Starting to install a Pypes system on my '72. I talked to the guys at Pypes before buying, made sure I had the right part number - SGA42 - duals, H pipe and valance exit tailpipes. I received my system and opened it all up, laying the pieces out and I'm not liking the look of the tailpipes. Both sides have a slight bend a couple feet before the very end. Now granted, I don't have them installed yet.... but I've held them up in place over and over and just don't understand why they have this bend that angles them outward a bit. I am thinking they should be straight out the back, not at a slight angle. I called Pypes after seeing this (but before removing my original exhaust so I didn't' have them over the axle yet) and they confirmed that the part numbers on the tailpipes are correct for my application. Last night I removed the old system and get the new pipes held up in place and it sure doesn't look right. Thought I would ask around here if anyone else with a Pypes system has experienced this.

The tailpipes are the same in all these kits:

SGA12
SGA16
SGA29
SGA42

See attached photo for the slight bend I'm talking about

 

About a year I put a set of pypes 2 1/2 stainless on my ‘72. Before my brother and I welded it up we had to make several adjustments, one of which were bending the tail pipes to match the bumper cut outs. The drivers side was worse than the passenger side. BTW I used Pypes big block down pipes with an X pipe. The down pipes needed to be cut to length, also I cut the stainless flange off and welded an aluminized flange to the down pipes to form a tighter seal to the manifolds. 350 with Thornton manifolds. Good luck with your project.

 

No exhaust kit is truly "bolt-in". You need to take the car to an exhaust shop or cut/re-weld yourself for a perfect fit. It should be able to bolt in and clear everything out of the box though. I'm using the same kit and my exhaust guy ended up cutting off the last 2 feet of the tailpipe and making his own wiggle to get the trumpets centered in the bumper.

 

While I try to find pictures of mine laid out on the driveway I'll pass along this tid-bit on my 1968 4-4-2 system.. I don't know if '72 is same or different. The Pypes system came with the wrong tail pipe hanger for the 4-4-2 cut-out bumper. The hangers they sent as part of the package were for the Cutlass under bumper outlet. The hangars are different parts and mount differently in different locations on the frame rail. See Section 8, page 132 Details C and D in the 1968 PIM/Assembly Manual. Once I got the correct hangers from OldsParts.com (formerly BAP/Brothers) everything lined up.

 

There WAS a system that truly bolt on made by Torque tech (now out of business).

One hour install on jackstands fir a perfect fit.

 

I bought a complete exhaust system from Gardner for my 65 that fit perfectly, a lot of money but to me it was worth it. It also had the correct exhaust tips