Tailpipes.

[DB87442]

So I took off the chrome tips that one of the previous owners had put on because they were getting rusty and I’m going for a factory look. Low and behold, they didn’t even match. 🤷‍♂️ Go figure. Anyway, after removing them, the pipes do not match up evenly side to side. The passenger side sticks out of the side further. You only notice it if you’re looking for it, but it bugs me. Any idea on how to align them and which side is actually not right?

 

[ssn696]

The passenger side pipe has a frame hanger in the picture, but I don't see one in the driver side picture. I wonder if there is any 'give'in the driver’s side piping...can you move it outboard, then weld on a new hanger that holds it in the desired 'correct' location? Small persuasion with a rubber hammer at the over-the-axle bend?

 

[69hurstolds]

Since your hangers (at least on the passenger side anyway) aren't factory, it's likely you may be able to adjust them accordingly by putting a bit of a bend in the hanger rod or adjusting something, assuming the same on driver side. Most tailpipes were manufactured with a bend that has tolerances, and that meant you could have ends that may or may not be placed where you want them to be. I've seen factory pipes staggered from side to side like yours. GM Quality + 1980s = Water + oil.

I can say, if you had factory mounts, there would be only a very small amount of adjusting you could do with the mounting brackets anyway. The brackets and such were placed where there just wasn't going to be much movement available. You'd have to do a bit of bending on the fly.

If you don't want gasses building up under the car while sitting and idling, I'd probably place the driver side out just a tad more to match the passenger side. That's just me.

 

[DB87442]

There isn’t a hanger on the drivers side and doesn‘t appear to have ever been one. There is a little bit of play on each one but nothing excessive. I’m curious how you know it’s not a factory hanger? Is it the type of hanger or placement?

After further thought I may go ahead and put some new chrome tips on again (matching this time). It does dress them up nicely and I can adjust them so both sides come out the same.

 

[565bbchevy]

I would get a similar style hanger for the driver's side and try to center the exhaust when installing that one.

 

[69hurstolds]

There isn’t a hanger on the drivers side and doesn‘t appear to have ever been one. There is a little bit of play on each one but nothing excessive. I’m curious how you know it’s not a factory hanger? Is it the type of hanger or placement?

After further thought I may go ahead and put some new chrome tips on again (matching this time). It does dress them up nicely and I can adjust them so both sides come out the same.

The factory and GM replacement pipes have brackets welded onto the back side of the tailpipes. This is where the rubber isolator hangers bolt to. Once bolted up, there's hardly any room for moving them around.

Here's a picture of some NOS VIN9 tailpipes. It's basically the same hanger placement on each side. Need to add, the hangers themselves are slightly different between right and left.

 

[Max Headroom]

You have to put some chrome tips back on. Everybody knows that chrome parts add hp!!! 🙂
Seriously, I would do what it takes to get the end of the exhaust pipe out past the edge of the fender.
My Malibu had a bad habit of filling up with exhaust fumes when I ran her hard for more than a few seconds.
I actually had to have my pipes bent out to make it stop.

 

[DB87442]

LOL. Yes, chrome does add! I think that is the route I’ll go. Looks good and solves the problem.

 

[Screwz]

I would get a similar style hanger for the driver's side and try to center the exhaust when installing that one.

I agree with you it would definitely be the easiest way to make it look even.
this is my old factory mounts

this is where it was

I don’t know if this will help but it’s easy to show since I don’t have gas tank on rear end in the car at this time.