From my experience, both of home-built and aftermarket kits - how much the pipes droop at the trans x-member and front floorpan area is the mark of a good kit.
IMO always looks best if, standing 20 ft beside the car (not crouching), you can't see much of the pipes.
On the driver side its tight! Pipe runs nicely along in the original arches, channels in the floorpan and the crossmember. I worried about the proximity to the propeller shaft, but have been told that distance is canonical.
Passenger side shows too much pipe from the side. I HOPE to CORRECT MOST of that this weekend, but.... it MAY be cocked from the shop. IDK yet. If so, and naught else avails, I can cut it off and flex the pipe into the manifold, but I REALLY don't WANT to do that unless nothing else will do. Fortunately, all the pipe still freely comes loose and turns in its flared coupling ends. The ball joint from the down-pipe to the muffler pipe shows a less than perfect connection, but again, is still nice and loose. Some of those 7/16"x24 bolts are meant for these flanges, once I straighten up the pipe to my liking.
Thank Jesus and His step-father, I got good with bending pipe yrs ago as an electrician's apprentice, and pretty, exact bends was one of my little virtues, being mathematically capable. If I MUST, I can measure carefully, lay out the proper dimensions in a Cartesian 3-dim coordinate system, and with Divine help, correct a funked bend. If the pipe is toolong, going into the manifold, it will need cutting and a coupler. I pray no9ne of this will be needful, as right now, even if less than perfectly p[ositioned, the only exhaust leak is at the passenger manifold flange.
WEATHER PERMITTING, I will effect my corrections, take pics, then post. I need to turn a brake drum or 3, press studs, replace rear shoes et cetera, ad nauseum, then Deo-volente, get rear springs, perches, bushings and such from Springs and Things, then overhaul that.
Mathilda passes her 5th Anniversary as our Family Chariot this coming Saint Patrick's Day. That's five years of daily driving on these shitty barrio streets, county trails, hauling construction materials or children, or full crews of political canvassers/agitators. I've used this car AS IF IT WAS NEW, NOT 50 YEARS OLD WHEN PURCHASED, and she just fires right up and goes when we want her to.
No wonder Detroit changed them from this design. This car was considered DISPOSABLE when it was first sold, after 5 years. We're just half a century late. Can't have THAT now, eh?
