Survivor question...

My yellow T/A still wears all but one muffler of the original exhaust system (clamps and hangers included).

Just prior to me getting the car the 3rd owner replaced the original drivers side muffler with a NOS one. I also got another NOS one in the deal.

For the most part all other parts are in pretty good shape except the one original muffler (pass side), it is rusted thru in spots and sounds bad.

My question is do I replace the entire exhaust system or just the parts that need it...and I'm going to remove the one time NOS muffler and replace with correct repops.

I have all the other parts to replace everything...but want to stay as true as I can to survivor status.

Thoughts?

If the rest of the exhaust is in good shape, I would replace the one muffler. I don't understand removing the NOS one that is on there now, unless you have to original ones to kinda match the rest of the exhaust. Are the NOS ones not correct or something? Any detail pics of the front suspension?

I'd remove the entire exhaust system as an assembly and replace it with reproduction parts. When an original wear item is that worn out it really doesn't make much sense to leave it on the car to wear further and in most peoples opinion replacing it will not take the car out of "Survivor" status either, just as long as you hang onto the original parts.

So, by all means, if you do swap it out keep the original stuff and hang it in the rafters or some other easy to access area near the car. Nuts bolts, clamps etc. should stay with it as well neatly marked and bagged, maybe even toss in a CD with lots of pics before removal for future reference value.

The exhaust system will not make a difference in the judging of your car in a survivor class IMHO. Even paint only has to be 85% original IIRC?

If correctness really is a concern, get repop pipes and hang the two NOS mufflers on there or get repop mufflers and paint them black to appear NOS. Unless someone crawls under there to check the date code on the mufflers, I think you'd be ok. And as Scott mentioned, and I'm sure you know to do this, keep the original system stashed, so it can go with the car if it's ever sold.

PS- I LOOOOVE your 2 T/A's!! My first T/A was an FY1- Mr.Norms car. I really miss that car

Thanks guys,
From your inputs...I'm going to replace the mufflers and tips with repops from Dales Cuda Shop (good guy alert) and keep the headpipes inplace for now. I really do not want to test my luck removing the bolts/nuts from the manifolds this close to the NATS.

I'll keep all original parts for display on the wall.

Thanks
Brian

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