Exhausting

Most of the pieces of the exhaust came in. If quick measurements are correct, this can be installed and the body can still be lowered over the frame, so the rear portion was loosely hung onto the frame today. Putting this in with the body off the frame will be so much easier.

A photo of an original, unused muffler was used to black out the two mufflers just as the factory did. That's a detail that is normally missed, but being completely honest, it's not a favorite look.

This kit from Volunteer Vette is a nice one and once the engine and transmission are in place it should all install easily and look and function well.

There is a lot of room for adjustment to get it where it's supposed to be according to the assembly manual. That's a good thing because it's super tight underneath this deceptively tiny car.

The kit even included original-style clamps, which was a nice touch.

Restorers apparently call these guillotine-style clamps, since they only have one edge contacting the pipe. They don't seem to be something that are easy to come by and show clearly from beneath the car, so their being included was a pleasant surprise.

Oops

When the exhaust hanger/transmission mount was replaced, the one on the car was used to track down a replacement. That one, however, was for a 2 1/2-inch exhaust and was incorrect.

A correct OEM 2-inch hanger was purchased and painted with high-temperature paint and put onto the transmission.

This will allow exhaust clamps to fit around the exhaust pipes correctly and hold it up. If memory serves, the car had hose clamps holding the exhaust up when this car was purchased.

Might as well

The original steering wheel wasn't awful, but it was far from perfect and was deteriorating so a new one was ordered.

This is one of several amazing parts made by OER that have been purchased for this car. This company's parts are incredible, and though they can be very expensive, parts like these are worth every penny.

Cheap insurance

A new oil pump pickup was ordered. It's $25 worth of insurance against contamination in the engine once it is rebuilt.

Direct from Crazy Town

A set of handmade ribbed heater hoses came in today. If that does not say "this guy is a little crazy," I don't know what does.

Weight

A set of thick valve cover gaskets were purchased and bonded with RTV and placed under a few socket sets for weight onto a flat table to cure.

This set of covers — with a oil fillter hole meant for the correct rubber filler plug — were picked up for a song years ago at a local swap meet. These are becoming difficult to find and are very expensive now when they come up for sale.

Once they cure, these will be set aside again until the engine is ready to be reassembled.

Bringing the heat

The two small 1 1/16-inch heater hose clamps are correct NOS clamps with a fourth-quarter of 1971 date stamping. The set of four larger 1 3/16-inch clamps are as close to what was on this car as could be mustered, complete with a very light gold dichromate wash applied here in the shop to at least make them look correct.

Reproduction heater hoses was ordered as well. These are supposed to be ribbed and marked correctly with two-letter broadcast codes for the car. Lots of vendors offer a popular and attractive set that bear the GM logo, but they are not correct for the Corvette.

A set of correct radiator clamps will be tracked down and purchased next as we continue to save for the engine rebuild.