The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop ' 54 Chev 3600 - Exhaust System Restoration - see: (19) PICS

Greetings from New Jersey,

I've been collecting GM NOS parts to rebuild the exhaust system on my 1954 Chev 3600 truck.
I've been collecting GM NOS parts since January 2007.
My intent all along has been to NOT use
any repro parts for my restoration.
I refuse to use anything made in communist china and never will.
I've known all along the day would come when I
just could not find the desired GM NOS part
and would at least have to use a nors part ( USA made ) sooner or later.

My exhaust system was damaged by the darn forklift
the seller used to put the truck on the flat bed trailer in Bowdle, South Dakota before being delivered to me in New Jersey.

The front exhaust pipe was bent. The pipe is actually in good condition other than surface rust.
I've been hunting this front exhaust pipe in gm nos for years with no luck.

Does anyone think this original front pipe could be straightened so it could be re-used ???

How would you do it ???

If the pipe could be straightened, I could clean it up
for re-use. Maybe cornmeal blasting ? Wire brushing ?
scotch brite pad cleaning ? Or a combo of all of the above or use some of your suggestions.

What would you do if you could get it to a cleaned up point???

Paint it ... have it jet coated...aluminize paint it ???

Does anyone have a source based on actual experience
for a new Front Exhaust Pipe made in the USA ?

I can't find a source at this point.

If you peruse my photos of the NOS parts that I've collected. You will see that many of them need to be cleaned up & re-finished. No problem...I can do this.

I have the complete 1954 Chevy 3/4 ton exhaust system GM NOS...EXCEPT this
elusive front exhaust pipe.

I'd like to hear your suggestions along with any advice.

Keep in mind...my eventual goal is to grab the "Most Original" restored truck trophy.

So, that means very very few nors parts.

I'll keep hunting for this front pipe, but

I may have to use a nors pipe OR R&R the original.

Thank You to all
of you smart guys
at Stovebolt,

George

see: Slideshow of new photo album ( 19 ) PICS at photobucket below.

I hope it works...first time trying a slideshow presentation.

http://s669.photobucket.com/user/glp0329/slideshow/54%20Chevy%203600%20Truck%20%20Exhaust%20System[b][/b]

I tried the slideshow...it works.
Click on lower right when at photobucket
and view the slideshow FULL SCREEN.

This always confuses the firetruck out of me...
I thought original means IT CAME ON THE TRUCK FROM THE FACTORY... not a lost or replaced item aftermarket or not. But Original.
Is this now common practice in the marketing/judgeing world? (never been)
Numbers matching equals original?
Just want to know... I mean is a restored original item knocked down since it is not in "original" condition?

I just want to know what does the word mean in car /marketing language?


Oh.. and Welcome!

sorry but the link doesn't load your show

Lots of the repo parts are made in Tiwan I think.
You can't excape China stuff. Try to find a bandage that is not made there. If you find some tell me where to get em.

"Most Original" and "restored" are contradictions .... putting any kind of finish on any part of the exhaust bumps you out of the "original" class right away, the exhaust system was rust colored from the showroom floor and how is anyone going to know if any individual piece of the exhaust is "original" or NOS or NORS or fabricated by a good local exhaust shop? you should be able to have the head pipe you need fabbed at a good shop, using your damaged piece as a sample, if you find an older shop they may even have the pattern on file, but make sure they don't use pipe that wasn't available in '54, like aluminized

Bill

If the restored exhaust system was judged at a show.
How would the judge know that a NOS part was used
to replace the original part off the assembly line.
It's the same dang part that was there in the first place.
I understand it would not be the actual original part
but...still it's the same part # as original only nos .
Isn't that what most restorers do ?
That's where I will have to go.
If I replace the brake drums with nos same part #
drums as the originals......what's the difference ?
Debatable, I know.
If I replace ORIGINAL parts with the same part GM NOS
I feel I've done what I need to do to make an original
presentation.
Then it would become a contest of is it actually original
or nos original.
Maybe not the actual part that came with the truck
but...replaced with the same only nos is certainly good enough for me & most people.
So, my restoration will be a nos restoration
restored with original GM NOS parts.
That's about the best I can do.

George

Besides, there isn't any part of that exhaust system that a decent muffler shop can't bend up using American tubing. They even have computer bending templates so there is no variation. I can see needing a NOS door handle or something, but exhaust pipe? Check out the local muffler shop. I asked my favorite mechanic where to go and he told me.

I will not use made in china from melted down cat food cans.
If you support international banking communism, you should
move there.
I've seen the made in china crap on so called restored
trucks at shows.
Fit & finish is always a problem.
The metal they use is pure garbage !
So, good luck using your made in china junk.
Everyone to there own way of thinking.
I will choose made in the USA everytime
over communist made junk...no matter how the international
bankers profit from their exploitation
of coolies @ $3.00 a day...to push out
pure crap !
That's where I'm at.
like it lump it !
No further debate on made in communist china as
opposed to made in the USA will be entertained.

George

George.. one of the nice things about Stovebolt is that we cater to Old Chevy. Im not sure if China was even discovered when our precious trucks came out. So, it TOTALLY goes without saying that we prefer old chevy trucks and the parts that make them up. We (I can really only speak for myself) don't give a rats [censored] about politics, other countries, what everyone else is doing unless it pertains to American made Chevy old trucks. So, respectfully, all of that crap is unnecessary because you are speaking to the choir.

Trust me, there is nothing in the ENTIRE exhaust system that a muffler shop cant make for you the same as they did 60 years ago. Same muffler shops, same American pipe, different generation. The dealers themselves didn't purchase exhaust systems from Chevy. If they needed replacement front pipes, whatever, they purchased them locally. Post some pics as you progress.

yes George, not only we don't need your political views here, telling us to "lump it" is even more unwelcome, nobody is trying to convince you to buy Chinese - if you want to insist on only NOS parts for your truck, even though no one can tell the difference between made in the US in the 50's and made in the US last week, fly at it .... but as I pointed out, any coating on your "restored" exhaust system is not "original"

so for your original question "how would you do it", the answer is have a new one made the right shape and put it on

Bill