I am going to be needing the complete exhaust system shortly for my F-2 with a 226 6 cylinder.

Chuck is the only vendor that I've seen who carries the system for the F-2, everyone else is F-1 only. It's listed at $460, and I'm sure shipping will be a killer.

Has anyone had a muffler shop build the entire exhaust? If so, what's a reasonable expectation on cost? Are there any good diagrams that show the routing?

My previous restorations have all been cars, so exhaust systems were much cheaper and easily ordered/shipped from vendors.

 

Print a diagram of the muffler system and go to a muffler shop and have them give you an estimate. I think a family owned garage that does exhaust work would be better than a chain store.

 

I agree with Abe. A good local exhaust shop will be a good bet. And I can't imagine that system would be too expensive, as it's mostly straight pipe to make up the extra length over an F-1 or even a car.

 

Why make a drawing, just take the truck down to the shop and have them install the system. I had the exhaust system installed on my '49, 226, many years ago and it cost as much to have the shop do it than if I would have bought the parts. Plus I didn't have try to make it fit while laying on the ground. I have a lift now but I would still take it to a shop. For my daily driver the muffler rusted out. I checked the MacParts stores and none of them had a direct fit muffler, I called the muffler shop and had a perfect fit muffler installed in an hour for maybe $25 more than if I would have bought the misfit MacParts store muffler.

 

My local muffler shop charges way too much to make bends and make a system from the manifold back.
There is a seller on E-Bay who makes a real good aluminized system for the F-1. I've bought two set-ups from him and the quality and fit is good. Each in instance I added about 14" to the pipe near the rear axle to make it fit the F2 and F3. Those parts I bought at the local Advance Auto for about $25 including clamps. So a 226 F-1 system will fit a F2 and F3. Just need a straight pipe extension and hanger.
Here is a link to the guy selling the system. I recommend him. I saved $250 by doing it myself with these parts.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1948-1949-1...EAAOSwZvldFYTY

Tom

 

Thanks Tom, that’s what I was hoping to hear.

I saw his listing on eBay, and messaged him to ask if they make longer pipes for the F2. Really glad to hear that you can extend them yourself. I was guessing that all the extra length would be found in the straight section, but I don’t have any originals to compare. You confirmed it though.

 

Do you have any photos of the system installed?

 

I guess I'm lucky. The shops around here are pretty good and are decently priced. I just don't like screwing with exhaust if I don't have to. Be very careful when messing with the exhaust manifold. I would highly recommend installing the exhaust pipe to the manifold first and making sure you have it supported really good before moving to the muffler. You don't want to stress the flange of the manifold. I had mine installed on my truck and thought I had it supported pretty good but when I trailered it home I ended up breaking the flange I happened to have a parts truck I was able to get the replacement from.

I have found many times I have gotten a better deal if I let a pro do the work, not necessarily truck related stuff but other things. I need new springs for my shop doors since I added insulation. I called in a local guy who is highly recommended and he said he could replace both sets of springs, add bracing for $1300. He weighed the doors for $100 which I didn't think was too bad considering his travel and time to do the work. He also gave me the part numbers of the springs. Just for the heck of it I went to Menards, the local dealer for the doors, and the part would cost me $1000. For $300 I can have him mess with the springs, which I don't want to touch.

 

I prefer to order a pre made exhaust since they are copied from an original. They have the correct routing and bends, no "eye balling" it to just make it fit. If you have a line up on a good shop though, that can be worth it too.

Tom,

I messaged the seller on eBay that you provided, and he said he also makes them for the F-2. He's going to get one made up within a week and will post the listing on eBay. Same price as the F-1 system, $295 plus $55 shipping.

$350 total sounds pretty good to me.

 

Yes, that total price is a bargain. It's real cool of him to make the pipe fit an F2 for the same price. That will save you $25 and a bit of time.
Be prepared to get creative on your hangers. There isn't a good place to support it near the rear fender so I had to get a couple of hangers and cobble together one to get the height I wanted. I hope that guy gets the length right cause you want some clearance from the rear fender so it doesn't make contact with the pipe. I have a spare tire mounted under there so had to mess with the straight piece's length, and twisting the tail pipe and over-axle pipe different ways in the loose clamps before tightening to get everything to play nice with each other.

I don't have a good picture of my exhaust and my truck is now stored five miles away. I looked through pictures but it was all of the engine area which is self-evident. But this is the only one I have. The spare tire wasn't in place yet.

Oh, Bob is very, very correct. When you install the pipes you want to do the manifold piece first and get a very firm tight hanger in place to support the weight of the next weight of the muffler.
Tom

 

Thanks for the advice and the photo Tom, I'll post some photos when I get the exhaust system from him.

 

Based on Tom's recommendation I bought the same exhaust system for my "'50 F-1, 226. It worked out great.

 

That price is really good, actually. My local shop is great, but they couldn't match that price at all. It would be at least double that to have them do it.

 

I just got done installing his exhaust system on my 49 F3. I'm happy with it and you should be also.

 

Did you use the F1 kit and lengthen it, or did he build one for the longer wheel base?