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I am in need of a new exhaust system for my 1948 F-3, 226H engine, 122'' wheelbase as close as possible to original. Any thoughts or recommendations as to who would be a good vendor?
Ed
near Philadelphia
I don’t much experience, but I got my exhaust from Waldren’s exhaust. Mine is a dual exhaust conversion, but I believe this is the one you’re looking for.
I just went to a Mom and Pop muffler shop in a very rural area. They had a bender and were able to pretty much duplicate the original system. It cost well under $200 if memory serves. Good luck.
I just went to a Mom and Pop muffler shop in a very rural area. They had a bender and were able to pretty much duplicate the original system. It cost well under $200 if memory serves. Good luck.
Jim
I guess that depends on geography. I couldn’t find a local shop that would even consider making my exhaust. They all said anything on the old vehicles was opening a can of worms and wouldn’t get involved. I even had a brake shop refuse to machine my brake drums.
That's too bad, Bob. I watched your dash cam video and was favorably impressed with your area. It was quite different from how I imagined New Jersey would look like. I guess there's more to NJ than Newark.
I guess we are fortunate to have shops around who can still do just about anything. My often mentioned mechanic friend (since retired) did exhaust work, alignments, engine and transmission swaps, anything auto electric, and there was even a time when he did body work and painted cars in his shop.
Ed's neighborhood, unfortunately, might be similar to yours when it comes to old school shops that work on anything and don't charge $100 + per hour.
That's too bad, Bob. I watched your dash cam video and was favorably impressed with your area. It was quite different from how I imagined New Jersey would look like. I guess there's more to NJ than Newark.
LOL…f you’ve flown in Newark airport, you’re not in Newark, it’s in Elizabeth. That whole area is what we affectionately call “the armpit of the nation”. I’m only 30 miles away. All of central NJ looks like what you saw in the vid. Head north and there are foothills, lakes, steams, campgrounds. Head south and you hit the pine lands, miles and miles of pine forests.
I guess we are fortunate to have shops around who can still do just about anything. My often mentioned mechanic friend (since retired) did exhaust work, alignments, engine and transmission swaps, anything auto electric, and there was even a time when he did body work and painted cars in his shop.
Ed's neighborhood, unfortunately, might be similar to yours when it comes to old school shops that work on anything and don't charge $100 + per hour.
Jim
Ed is only about 60-70 mines from here, but you never know who’ll you run into.
I just bought a complete stainless steel exhaust system for my f1 from Chucks Trucks which is an exact copy of the original. I even managed to score a set of limited run exact copy reproduction brackets and I had those ceramic coated in silver. He also has an aluminized option for a bit less. The SS wasn't that much more and Im in love with this truck and will keep it as long as Im around so figured why not.
Theres also someone on Ebay that sells a stock system but I can't vouch for the fit or quality of the work. But it looks okay from pictures.
Waldron makes a good exhaust for our flatheads. I am running it on our 52 F1. It’s the single pipe stainless kit. They have different choices on the muffler. I went with the most aggressive they had and it sounds pretty mean. It’s pretty much a straight pipe so you do get some popping going down hills, etc.
Chucks exhaust hanger kits are exact to originals.
Thanks for all the recommendations on exhaust suppliers, I have actually found that the problem with my exhaust is with the manifold gasket on one exhaust cylinder so I will replace those gaskets. Should I prop the exhaust control manifold open or closed as I do not have the counterweight or spring
Ed
near Philadelphia
You want the flap open so the engine will breathe. If it's working correctly, it's only closed for a short time until the engine begins to warm up, to help with the warm up in cold weather.