Points lost for side exhaust

[Jim R.]

How many total points would be lost for converting to non original side pipes ,the exhaust is a total of 40 poionts but would you also lose for rear valance and other items associated with the change over, i received a 98.5 with my original under car exhaust and would like to get it judged again when i convert to side exhaust , and i wont be trying to pass it as original side exhaust car, just wondering. thanks guy's.....jim

[Dick W.]

Re: Points lost for side exhaust

You will lose originality points on everything associated with the change

[Jim R.]

Re: Points lost for side exhaust

Any idea as to the tatal amount.

[John H.]

Re: Points lost for side exhaust

Any idea as to the tatal amount.

Around 90-100 points; the deduction includes ALL the missing undercar exhaust parts, and when a part is missing, you lose both the originality AND the condition points assigned to it.

[William C.]

Re: Points lost for side exhaust

Don't forget the lost points for the rocker moldings and the hangers associated with, plus the clamps, supports, grounding straps, it just goes on and on...

[Mike G.]

Re: Points lost for side exhaust

if its done correctly, with all original parts and all signs of the standard exhaust removed, why would you lose any? did all the cars judged with side exhaust have it factory installed? NO! who is to say yours will not be the original side exhaust? just do your research and do it right. i would bet a large persentage of side pipe cars were not born that way.

[William C.]

Re: Points lost for side exhaust

Just as a point, there are parts of a factory side exhaust that are impossible to create with the body on, and only somewhat less difficult with the body off. Certainly "owner inspired" sidepipe conversions are out there, the problem is the higher up the judging sequence you go, regional for example, the more likely to find a judge that knows what and how to look for teletale signs of the addition.

[Ronald L.]

Re: Points lost for side exhaust

A good bright light & mirror will reveal those bondo jobs on the chopped-off rocker brackets without getting your knees dirty.

[Howard W.]

Re: Points lost for side exhaust

Remember even if you assemble the car with all the correct parts you still lose 100% if it is detected that your car did not come from the factory with side exhaust. IE: a AO Smith car with side exhaust would be a 100% deduct for all the associated missing parts, as well as for a St Louis cars if detected that the car was originally equiped with under car exhaust.

[William C.]

Re: Points lost for side exhaust

That's not even the half of the issues in the rocker area.

[Clark K.]

Re: Points lost for side exhaust

How many total points would be lost for converting to non original side pipes ,the exhaust is a total of 40 poionts but would you also lose for rear valance and other items associated with the change over.....jim

Jim, my '65 Coupe had the added side pipes when I bought it. I liked the look and only afterwards when I decided to have it NCRS Flight judged did I find a dilemma. On page 24 of the '53-'93 Judging Reference Manual, it states: "The detectable addition OR deletion of any regular production vehicle option subsequent to factory assembly is inconsistent with NCRS Judging Standards and therefore subject to a full deduction on originality and condition."

For example: My car has been judged once at the chapter level (took Top Flight) and once at the regional level (took 2nd Flight). Both times, I "declared" that the side pipes were added, not factory. However, full disclosure gets you no credit.

I suspect that you would experience the same deductions that I received each time: Chassis Section, #12.Exhaust System - total (40 pt) deduction; Exterior Section, #16.Rocker Moldings or Covers - total (30pt.) deduction for missing rocker moldings/covers; #17.Rear License Area - total (8 pt.) deduction for missing exhaust bezels; This is a total of 78 points. I am sort of surprised that there are not additional deductions for the small areas of the body removed/modified in order to retrofit a car with side exhaust.

It is easy for a judge to discern that the side exhaust option was added later because most people do not obliterate the hangers (and their welds to the frame) for the originally-installed rocker panel molding. There are also two other areas where evidence of factory installation is noticeable, one of these being threaded holes in the crossmember for the exhaust ground strap. But, I have not seen a judge crawl that far under a Sting Ray to look for this...they usually just look for a patched rear valance where the exhaust bezels were once located and look for the rocker panel molding hangers or the remaining weld evidence for same.

The only way I know how to make a car appear to have factory installed side exhaust is to take the car to an experienced Corvette restorer and have them remove the body. During the time the frame is exposed, an accomplished fabricator can obliterate the "offending" support hanger welds and make the frame look like it had factory side exhaust. Of course, this can only be done on 65(Late)-67 Sting Rays. And, understand that for a '67, the tank sticker will tell you if the car has factory side exhaust.
-Clark

[Jim R.]

Re: Points lost for side exhaust

Thank's for all of you input on this topic guy's , my car is a AO smith car ser#22*** so there would be no way i would ever try to pass the side exhaust as original, for those of you that do not know ao smith cars could not be had from the factory with the side exhaust option, at least that's what i have been told, so even with -78 points i would still be plenty safe as far as a top flight would go....jim

[Michael J.]

Re: Points lost for side exhaust

This is an interesting subject, as I am just starting the flight judging of my '67 in a few weeks at a chapter judging. But I am wondering, will I have to bring a copy of my tank sticker to prove the side exhaust was an original option on my car and not added later?

[Michael W.]

Re: Points lost for side exhaust

This is an interesting subject, as I am just starting the flight judging of my '67 in a few weeks at a chapter judging. But I am wondering, will I have to bring a copy of my tank sticker to prove the side exhaust was an original option on my car and not added later?

Only '66 and previous should do so.

The cars are judged on their own merits, no paperwork needed unless you have some really weird one off that can be documented.

[Pat M.]

Re: Points lost for side exhaust

This is an interesting subject, as I am just starting the flight judging of my '67 in a few weeks at a chapter judging. But I am wondering, will I have to bring a copy of my tank sticker to prove the side exhaust was an original option on my car and not added later?

You don't have to bring any paperwork, but I'd bring it and present it if a judge tries to dock you for it.