1950s 1959 Cadillac exhaust tip question

[Cadillac Jack 82]

So it looks as if my 59 is finally almost done.  Shop does great work but they're snail slow.  In any case I swung past the shop this AM to get a look at her.  What concerns me is the exhaust tips sticking out.  This doesnt look factory to me although I used Waldrons for the kit.  Any input?

[Cadillac Jack 82]

Photo

[Clewisiii]

The question is how are your exhaust hangers and is there twisting adjustment in the pipes.

I have Waldrons exhaust and hangers from Grant in New Zealand.

My resonator angles down. Not really parallel in the frame. I don't know if this is correct.

After I put bumpers on I may adjust the rubber on the rear hanger to bring it up. Or just trim the tip.

[Big Fins]

This question has been asked for as long as I can remember. For the 1959 Cadillac, the tips of the exhaust are to be just above the lower lip of the bumper and pointed in an 75^o down position with the tips cut in a line square to the ground so as not to be seen.

[Cadillac Jack 82]

Okay looks as if its an easy fix.  I'm not happy with how it looks now.  It appears that the tips were bent too hard of an angle at Waldrons as I remember them being sorta oddly bent when they were on the shop floor.  Also I can see the back end of the resonators too so I assume its a simple adjustment for that?

[Big Fins]

Depending on the circumference of the resonator, you may be able to shorten the rubber isolation strap in the clamp and hanger.

Mine was done custom to the car. The shop is the same one that Harbor Restorations in Melbourne, FL., trailers all their cars to. I walked back and forth to the shop.

[Clewisiii]

I have been debating if I am using the rear hanger improperly. If I flip it to mount the clamp on top of the hanger, instead of hanging below. It looks much more level to the frame.

[Big Fins]

Those clamps should always be tightened from the underside of the car. How would you get a wrench up between the body and the nut on the clamp. You put it on upside down, because you have no body in the way to work. That looks much better the correct way.

[TJ Hopland]

I don't know these cars but flipping that clamp seems like it would make the difference.  At first I was gonna say that lip on the bracket would not be ideal but once you set the cradle part of that clamp there I would imagine the pipe is even with or clears that lip so should work fine as long as its not gonna raise things up too high and start burning carpet in the trunk but its not like this is a cat that is really gonna get hot.

Bolts pointing down also makes some sense.   Hopefully that's also Jack's problem and he has the same mounts so the same fix will work.

[Cadillac Jack 82]

You know what I think flipping it might be a good idea.  Idk how they were installed from the factory?  Seems as if the rear hangars hang low but Grants stuff is spot on so anyone of an authority please respond

[Clewisiii]

Above. Image from parts book.

[Cadillac Jack 82]

Ah okay.  Thank you.  I'll just have to take a look when I get the car back hopefully this week.

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

When I made the exhausts for my '60 CDV, I had the pipes facing down and back, but, one day on a car run, we had to turn around in a quarry at the end of the road, and in doing so, the exhaust pressure kicked up so much dust as I was reversing, the back of the car got totally covered in horrible dust.

The next day, out came the cutters, and I grafted an extension so it would never happen again.

Bruce.

PS.   Down here, it is illegal to have any exhaust output pointing downward towards the road surface.

[Gabe Davis]

I did my exhaust system a couple years ago. It is also from Waldrons. The mounts also came from Grant Owen.

For the final mount on the resonator placing the exhaust clamp at the bottom places the resonator at the right height.





Full thread of the install is here:

https://forums.cadillaclasalle.club/index.php?topic=169595.0

[Cadillac Jack 82]

Thanks for the photo.  It appears your tips are shorter than mine so I may opt to have mine cut.  I'll take a look at it when I get the car back.  I also used the metal flex tubing on mine as well.  Havent seen that yet but I was told it looks nice.

[Cadillac Jack 82]

Looks like she's done although nobody called me to say so.  I'm also a bit pissed at the shop.  They're saying my bill is 3k for a reseal on the trans and an exhaust install.  They only charged me 1800 for some serious work they did to my 66 Toro....

[Big Fins]

The bill says, 1959 Cadillac. What more needs to be said?

[Cadillac Jack 82]

The bill says, 1959 Cadillac. What more needs to be said?

Hahahaha funny but they've done right in the past before.....just this time something seems off by at least a grand if not more.

[59-in-pieces]

Tim,

The tips along with the resonators should not be hanging so low that they can be seen from the side of the car, either side. 

Yes, the exhaust pipes should be twisted when installed to best align the hangers to give proper support.
.
The saddle portion of the hangers should be mounted parallel to the ground below the car.

The diagram accurately depicts the orientation of the hanger and the horse shoe bolts with a lock washer and hex nut below, not above.

Not to pimp the 59-60 Authenticity Manual, there is a section devoted to the exhaust system in far more detail with pictures, especially showing the frame evolutions and the resulting hangers - also provided by Grant.

Do you also have the 2 brackets at the front of the system at the bell housing - a real must have.

If you added the spiral sheathes around the drop downs of the exhaust on both sides up front - a correct installation, provided the were cut correctly with proper clamping locations.

I can't speak to the eccentricities of the "down under" folks like Bruce - but that installation is SO WRONG, for many reasons, not the least of which is that while the car is dialing, exhaust fumes could make their way into the car by way of the trunk etc..

Have fun,
Steve B.

PS
Couldn't find an image insert icon ??

[Cadillac Jack 82]

I'll get a better idea of how she is when I pick her up.  I'm still trying to figure out why my bills 2800 now (200 less than it was a few hours ago)...