1970 exhaust tips

[Rick H.]

The exhaust tips on my '70 L46 convertible that I aquired in September are not installed on the car. I don't have any plans to have the car judged, but I do like to have the correct parts on my Corvettes. The good news is that they were in a box of parts that I got with the car. The bad news is that they appear to have been cut off with a reciprocating saw and one has a small rust hole in the back. These tips appear to be the correct style for my VIN 11732 car so I'm assuming they are the tips that were on the car when it was built.

Do I stand a reasonable chance of finding a nice used set of these tips? If not, should I attempt to find someone to attach new pipes to the originals?

Thanks,
Rick

[Joe L.]

The exhaust tips on my '70 L46 convertible that I aquired in September are not installed on the car. I don't have any plans to have the car judged, but I do like to have the correct parts on my Corvettes. The good news is that they were in a box of parts that I got with the car. The bad news is that they appear to have been cut off with a reciprocating saw and one has a small rust hole in the back. These tips appear to be the correct style for my VIN 11732 car so I'm assuming they are the tips that were on the car when it was built.

Do I stand a reasonable chance of finding a nice used set of these tips? If not, should I attempt to find someone to attach new pipes to the originals?

Thanks,
Rick

Rick------


These are are almost certainly the original exhaust tips factory installed on your 1970 (or identical to the tips originally installed on your car). These original style 1970 tips are EXTREMELY hard to come by . They also look like the chrome is in pretty good shape. They do appear to have had the extensions cut-off. However, I think a sleeve could be fabricated and installed on the portion of the extension that remains and restore them to NEAR original configuration and full functionality. At least, that's what I would do if I were doing this. It won't be undetectable but, aside from judging considerations, I think it's the best option.

When thoroughly cleaned up and repaired as I mentioned, I think these would be fine for re-use.

[Rick H.]

When thoroughly cleaned up and repaired as I mentioned, I think these would be fine for re-use.

Excellent point Joe. The repair to the pipe where it attaches to the muffler will only be visible from underneath.

Thanks,
Rick

[Gary B.]

At one time I believe Richard Fortier was making repros of those exhaust tips.

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...aust-tips.html

Gary

[Mike E.]

At one time I believe Richard Fortier was making repros of those exhaust tips.

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...aust-tips.html

Gary

Richard’s reproductions were/are excellent. They came out in the 2016-2018 time frame. His stock didn’t last long, and he hasn’t produced another batch, to my knowledge.

[Gary B.]

Mike,

I think I read that Richard Fortier wanted to make them in batches of 16 or so in order to keep the unit cost down, and he needed confirmed pre-sales before he’d risk making a batch. I can’t blame him for not wanting to sit on expensive inventory.

Gary

[Patrick H.]

Mike,

I think I read that Richard Fortier wanted to make them in batches of 16 or so in order to keep the unit cost down, and he needed confirmed pre-sales before he’d risk making a batch. I can’t blame him for not wanting to sit on expensive inventory.

Gary

Possibly, but for various reasons he has not made any in several years. I don't anticipate he will be having any more made in the future either based on the comments he has made to me and how busy he already is.

[Tom D.]

"Pair Stainless Steel Exhaust Tips for 1970-1972 Chevrolet Corvette Clamp-on C3" is one of a few offerings seen today on ebay. What's the diff.?
Stainless? In 1981, in group 3.705, I see 3974659 and 3974660...

[Joe L.]

"Pair Stainless Steel Exhaust Tips for 1970- 1972 Chevrolet Corvette Clamp-on C3" is one of a few offerings seen today on ebay. What's the diff.?

Tom------

I can't find the listing you mentioned. However, for one thing, the original 1970 exhaust tips were not stainless steel. The original 1970 tips were otherwise unique in several ways. That's not to say that stainless steel tips would be a bad thing installed on a 1970-72. Aside from judging considerations, they could appear virtually like the originals.

[Patrick H.]

"Pair Stainless Steel Exhaust Tips for 1970-1972 Chevrolet Corvette Clamp-on C3" is one of a few offerings seen today on ebay. What's the diff.?
Stainless?

Material type, configuration of welds, thickness of material.
For many of us they are very easy to spot from a distance.

[Mike E.]

"Pair Stainless Steel Exhaust Tips for 1970-1972 Chevrolet Corvette Clamp-on C3" is one of a few offerings seen today on ebay. What's the diff.?
Stainless? In 1981, in group 3.705, I see 3974659 and 3974660...

Tom,
By that point, the tips were the correct type 2 tip. But GM in their infinite wisdom decided to stamp those 7-digit part numbers on each tip. I know several guys who have bought those, had the numbers filled and the tips rechromed. They have ended up with a more substantial investment than buying some earlier type 2 NOS ones without the stamping.

[Patrick H.]

Tom,
By that point, the tips were the correct type 2 tip. But GM in their infinite wisdom decided to stamp those 7-digit part numbers on each tip. I know several guys who have bought those, had the numbers filled and the tips rechromed. They have ended up with a more substantial investment than buying some earlier type 2 NOS ones without the stamping.

I’m going to clarify….

the stainless steel tips that Tom sees on eBay are not GM later-issue tips with part numbers stamped on them that he also sees listed in the 1981 part manual.

[Richard F.]

I agree with Joe Lucia save the originals, there is something very special about having those original parts on your car. That’s what we did when NCRS was in its infancy and no reproduction parts available. Unless you’re a points chaser…….