Body on : Exhaust alignment question

[jakester888]

Check-out these photos. Notice that the driver's side exhaust looks too close to the trailing edge of the fiberglass cut-out, whereas the passenger side exhaust looks too close to the leading edge of the fiberglass cut-out.

I think the solution is : loosen the J-pipes connecting to the headers and adjust/coax each exhaust pipe until it's more centered at the fiberglass cut-out. Correct?

Driver's side:
39110

Passenger's side:
39111

[Jeff Kleiner]

If you have not yet installed the front splash panels do so before going any farther---they will move the lower part of the body behind the wheel openings outward which will change the pipe to body fit. Once you've done that then yes, tweak the J pipe adjustment to get the best fit possible. Keep in mind that FFR undercuts all of the openings so you'll wind up doing a bit of massaging to them for the final fit. I usually use a 1 1/2" drum sander on a pneumatic die grinder or electric drill for this and shoot for ~ 1/2" at the front, ~3/4 at the rear and ~3/4" at the top unless you're using rubber mounts in which case you might open up the top a little on the driver's side.

Jeff

[Gumball]

Agree with Jeff's comments, but will add that you should check and double check this before sending the body for paint. Those who didn't have on occasion had to trim painted fiberglass to get a correct fit.

[CraigS]

Be aware also that, if you move the j-pipes enough to change those gaps, you will be moving the tips of the side pipes a bunch. Then you will need wedges to get the pipes aligned w/ the body. Another thought, although it will cause the same thing just mentioned, would be to slide the trans mount sideways to rotate the entire engine trans unit.