Opinion on undercar exhaust?

[mreid]

I've finished one side and am finalizing the exit in front of the rear wheels. Does this look like the correct position, angle, and extension? I've tried several variations, but I would like some input before final welding. That's a 3" polished ss tip:

[TButtrick]

Hey Mark,

I like the fore and aft location but would point the tip slightly down or at least level and give yourself some rattle room between the exhaust tip and body.

This is my favorite pipe on a FIA

[Dimis]

Just cos its ss doesn't mean it should be polished... I really like the look of the black pipes on the red car. I know they are there but the rest of the car has my attention

The pipes of an under-car exhaust IMHO should be just a little bit of decoration to the real prize - The car itself! AS per the pic of the red car.

I'm thinking if you leave it polished the pipes will attract too much of the eyes attention. & I'm guessing if you wanted the pipes to be more of a feature then you'd have left them on the side like a regular SC427.

Just my 2 cents.

Great build, thanks for sharing.

[tkb289]

Mark,

Some more .02

Going through the exact same process on my ERA FIA. As noted above would suggest black pipes and have the tip be horizontal, versus angled up. It also looks like the tip has a bit of an angle cut to it, which is a matter of personal taste. I like the square cut look, but as others have told me, go for the look you want.

Beautiful build, keep up the good work!

- Tim

[mrmustang]

it does look good, all except that exhaust tip. It just does not look right. I'd rather see you paint the exhaust pipe black and leave it at that instead of having that "blingbling" hanging out from under the car.

You asked, I answered.

Bill S.

[RICK LAKE]

mreid M hows the ground clearance?? The other thing is I have run SS tips on other cars in front of rear wheels. If this is for show the tips Looks nice. Also Depends on what color or if the body is going to be polished. The down side is, road crap the front tires pick up, Nails, screws, stones, rocks, glass, and the worse plastic bottles. Chips and dents on the tips and how to fix this. Slide on pipes for shows, steel pipe tips for driving. I have 14 years of side pipe abuse. They are pitted and rusted but side look OK. Wouldn't go to a show with them though. Just my 1.67 cents. Rick L.

[Fullchat289]

Originally Posted by TButtrick

Hey Mark,

I like the fore and aft location but would point the tip slightly down or at least level and give yourself some rattle room between the exhaust tip and body.

This is my favorite pipe on a FIA

Here's another version of something similar...I like this too...very much:



I also agree with the others on the polished tip and agree that Tim's thread in the ERA forum has a lot of good resource for this topic.

- Allen.

[John McMahon]

Originally Posted by mrmustang

it does look good, all except that exhaust tip. It just does not look right. I'd rather see you paint the exhaust pipe black and leave it at that instead of having that "blingbling" hanging out from under the car.

You asked, I answered.

Bill S.

My feelings too...the tip looks too modern, in addition to the angle. I also think flat black looks much more traditional.

CCX2-2505...gone, but not forgotten....

[LightNFast]

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[HealeyRick]

Add me to the thumbs-downers on the tip. I'd prefer the flat black option. Additionally, a rolled tip just looks too modern. If you feel you have to have a polished tip, at least make it a baloney slice, rather than a rolled one.

[John McMahon]

Originally Posted by LightNFast

Mreid,

Hey John,

CCX2-2505 was a real beauty! And she was #5 of only 7 made? I wonder if all 7 were completed....

Kurt

Kurt,

Of the 7 built....I know of the following:

- mine, #5

- its sister car that was delivered in NJ the same as mine, and has been thoroughly thrashed and in a couple of accidents

- the Mule, #1... painted in Canaska colors and raced...I beleive its new owner is a sometime member here on CC.

- 2 which were sent overseas to the UK w/ RHD to the Contemporary dealer there.

That is 5...all that I was ever able to account for.

[mdross1]

You read enough about the tip,but my take has to do with ground clearance.My undercar exhaust exits as did the originals out the back.My reason was because of the noise.Had a bigblock Vette with side exhaust and really got sick of the blaring pipe outlet less than 3 ft from ear drums l.The lowest point on my car is the Lakewood bell flange,and it has been trimmed.Another .02 worth.

[FWB]

from the pic angle it looks as though there is contact of the pipe to the body........avoid this........there will be pipe movement from torque and expansion and contraction. also the harmonics will be transferred to the body and make unusual sounds.


Fred

[G-Pete]

That tip - nah, sorry that looks not good. I like your work and how much effort you put in that car...but you kill many positive with one negative.

Other words: That tip does not have the character as the car has - please don't go the "PepBoys/Autozone" route.

[mreid]

Thanks for the feedback and glad to hear we all love the ss tips! Todd, I love the look of that red FIA!

Actually, I have mixed feelings about the tips and will make the final decision once I paint it next Spring. Here are some additional things I considered. The dropped driver's footbox makes an undercar exhaust difficult and the original FIA semi-sidepipes impossible. Even with the oval pipe, anything over 2 1/2" really limits ground clearance and I had a 54 Studebaker with 3" of ground clearance - never again! With 2 1/2" oval pipe I get 4" of ground clearance, but the 2 1/2" round tip looks whimpy where it sticks out by the back wheels. I tried a baloney cut to the oval pipe which results in 1 3/4" x 4 1/2" oval and it just didn't look right to me. I like how the 3" tip looks, but I'm torn on the rolled lip and shiney finish (Actually Pete, I think it came from Summit about 10 years ago for another project). This weekend once I finish the other side, the whole thing gets painted flat black and I'll take another look at the tip at that point. Fred, there is about 1/4" gap for the length of the exhaust and where the tip sticks out.

My bigger concern right now is the angle, position, and extension, but I think I'll go with it and give it a final eyeball in the Spring. Now it's back to the garage to do the other side. Thanks again for the input, I appreciate it!

[LightNFast]

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[G-Pete]

Mark, that's how I did that...on a 289. That will be later be white PC.

[mreid]

Pete, your build is looking great! How much ground clearance will you have? I need at least 4".

[G-Pete]

4 inches with 25 tires (like 17" rims)-- if I put the 15 inch Trigos with Avons on it it will be close to 4.75.

Here a shot with the chassis on the ground...the simulators are 25" dia.

[G-Pete]

...the frame sits 5 inches of the ground.