The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline 1950-51 exhaust pipe termination original

One topic of discussion some time ago was how exactly did the exhaust pipe terminate on AD pick-up trucks. Well looking through some documents I think I have found the answer at least for 1950-51. There were also some questions about tail light placement in regards to this issue and that is shown as well.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/advance-design_parts_co/11965080365/

It is interesting that the '50 pipe with a rear bumper has no turn down, while the '51 with no rear bumper has a turn down.

Drew,

That is interesting - thanks for pointing that out (Brad, thanks again for hosting/posting your collection of GM materials).

The change in the "turned down" pipe is "explained" by the title of the illustration: 1951 "REAR END CHANGES ALLOW PICKUP TAILGATE TO LOWER FULLY" (the exhaust gases from the older tailpipe would be directed against the lowered tailgate).

Tail pipes were almost an annual replacement item on those days, so I really never knew what was original. I remember we had turndowns because we needed the tailgates to drop all the way to unload barrels. That is also why we never had rear bumper because tail gates would hit the bumper and not drop all the way. It is also a good picture of the spare tire carrier. Very few of them survived because unless you strictly stayed in the city, the spare would get so covered with dirt on country roads that you couldn't get it out. Most all spares were moved to the side of the bed for that reason.