Exhaust
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Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 8,501
Likes: 4
From: Lynchburg, VA
Exhaust
So my truck ('79 f150 custom) is in relatively great shape, but its got its share of problems. (One of the 2 PO's obviously liked to do his own wiring
) I noticed when I was undercoating the frame this weekend that the exhaust sits directly on the frame in several places. When I got the truck, it had a flowmasters sticker on the back window, but Im wondering if its just the mufflers that are flowmasters. The whole system looks questionable; crappy bends, poor supporting, etc. Its got a great sound, but ive found that the exhaust will rattle sometimes at idle. Has anyone had any experience with doing their own exhaust system? Buying pre-bent pieces and welding them yourself? Ive got about 5 years of welding under my belt and know what Im doing for the most part. Id do dual, use the old headers, and ditch the cat since we dont have emissions inspections in NC. Any advice or opinions would be greatly appreciated.
) I noticed when I was undercoating the frame this weekend that the exhaust sits directly on the frame in several places. When I got the truck, it had a flowmasters sticker on the back window, but Im wondering if its just the mufflers that are flowmasters. The whole system looks questionable; crappy bends, poor supporting, etc. Its got a great sound, but ive found that the exhaust will rattle sometimes at idle. Has anyone had any experience with doing their own exhaust system? Buying pre-bent pieces and welding them yourself? Ive got about 5 years of welding under my belt and know what Im doing for the most part. Id do dual, use the old headers, and ditch the cat since we dont have emissions inspections in NC. Any advice or opinions would be greatly appreciated.
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,357
Likes: 1
From: Alston, MI
summitracing.com sells full exhaust systems for these old trucks for a touch over $200. the only thing they don't include are the mufflers (but you can pick up glasspacks for like $20-30). as for going with prebent pipe, i personally wouldn't on a resto project because it just looks like it was slapped together with what was on hand. save the prebent stuff for small exhaust fixes. if you don't want to buy a full exhaust for the truck, then buy some exhaust mounts and get your hands on a set of torches, heat the pipe at spots where it's too high and bend it down. i've done my own full exhaust out of a swingset, but that was because i was broke and needed some kind of exhaust on it. i basically stuck to what i just told you and it turned out fine (with using the torches to bend high points down).
if you want to hear what mine sounded like, click the link in my sig
if you want to hear what mine sounded like, click the link in my sig
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 3,038
Likes: 4
From: South west Idaho
Though out the years i have been building up old cars and trucks, since about the 1970s or longer. I have found out a good shop that knows how to bend pipe correct can do a complete dual system for what it will cost me in materials by not having a bending machine . Then i have all my time getting the parts together and doing it. There is less joints to weld up and give problems later if the pipe is bent to fit. Then if it rattles i can take it back and tell them to fix it. But i will end saying if you like doing your own work like i do on most things ,then go to it. Exhaust is one i just don't like to do . good luck . JIM
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,357
Likes: 1
From: Alston, MI
yeah your probably better off welding it because the weather will eventually get to the clamps and then you can't get the clamps off haha. i was thinking of buying one of those exhausts for mine but i decided against it and just having a local guy route the exhaust on it.
