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So my exhaust on my 302 has tons of little hold in it, especially up near the block. Wheres a good place to get a new exhaust system? Is there someplace that sells the entire dual exhaust system for these trucks. Should i invest in headers for the 302?
A lil 302 needs all the help i can get with these heavy trucks. So "yes" on headers!
In terms of completing the exhaust, bring it to a good shop and tell them exactly what you want. I'd spec dual exhaust using 2.5-inch tubing if they use crimped bends because the effective diameter will be reduced to 2.25 inches.
If they use true mandrel bends, then I'd spec 2.25-inch tubing because it'll be that diameter throughout. It would also save a few bucks over 2.5-inch tubing.
Thanks for all the info. As far as headers go, I have seen some use shorty and long tube. This truck is not going to be a towing rig, just a round town getter. Any particular brand and length headers I should be looking at? It currently has dual straight pipe from exhaust manifold back, no x or y. It has a set of small round exhaust near the back, almost like the small pass through magnaflows..
No particular recommendations.. I dunno your budget.
However, opt for the thickest flanges in combination with the thickest tubing you can get. I would try to find long tubes with 5/16th thick flanges and 16g tubing.
Flanged collectors or ball collectors.. I'd opt for ball collectors because they compensate for a bit of misalignment. Again, if you can find them.
Then the finish.... ceramic coating is the way to go but the price increases significantly with that option. If opting for painted headers, strip off the factory cheap paint they use because it will flake off in short order and shoot it yourself with high temp header paint after proper prep.
In the end, buy a good welder and have at it with a DIY tubing kit from Summit or Speedway Motors. Options and design creativity sure open up if ya don't have get something off the shelf.
Not sure if your truck meets these requirements, but I put one of these kits on my truck, http://www.lmctruck.com/icatalog/fc/full.aspx?Page=133 only had to make one cut to a pipe, good quality steel and hardware. Took me half a day in the driveway rollin around. These kits are for stock style manifolds. All in a little less than 300 bucks after shipping, you can't beat that with any stick.
Thanks for all the great info.. Time to start shopping and see how much a new custom exhaust is going to cost.
I had a reputable shop in Denver install a complete dual set up from the manifolds back with Flowmaster Series 40 knock off's for about $400. They had it done in less than 2 hours. Absolutely no complaints.
Thanks for all the input guys. Very helpful. I think I'm going to go with hooker long tube headers and the flow master 40's. I'm not taking it all the way back to rear though. Going to have exhaust come back about foot and half of end of manifolds and tuck exhaust under bed frame. Going to go to a local speciality exhaust shop in town and see if this is doable and cost.