Custom Exhaust

Exhaust:

I developed a fairly simple custom exhaust system for my pickup over the last few years. I went through a few iterations and think it is quite nice now. It is built with off-the-shelf components and requires no welding or specialized tools. My first iteration was to remove the stock muffler and run with just the resonator. Can you say LOUD! Next I added a 24" glass pack and this was not much better, then added a resonator tip, but it was still too loud.

Here's what I ended up with:

I replaced the 1-5/8" resonator pipe that runs down the center tunnel with a length of 2" S/S straight pipe. It connects to the header with a pair of couplings to flare the 1 5/8" down tube to the 2" pipe. Standard u-bolt exhaust clamps are used here. At the back of the pipe, I use 2-90 degree sections of 2" pipe to form an S-curve up to the muffler location. The muffler is an 18" S/S Borla turbo muffler. The muffler hangs from the stock muffler hangers using the original rubber donuts with a length of plumbers strapping looped through them. Out of the back of the muffler, I ran a length of S/S flex-tubing over the axle and down to a final 90 degree section and out to a dual-outlet muffler tip. The tip hangs from a S/S bolt attached to the vertical spot weld seam behind the rear tire. A piece of steel loops over it and down between the two outlet pipes.

Here's some shots of the system:

On the left, you see the straight tube connected to the stock down pipe. At the end of the cab, two 90 degree elbows (lower one visible) lead up to the muffler (not shown), then flex tube leads down to the resonator tip, shown on the right.

Parts list and cost (mostly from JC Whitney):

Qty	Description	Cost (US $)
7'	2" OD T409 S/S pipe	40.00
5'	2" ID T304 S/S flex tubing	20.00
3	2" OD 90 degree mandrel-bent tubes	20.00
1	Borla S/S turbo muffler	90.00
	Misc clamps and hangers	25.00

Total cost was around $200 and I've now been running parts of the exhaust since 1992. So far it is working great. I've got a bit of rust on the plain steel bent tubes, need to touch up the galvanize paint there. I went nearly full stainless. The cost would be much less if you went with galvanized pipe and an aluminized muffler.

Rating:
  

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Last updated: 08.MAR.1999