Looks good Drew...I went the same route but had the distinct advantage of having the cab and bed off the chassis when I fabricated the exhaust system. A local metal supply house carries all the bends I used, I believe that they charged me $10 a section.

 

Andrew,

Stamping calls. Working Friday and Saturday OT. maybe next week

 

I'm using the Speedway kit on my panel too. Your exhaust is looking a lot prettier than mine. I'm going with true duals, I've got it together back to the mufflers, trying to decide if I want it to go all the way out the back or kick out in front of the rear tires. Same deal on the creeper, they ain't made for the over 50 crowd.

 

I ran across a tip on the Hamb site about the tape and wasn't sure if it would work that well, but I was pleasantly surprised. I made all kinds of little jigs and fixtures, but the tape was quicker and simpler.

I haven't taken a nap the way you did, but I can see that easily happening.

Thanks guys. Hopefully doing the exhaust myself will be worth the effort.

Welcome to the wonderful world of auto mfg. You never know if the weekends are going to be yours or the company.

Speedway's kit seems to be good quality...no regrets on that purchase. The only reason I didn't go with true duels was to hopefully tone down the exhaust note since it's going to exit through the boards. If I'm not happy with the X-pipe I've got pipes already cut to put in an H-pipe.

 

Drew,
I had not thought of the tape idea, I like it. I purchased 2 304 ss kits from Summit (Pypes is the manufacturer). One kit similar in bends and quantity to yours plus a cross kit. The cross kit pieces were polished and I polished the rest. I got too old for creeper work a couple years ago and my lift was a godsend on the exhaust project. I am exiting out the rear but wanted the cross to also help with exhaust noise since I went with polished "glass packs". One advantage to the ladder chassis design of our trucks is the ability to install a true X. You will make an untold number of creeper trips!

 

I really like working with stainless, but it wasn't in my budget this time around. Post some pics.......I for one would like to see it.

As far as too old for the creeper.....I guess I've been too old for one for a while now, but I'd have to build a new garage to put in a lift and throw away the creeper.

Speaking of the creeper, I had a couple of Kodak moments this week. I had an "old" friend come over that I've known since I was 14. He's in pretty bad health so he doesn't get around very well. To my surprise, he pulled out my creeper an slooooowly got down on it and rolled under my truck. And to top that my wife was knocking around in the garage and darn if she didn't get on the creeper and disappear under the truck to check out my work. I really do need to keep a camera in my shop. That would have been a good picture of my wife's feet sticking out from under the truck.

Guess you could say I've passed 2 "rough in" inspections this week.

 

Drew,
I currently have the fabricated piping sections out of the chassis. I just dynoed my engine last week and need to reinstall the drive train and exhaust. I will try to take some pictures when I get it back together. I am currently working on the cab off the chassis installing some of the interior. The bare cab is in final paint and the chassis is a painted roller. My goal for the winter was to get the painted cab on a fully plumbed up chassis but I also do boats and it is boat prep for launch time.

 

Finally got back on the exhaust system after some unexpected events. The x-pipe has undergone several changes since I first welded it up. I also made a trip to the salvage yard and picked up a pair of flanges that I welded on the rear of the mufflers that would allow me to unbolt the rear sections and remove without the hassle of joints deformed from the usual pipe clamps.





I modified pipe clamps to use for my hangers that used rubber mounts that I picked up at salvage yard. After a lot of creeper time fitting everything up, I dropped by Lowes and picked up rubber pipe stopper in the plumbing section, and used it to pressurize my exhaust segments and check for pinholes and leaks in general. Finally satisfied, I gave everything a coat of high temp black paint.









The exhaust is now back under the truck and I plan to do a redneck wire job to do an engine fire up later this week to cure the high temp paint and to see if the x-pipe will really cure the harsh exhaust note that you usually get with side exit systems.

And there you have it........my on the cheap exhaust system made from an exhaust bend kit, mufflers off another project, exhaust tips and flex joints picked up at swap meets and some salvage yard pieces. Was it worth all the effort.......probably not......would have been a whole lot easier to drag it to the local muffler shop and got out the checkbook. Total cost...a touch over $200, lots of creeper time, sore muscles, and the satisfaction of doing it myself.

 

That looks great. Can't wait to hear your obligatory upcoming video.

 

I might need some coaching on the video thing........never tried it.

 

Looks great (alot better than mine does)!

Nothing like being able to say you did it yourself.