first post...68 cuda exhaust

my son just bought this car.it was a racecar and had a 440 in it but just before we bought it they put a 318 with a 904 trans in.it runs fine and we just have a few things to do before the initial first ride on the street.it has a brand new 3 inch exhaust system in it and it even still has the stickers on the pipes.the pipes come over the rear housing and then right into the wheeltubs before exiting along the stock gas tank.this leaves very little room for some big meats in the back.im thinking of just taking the rear pipes off at the mufflers and running turn downs angled slightly outward.
any ideas on this good or bad?
we also want to inboard the springs and mini tub it.this seems like there would be no room for exhaust routed the way it is now using the stock tank.