new to exhaust systems, have a few questions...

[mean 351 bronc']

ive been searching topics on here, about exhaust systems. i have a few dumb questions though. what exactly is a glasspack? what is a cherrybomb? is it legal to run home made manderal 3'' from the headers? id like to check some of this stuff out for my bronco project. thanks guys.

[BrianA]

I think from a historical standpoint, Cherry Bombs mufflers were about the best know of the "glass-pack" style mufflers. They are about as simple as you can get - a piece of perforated pipe that the exhaust gas flows through, is surrounded by a larger pipe (closed off on both ends). The area between the two pipes is packed with fiberglass, hence the term "glass pack".
They work purely by absorbing the sound waves (same as a silencer on a firearm). Hold one up and look through the middle and is a straight open shot, no restriction at all.
(howstuffworks.com has some good simple explanations about auto exhaust systems.)
Cherry Bomb is a tradename and they do make other style mufflers.

As far as what is legal and what is not - I can't see there being a law aginst 3" pipe, but as for the rest of the system that will vary greatly from area-to-area based on local noise ordinances, emmission laws, etc.