Wanted to see what everybody would think of a couple exhaust options I'm rolling around in my head...and see what you all have done.
I have an 82 F100 with a 460 (Swap obviously). I recently put a set of Hooker headers on and have a "temporary" set up to just have mufflers on it to get it to the exhaust shop.

I wanted to run each exit out right in front of each rear tire but due to the location of the fuel tank...this won't be possible. So the way I see it, I have 2 options:

1) run each out behind the rear tires OR
2) run both out the passenger side in front of the rear tire.

My neighbor has his like #2 with some nice angled tips and it sounds and looks nice.

What do you all think? I'm running 2.5" pipes. I don't prefer the out the back under the rear bumper option.

Anyone have any pictures of how they ran theres would be great

 

One option I used on my old truck was to put a 90 degree bend right at each header outlet, and shot under the frame rail on each side. Then I put another 90 degree bend pointing up to the floorboard and to the rear at a 45 degree angle on the outside of the frame rail on both sides. This puts the exhaust up high on the outside of each frame rail so you can't see it, and then I put another 45 on each side to level it out, then cats, mufflers, and then another 45 on each side turned just right to clear the edge of the bed, and bring it out in front of each back tire.

If you do it this way, you will see the pipes on either side crossing under the frame, but the rest of the exhaust is up out of sight and harms way. I put a hanger from a piece on the either side of the bed, but if you wanted to get fancy, you could make a bracket that bolts to the outside of the frame and extends out to hang the exhaust on.

 

Thanks Dave....I had though of that as well. My "temporary" set up now has it running under the transmission cross member so your option would basically be the same.

How does that look? Going under the frame would be visible but does that seem to look ok? Must be ok with you or you would have changed it

 

I've seriously considered Dave's approach for mine. Haven't made a decision yet, but that's the way I'm leaning.

As for your stated options, I think dual exhaust ought to sound like dual exhaust, and bringing them out together on the same side doesn't do that IMHO. I know the Lightnings did that, but it just doesn't sound right to me.

But, in all of this take into account what mufflers you will use as a loud muffler and exiting ahead of the rear tire may be loud in the cab. In fact, a lot of guys report droning in the cab if the exhaust exits too far forward.

 

Just having the single smooth pipes hanging down up front didn't look bad. What looks bad is if you keep the whole exhaust at the same height where you can see the cats and the mufflers hanging down. That looks bad.

I don't think you are going to get away with getting it all tucked up high so you can't see it, since the headers come out so low. So you will have a little bit hanging down up front anyway.

 

That's a fact....the way I have them now they just turn down right behind the cab...the windows are rattling. Might be kinda cool...for a couple minutes

I'm liking the idea of putting it outside the frame rails more and more. Any other option takes both mufflers to the passenger side opposite the fuel tank and then splitting it back out or exit on one side. Neither is Ideal.

Thought of relocating the fuel tank too but that's just too much effort.

 

P.S. Gary's concern about the droaning is a valid one, but I have found it only happens if you let the very tip of the pipe stop between the body and the road. So long as the tip extends beyond the body just a little bit, you won't have it. The short exhaust is louder, but I was running turbo mufflers with the headers, so it was just right to me. With glasspacks or some other louder muffler it may be too much. The inspection guys made me but a cat on each side to pass inspection, and after that I lost that good sound I had with just the mufflers. Possibly a louder muffler with the cat would have been the right combo, but it was too late after that.

 

I'm almost thinking that I should have gone with a set of "shorties"...then the pipes could be routed over the tranny crossmember. Too late for that!!

 

Thankfully I won't have that problem. Here in Georgia, anything past 25 years don't require inspection. I just put a cheap set of Raptor turbo mufflers on there ($25 each from summit)...they should pretty good I think.

 

Dave....went your route. Thanks for the suggestion...I really like it given the options!! Looks nice...sounds good. No reverb back into the cab. Quieter than I thought it would be but that good. When I drive by a curb, building or car I can hear it so I know it's sounding good...just not bouncing back into the cab.

The pip don't hang down or is not any more visable then the headers so looks ok!!!

 

What did the muffler shop say when you suggested it? I did mine myself with elbows and sections you buy at the store(I had to go to 2 or 3 stores to get enough to do it). Sometimes they moan and groan a little bit if they think you are doing something that you shouldn't be, or doing something a little bit difficult for them.

 

He said he's done a few like that and almost prefers it. With the headers hanging down that far, it doesn't add much more down there. It also makes it much easier then trying to get them up and ove the cross member with such little room.

The thing I noticed after they were on was now much it left open around the tranny / cross member to work on. If you get them up and over the cross member then you have to cross the drivers side under the rear of the tranny or drive shaft. Not that pipe is in the way if you ever need to bring any of that down.

 

He did say that if he does it on a 4x4 that will be out beating around...he has recommended them to put some nerf bars or something to hit on besides the pipe...something to protect it

 

Looks good! That's the way I'm thinking of going.

 

I do think I will have to put a heat shield on my starter. I stopped at teh store on the way home and it didn't want to turn over. Thinking I may be getting that starter too hot with those headers.