VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1937-1945 exhaust spring?

question,

why is there a spring hooked on the exhaust pipe on my 40 sedan?
i would think that there would be a exhaust hanger to the frame in that spot.
maybe it has an other purpose?

still scratching my old bald head.

bubbatom

Bubba,

I don't really know. It seems that such a question came up a little while age. It may have something to do with the clutch return. Can't remember.

My best guess would be that it's to hang a bucket on so that whenever the car encounters a bump (any bump, no matter the size) it will catch the oil dropping from the old 216 engine.

You see, if one catches enough of the oil, one could then strain it through a doubled up shop rag (maybe twice to get it right clean lookin') and then dump it back into the engine. Sort of making your very own filter. Time intensive, sure, but thrifty given the cost of oil and helps the environment, too. You know.

Please share the answer, if it comes to light.

Best,
Charlie

BTW: One would need several stratigitically located buckets in order to catch enough for it to be fiscally worthwhile. One can detect the pattern by eyeballing the garage floor or, if from Tennessee, where the weeds have died. Just kidding.

ha! ha!

that was good as my wife saying that it's to drag the exhaust pipe along when it breaks (rusts) off.

the pipe seems to be ridged tight, no slop.

i'll try to search to see if there is any information.

bubbatom

I haven’t spoken to this question in the past discussions, but as a kid working in my fathers gas station most every Chevrolet vehicle had the exhaust pipe spring on the late thirties and through the 48 model years. The Chevrolet vehicles in those years that are missing the spring frequently have what appears to be sagging exhaust systems between the manifold and muffler after usage. My theory is that Chevrolet installed a spring to help support the vertical load and minimize the sag condition, and since the exhaust system in that area needs to have some freedom of movement along with the engine motions, a spring is a way to accomplish both, support and movement.

To quote the 1935 Engineering Manual;
Exhaust pipe spring mounting
During the 1934 season, a spring mounting was added to provide a better support for the exhaust pipe. This is located about midway between the engine and the silencer (muffler) and consists of a spring clipped to an integral clip on the pipe and to the frame. This mounting prevents forward surge of the exhaust system upon sudden stops which was liable to occur when the exhaust pipe was hot.

i guess that makes sense.

my second guess was that it (the spring) kept the pipe from sagging when getting very hot.

go figure. the old timers had a reason for it.

on to the next question.

bubbatom

Did the 1941 chevrolets have a spring on the exhaust pipe

yes

Anybody got pictures of the 1941

can anyone tell me what color of paint is used in the indentations in the bumper guards on a 41 chevrolet

When I bought my 41 in 1979 they were painted red, and after I had them rechromed I used model paint to reprint them.