Got a little problem. I was taking inventory and noticed my muffler I got is a 2 1/4" not a 2 1/2" which I think I went this route to attach the muffler directly to the OE style 2 1/4" tail pipe and use a 2 1/2" to 2 1/4" reducer before the muffler.

Problem is the walker tail pipe I got for my '82 is not 2 1/4" though. I can slide the 2 1/4" muffler completely over the pipe itself easily with room to spare. I think the shrunken inlet side is around 1 3/4" to fit.

This part number is Walker 45746 which is listed for a '82. I did go slightly newer and found a Walker 45859 that doesn't appear in photos to have this shrunken inlet but it also looks like it uses a rubber doughnut style hanger not the bolt on hanger like the tail pipe I have now.

Does anyone here know of a premade tail pipe for these trucks? I don't want to go to an exhaust shop as they all will do some horrible mounting techniques that I wouldn't be surprised to see them to screw mounts into my wood bed for the exhaust.

Only other option would be to cut the tail pipe and put a reducer but with how small the tail pipe is already I am afraid of choking my engine down by doing this.

 

Can you buy an expander? but don't think you could get 1/2" out of it. I don't do exhaust work, I send it too a good shop I found.

 

Honestly I rather just have a stainless tail pipe bent with proper oem hanger mount. but no shop will do that and I could have a shop just bend up something custom to fit but they like to use self tapper screws for the generic hanger brackets and I can just see them screwing the short screws into the wood bed of my truck and then I have to deal with falling exhaust.

Only thing I could do outside of seeing if Waldron Exhaust can build me a stainless steel tailpipe vs a whole exhaust kit and put the OEM bolt on hanger not the doughnut hanger. If they cant or wont do it, only other option I might have to do is just put a turn down on the muffler infront of the axle which I don't want to do.

But I do have an expander though I could try to make it fit. just wondering on this 45859 tail pipe its for a '83 and up truck but it shows a doughnut hanger but I could always cut that hanger off remove the hanger on the pipe I have and level the tail pipe up and weld this one on. But hate to pay for another tail pipe and shipping and it doesn't fit my muffler either.

 

Might have found a place that might be able to help me on the tail pipe. They have a listing for 2 1/4" right hand tail pipe. Only thing now is I need to do some digging and see if the 302 and 351 equipped F150s used the same 2 1/4" tail pipe. Starting to wonder if I should try to return my 2 1/4" magnaflow muffler for a 2 1/2" and just run 2 1/2" from y pipe to tail pipe with no step down.

 

Looks like 80 to 82 is one tail pipe and 83 to 86 is different.

Question, the doughnut rubber hanger found on the 83 to 86, does the frame mount interchange with the 80 to 82 location?

I'm at work and away from my parts catalog but this company has a 83 tail pipe that might work and actually fit my 2 1/4" magnaflow muffler unlike the Walker replacement for 82 that is way too small.

 

If you want a larger tailpipe, look one up for a 460 or a diesel. Sometimes the 460's had small dual tailpipes with a one in two out muffler. But the diesel was always single and larger. But the diesel will always be a long wheelbase also, so if you have a short bed truck it may not work.

 

Well my thing is I don't know if I truly need a larger tail pipe. I think the 351W powered trucks had the same 2 1/2" exhaust with 2 1/4" tailpipe.

I would gladly run the 2 1/4" tailpipe but I haven't found one that will fit my 2 1/4" muffler. The '82 walker tail pipe I got is reduced on the muffler end and the reduced end is like 1 3/4" with the main pipe being 2" as the whole pipe easily slides into the 2 1/4" muffler.

Problem is 82 from my parts guide indicates the tail pipe was only available as part of the muffler. I am fixing to look up '83. The 83 tail pipe I found doesn't have the reduced size at the muffler but it has a different hanger that uses rubber doughnuts for attachment. I also need to see if the doughnut attachment bracket bolts on the frame in the same location for a '83. If it does then I will just simply unbolt my '82 hanger from the frame and bolt on the '83 hanger and use doughnuts.

My biggest concern is finding a tailpipe that will fit my muffler.

Then the next problem I have I am wondering about is if I should have a 2 1/2" muffler and reduce it to 2 1/4" at the tail pipe or should I keep my 2 1/4" muffler and reduce my 2 1/2" pipe to 2 1/4" at the muffler inlet.

I don't believe it would make a difference one way or another and running the Magnaflow XL3 muffler it should outflow the stock muffler any day so the only restriction might be the smaller 2 1/4" tail pipe itself.

In any case if the '83 hanger bracket will fit I might be able to get a 83 muffler bracket for the bed as well and replace my oem one and then I can get one of those clamp on doughnut mounts on the exhaust vs trying to weld up something or fabricate something.

~Update~
Well apparently 80 - 86 were all the same like I thought. So now the big question is why are they selling 83 - 86 tail pipes with a doughnut style hanger while 80 - 82 use the strap style hanger. I checked my parts and illustration guide and the drawing shows 80 - 86 with the strap. It also says even for 84 that the tail pipe is serviced with the muffler. So now I have to figure out what my course of action is. the '83 - '86 tail pipe from walker does look like it might be all the same size at the inlet with a different mount. But hate to spend $40 only to find out it still is not 2 1/4" and wont fit my muffler.

Think this '83-86 tail pipe would be my best bet to do the installation on my own. Only draw back is I have to brain storm how to do the mount. I cant weld the bracket from my new walker tail pipe onto this other pipe as I tried welding on the pipe before on the truck to my thrush glass pack and it just spit and popped and wouldn't do a good strong weld. I wouldn't trust doing that. I guess I could do a aftermarket style doughnut mount to use a rubber doughnut to the hanger bar that is on the tail pipe already. But at least I know this pipe will fit, 2 1/4" OD on the tail pipe Heartthrob exhaust has and my magnaflow muffler is 2 1/4" ID. The walker tailpipe I got is like 1 3/4" OD at the end.

 

Well little update to help other people possibly that might have this problem in the future.

I was informed that for '82 model year the 302 and 351W engine options both used the 2 1/4" diameter tail pipe. So if you have a 302 and build it as a 306 or as a 347 stroker you will be fine exhaust wise with 2 1/4" tail pipes for a street performance engine.

For those that have an '82 like mine that uses the plate style hanger and not the '83 style that uses the rubber doughnut, do not buy the walker tail pipe that is listed for an '82 with the correct hanger. This tail pipe is made considerably smaller than 2 1/4" and will not fit a 2 1/4" ID muffler.

With that said one option is the '83 year model tail pipe but it uses a rod style hanger for use with the rubber doughnuts. This pipe how ever produced by AP is 2 1/4" through and through with mandrel bent tubing. It should fit a 2 1/4" ID muffler. I haven't received mine yet.

Another option which I will be taking though since I prefer the stainless steel option would be Waldron exhaust. For $140 I was informed they offer a OEM tail pipe for '82 with OEM hangers made out of stainless steel. I wont know shipping till next week. I will be buying this how ever but they do have a wait time as all pipes and pipe kits are custom made when you order. I rather go this route as I don't want to cut up a new pipe and weld the hanger off the incorrect walker pipe I bought first. So for me I will be contacting Rockauto to see if they will give me a return label to ship the tail pipe back to them if the Waldron tail pipe is correct.

I know not everyone is looking for stainless but for under $90 they also offer regular aluminized steel as well. I personally am only looking at stainless steel as I have a oem looking Magnaflow XL 3 chamber tube muffler that is stainless and would like for it along with the tail pipe which both are visible on the truck when in OEM location to look the same.

 

Truck parts catalog sez: Tailpipe furnished with muffler only.

 

That it does. Replacement mufflers for these trucks can be had in proper 2 1/2" inlet and 2 1/4" outlet but no tail pipes of proper size for 80 - 82, I got the walker one for an '82 has the correct mount but they shrunk the inlet so small it is 1 3/4" and the main pipe is about 2" in diameter which means it never will fit a replacement stock sized muffler.

I did order a '83 tail pipe but it uses a different mount than the '82 so I will have to wait till next week when Waldron Exhaust gets back with me on a shipping quote for their tailpipe. If its not too much I might just return the '83 tail pipe vs cutting the rod hanger off and trying to weld the OEM style hanger from the walker tail pipe onto the correct '83 pipe.

Plus I had wanted a stainless steel tail pipe anyways to match the stainless steel Magnaflow XL 3 chamber muffler I got which looks identical to the OEM tube muffler. Waldron can do it in stainless I just have to ensure via photo the '82 tail pipe they make will have my correct hanger.

 

I just put a walker tailpipe on my diesel. It came with the hook welded to the pipe to slip into the rubber donut. Mine is all messed up, so I have been using the part below for many years now. It will usually rust up and need replacing when the pipe needs replacing, so I just buy a new one. I leave the original hook on the pipe, it does no harm.

 

I have that on my wish list over on summit. I been thinking about using that as the hanger at the muffler. OEM mufflers had a bolt on hanger that was welded to the muffler itself and you cant purchase that piece. I figured I would take this and figure where to put a 90* bend in the strap and bolt it to the cross member under the bed where the OEM hanger is still bolted at.

The pipe for '83 that I have coming in it doesn't have any kind of hanger mount at the muffler but it does have a rod type hanger at the rear wheel which I think I might have to cut off in order to weld the correct hanger from the incorrect walker tail pipe.

Why I am seriously thinking about just getting the Waldron pipe if the shipping is not too much. She told me it has the correct OEM hanger for '82 and I can get it made out of stainless like I really want. I don't mind about running aluminized steel at the Y pipe or the intermediate pipe but muffler back I want stainless as you can see it hanging under the truck.

Another thing is I also got some of those stainless steel band clamps for exhaust in 2 1/4" I need to get some in 2 1/2" for my Y pipe back to my 2 1/2" to 2 1/4" reducer at the muffler. Ive used them at work before and they hold tight and have no leaks. Best part is they don't crush the pipe like the old style clamps so if you want to disassemble you can simply remove the band clamp and pull the pipe apart with ease.