ride height / pipe clearance

[Mark H.]

I have a 65 SB. What should the distance/clearance be from the ground to the pipes just behind the frame's cross member (where the pipes go thru the frame) ? I've just put on a set of Paragon's pipes and they seem to be significantly lower than my stock pipes. Having trouble getting out of my slanted garage exit now...

I currently have 3 1/2" clearance which is way low. Anyone else have issues with Paragon pipes ? I don't see how I can possibly adjust them to raise them (mainly by rotating) w/o messing up the angle at which they meet up with the one-position-only mufflers.

Thanks, Mark

[Joe L.]

Re: ride height / pipe clearance

I have a 65 SB. What should the distance/clearance be from the ground to the pipes just behind the frame's cross member (where the pipes go thru the frame) ? I've just put on a set of Paragon's pipes and they seem to be significantly lower than my stock pipes. Having trouble getting out of my slanted garage exit now...

I currently have 3 1/2" clearance which is way low. Anyone else have issues with Paragon pipes ? I don't see how I can possibly adjust them to raise them (mainly by rotating) w/o messing up the angle at which they meet up with the one-position-only mufflers.

Thanks, Mark

Matt-----

How are the pipes centered in the holes in the crossmember? They should be approximately centered. The "controlling factor" at this point is the "ox-bow" bracket, not the pipes, themselves. I don't see how you could have 3-1/2" of ground clearance at this point regardless of how the pipes were positioned in the crossmember holes.

If you're talking about 3-1/2" ground clearance further back, that's a different story. What is the clearance between the pipes and the strut rod bracket?

[Joel T.]

Re: ride height / pipe clearance

Mark;

I fiddled around with a set of Paragon pipes on my 1963 for quite a while. Assuming you have the three part set (muffler and extension pipe not welded) you can get very low clearances at the rear end cross member based upon the twist of the extension pipe and the degree to which you insert the extension pipe into the muffler. I used a bottle jack to get the clearance I wanted and to hold everything still while I went around and tightened all the clamps. In the end I was never happy with the fit and ultimately wound up buying a welded set from Allen's which fit like a glove.

Joel

[Mark H.]

Re: ride height / pipe clearance

Thanks for the info Joel. Yea, I did a lot of what you mentioned (rotating, jacking up, fully engaging - as best I could - the male/female junctions) and like you, am still not happy. I haven't bottomed the pipes out yet but the day is coming I'm sure. I'm going to get back to Joe to answer his quuestions in hopes that he has some ideas. I hate the thought of trashing the new Paragon pipes. Any other thoughts out there ?

Thanks, Mark

[Mark H.]

Re: ride height / pipe clearance

Joe,

The 3.5" I mentioned was just aft of the cross member. The pipes definitely have a downward tilt when going from the (fixed) end of the exhaust manifold end back to the muffler inlet.

I'll need to make the measurements when I get home tonight. The pipes clamp up tight to the ox-bow, and they are centered well within the cross member, so it appears that all is well from the cross member forward. As Joel had mentioned, the rotating of the rear half and amount of insertion (which I've max'd to the best of my ability - one came loose after my first drive....) seem to be key.

I will email you tonight with the dimensions you asked about.

Thanks a lot, Mark

[Jean C.]

Re: ride height / pipe clearance

To resolve my low hanging muffler problem on my '64, I ditched what I had installed and went with a welded set from Allens. Worked great.

[Mark H.]

Re: ride height / pipe clearance

Thanks Charlie,

Unfortunately you're the second one to tell me this (I say unfortunately because I'm hoping my new Paragon system isn't trash (actually, I've been unhappy with the quality of many of Paragon's parts....)).
ugh

What's the cost of the Allen pipes anyway ?

Thanks
Mark

[Joe L.]

Re: ride height / pipe clearance

To resolve my low hanging muffler problem on my '64, I ditched what I had installed and went with a welded set from Allens. Worked great.

Charlie-----


For the life of me I cannot understand why the welded systems would GENERALLY fit better. With the welded system one has LESS ability to adjust things. For the most part, if it's not EXACTLY right, you won't be able to "adjust-out" what's not right. With separate mufflers and pipes, you have one VERY important additional adjustment opportunity at the muffler extension-to-rear pipe slip joint.

[Mark H.]

Re: ride height / pipe clearance

It sure would seem that way, unless the Paragon (and other) non-welded systems are so messed up in the bends to dictate otherwise. I'm just going to have to get back under that car for another 8 hours and try to figure it out. I sware I've tried every way possible, but maybe I'm missing something..

I would love to be able to rotate the aft pipes so that their bend is going more laterally rather than straight down but when I do that it totally misaligns the muffler interface. Any other Paragon users out there know of anything on these pipes ?

Thanks

[Joe L.]

Re: ride height / pipe clearance

It sure would seem that way, unless the Paragon (and other) non-welded systems are so messed up in the bends to dictate otherwise. I'm just going to have to get back under that car for another 8 hours and try to figure it out. I sware I've tried every way possible, but maybe I'm missing something..

I would love to be able to rotate the aft pipes so that their bend is going more laterally rather than straight down but when I do that it totally misaligns the muffler interface. Any other Paragon users out there know of anything on these pipes ?

Thanks

Mark-----


I don't think this problem is unique, at all, to the Paragon pipes. I've been having an absolute FIT with the Allen's stainless steel pipes I'm using (with original GM mufflers). The right side installation went perfect; no problems. The left side I struggled with MIGHTILY. For an experiment, I even tried using an original GM rear pipe; no improvement. So, I know the problem is in the front pipe. I sent it back to Allens for adjustment. It came back better, but still not quite right. When I compare the Allens left side forward pipe to stock GM, I can't see any difference, at all, though. So, whatever the problem is, it's extremely subtle.

[Mark H.]

Re: ride height / pipe clearance

Joe,

Thanks for the feedback. It gives me more incentive to get out there and try it again. Strange as to why this is so hard. Do you too have very small ground-to-pipe clearance as the result of your setup ? I have about 3.5 " just behind the cross member. At this point, even the crazy idea of using wire to tie the pipes up tighter to the chassis has crossed my mind.....briefly.

Mark

[Joe L.]

Re: ride height / pipe clearance

Joe,

Thanks for the feedback. It gives me more incentive to get out there and try it again. Strange as to why this is so hard. Do you too have very small ground-to-pipe clearance as the result of your setup ? I have about 3.5 " just behind the cross member. At this point, even the crazy idea of using wire to tie the pipes up tighter to the chassis has crossed my mind.....briefly.

Mark

Mark-----


Which crossmember are you talking about? The one with the holes in it through which the pipes pass?

And, how far back from that crossmember are you measuring this 3-1/2" clearance?

[Mark H.]

Re: ride height / pipe clearance

Joe,

Yes - the one with the holes in it. Pipes go thru cleanly and look right.

Q: After going thru this cross member the pipes (true with stock pipes too) make a bend. I'ts been 10 months since I took my stock pipes off so I'm forgetting, but do you know if these bends should bend downward just aft of the cross member, or more to the left/right (if I position mine pointing more left/right I can't get the rear pipes to line up with the mufflers ) ?

Thanks

[Joe L.]

Re: ride height / pipe clearance

Joe,

Yes - the one with the holes in it. Pipes go thru cleanly and look right.

Q: After going thru this cross member the pipes (true with stock pipes too) make a bend. I'ts been 10 months since I took my stock pipes off so I'm forgetting, but do you know if these bends should bend downward just aft of the cross member, or more to the left/right (if I position mine pointing more left/right I can't get the rear pipes to line up with the mufflers ) ?

Thanks

Mark-----


Yes, the rear pipes do bend downward and outward just aft of the crossmember. However, you should have about 7" of ground clearance at the end of the downward bend with 2-1/2" pipes and more if 2" pipes. There will be less than this, though, at the further aft "low point" below the strut rod bracket.