I am looking for some input as to weather or not it would be worth putting my 69Z back to stock original condition. The car has the original drivetrain but no documentation. It has been totally restored and is in tip top shape, but would installing a new stock exhaust (manifolds and pipes) plus some other items increase the value of the car much more than it's worth already. After all some of these parts are hard to find not to mention that the people who have them are not ashamed to charge. I don't have much more to go but I'm not made out of money either. I'm guessing some of you guy's may have been in a similar situation and I was wondering what you did. Thanks for any input.

Are you restoring to sell it? If so, changing the exhaust will not add more to the value than the cost of the system....probably less.
When you say original drivetrain, but no documentation, do you mean the VIN stamp is gone? If not, the stamp, if not proven to be a restamp, will speak for itself.

Agree with Unreal. Adding dated-coded correct exhaust manifolds + a Gardner exhaust system plus correct A.I.R. (smog) system will probably set you back $3-$4K. Hard to say if you would get that back out $ for $.

But, it does make the car stand-out as a totally correct stock configured engine bay. That's how mine is going back together. You don't see too many that way. But there will be a performance hit going from headers to cast iron exhaust and stock exhaust.

I would buy the new stuff, and store it some place and run the headers, just keep watching out for a decent price.
This is the only way you will get peace of mind.
Rob

I'm guessing some of you guy's may have been in a similar situation and I was wondering what you did. Thanks for any input.

Yes, I was in the same situation. I decided to go with original parts, not for an increased value of my car but for personal satisfaction. My goal is to get my car as close as possible to how it was when it left the factory. I figure the money I spent on date correct, original exhaust manifolds and smog parts didn't increase the value of my car all that much, but it was worth it to me. I guess you have to decided how important originality is. I wouldn't do it to increase the value of the car, although it does to a certain extent.

Doug

I guess I will just take my time and pick up exhaust pieces as they become available. I'll tell you one thing, the car runs great and sounds great with the headers and flowmaster exhaust. Thanks again for the input.

I'm pretty much in the same boat. It might not be worth it so much today but I believe years down the road we'll be glad we did find the correct dated parts.

As hard as the exhaust manifolds and alternators etc... are to come by now, only means they'll be harder to find in the future and if we have them on a car, it seems like it will have to increase the value.

I still have to draw a line though. Last week I saw a Feb. '69 alternator (837) sell on Ebay for $1,751!!! Needless to say, that was way past my line!!!