not been sufficiently studied and scrutinized to render a informed opinion, backed by sufficient studies of original configurations.

[Edward J.]

Re: 1980 Exhaust Judging manual wrong?

My 1980 4 speed, has 15,000 original miles. The entire exhaust including mufflers is original. The judging manual says that the entire exhaust system is stainless steel, except mufflers. The front header pipe is stainless on my car, but the rear Y pipe is carbon steel. It has a couple dents in it, and I would like to replace it. Not sure what is the correct course to take on this. Replace with S/S, or try to find a carbon steel Y pipe? Any judges out there with suggestions?

Mark why not leave it original, it is only original once as they say.I myself always like to see a original system when judging, there are not many left these days.a few dents may not even be a deduction I would bet.

[Mark A.]

Re: 1980 Exhaust Judging manual wrong?

I would also like to leave it original, but without the dents. I have not found a vendor who will make the pipes in carbon steel. They only offer alumanized or S/S. If anyone knows where I can get the pipes made in carbon steel, let me know.

[Stephen L.]

Re: 1980 Exhaust Judging manual wrong?

You might want to check out a local muffler shop to see if they can fabricate a new set of pipes in the original configuration. Some of these shops do custom work that is great. You might be surprised..........

[Mark F.]

Re: 1980 Exhaust Judging manual wrong?

Mark,

I know nothing about 1980 Corvettes, but how did you come to the conclusion that your Y-pipe is carbon steel ?

If you used a magnet to make that determination, it might be one of several magnetic stainless steel types (attached link delves into that topic w/ far more detail)...Many folks have incorrectly believed that all stainless steel compositions are non-magnetic...

good luck...

https://www.metalsupermarkets.com/is-stainless-steel-magnetic/

[Mark A.]

Re: 1980 Exhaust Judging manual wrong?

Rusty. It's carbon steel.

[Edward J.]

Re: 1980 Exhaust Judging manual wrong?

We don't like to say it’s wrong...rather it’s not current! Which means an item has not been sufficiently studied and scrutinized to render an informed opinion, backed by sufficient studies of original configurations.

Tom, I like you answer to this post, being a Gm Tech back in the days, I saw what happens to exhaust systems after just a few years, carbon steel pipes where used for a number of years and at some point GM made a change to the piping, maybe around the time of converters? I think the pipe was a mixture stainless( low grade) and maybe steel? The piping did show surface rust. And lasted much longer. So maybe the JM may just need the wording changed up some.

[Tom R.]

Re: 1980 Exhaust Judging manual wrong?

Tom, I like you answer to this post, being a Gm Tech back in the days, I saw what happens to exhaust systems after just a few years, carbon steel pipes where used for a number of years and at some point GM made a change to the piping, maybe around the time of converters? I think the pipe was a mixture stainless( low grade) and maybe steel? The piping did show surface rust. And lasted much longer. So maybe the JM may just need the wording changed up some.

Thanks Ed
Yeah good point. New owners look for absolutes and we have attempted in the late-model C3 manuals to nuance our description. Don't know when or who may pick up on an 80-82 revision but there is neither interest nor encouragement took up its manel.

[Patrick H.]

Re: 1980 Exhaust Judging manual wrong?

Have you checked into NOS rear pipes, or possibly old Walker ones?