57 FI Exhaust Kit and Spacer Question

[Ashley S.]

My car is a 57 FI car and I'm trying to install an exhaust pipe kit that I bought from Corvette America a couple of years ago. It is supposed to be correct for a 57 FI car.

The issue I'm seeing is this. When I add the heat riser spacer on the right side exhaust manifold it appears to make the right side exhaust pipe too low. I'm basing this by measuring from the floor to the cross-over pipes. It is off roughly the width of the spacer.

Does anyone know if Corvette America made an exaust kit that would compensate for the spacer by having a slightly longer right hand pipe? The kit I bought was p/n 35484.

Or is the right side supposed to be slightly lower than the left side?

Any thoughts are appreciated.

[Stuart F.]

Re: 57 FI Exhaust Kit and Spacer Question

Ashley;

Are you sure you have the correct exhaust manifolds on your car?

Just a thought, cause otherwise it seems strange that you have such a cindition.

Stu Fox

[Larry M.]

Re: 57 FI Exhaust Kit and Spacer Question

Ashley:

The easiest thing at this point may simply be to scribe a reference mark on the exhaust pipe, cut out a small section to achieve the proper fit, and then weld everything back together.

If you don't have the welding tools, a local muffler shop should be able to help.

I don't know when I ever installed an exhaust system on these old cars (Corvettes or otherwise) without at least one cut or weld to get the proper fit.

Working on tube header and exhaust systems was one of the main reasons I bought my welders.

Larry

[Ashley S.]

Re: 57 FI Exhaust Kit and Spacer Question

Larry,
I've about decided your approach is what I'm going to have to do since I can't find any incorrect part numbers. It seems that most of the bends are in the neighborhood, but not exact. Based on my dry fit, I'm thinking I'll need to shorten the right side just a bit.
Sounds like I may be buying a welder soon as well...

Ashley

[Gary C.]

Re: 57 FI Exhaust Kit and Spacer Question

Ashley, might be cheaper to order the header pipes from Corvette Central. Had similar experiences with Allen exhaust system for my '57. Finally, gave up trying to get a good fit without rewelding and ordered Corvette Central's and it fit like a "glove". JMTCW, Gary....p.s. FYI - The '57 FI exhaust spacer should have "TOP" on it not "UP".