Okay so I made it to Vegas from Malibu but my exhaust decided to dump it's manifold flange bolt on the drivers side passing Rancho Cucamonga. I was able to get off and get to the home depot on the next exit and after 2 hours get it semi back together to where it is just an exhaust leak. This got me here, but now need to get a permanent fix in. The exhaust is so janky and held up by freaking coat hangars dumping front of the rear axle, so it was on my list to do. Couple of things. I want to run a as close to stock looking exhaust as possible on the truck.

Can someone confirm for me it was a single exit out the side behind the passenger rear tire? Seems like it is and the look I would like, also hoping to reduce some cabin noise.

Having an exhaust shop put a manifold back exhaust together for me that would Y-pipe into a single muffler, over the axle, and out the side. Buuuuuuut then the wheels get going and I start convincing myself that this I should just do the headers I planned on doing while at it.......

So wanted to see what the current consensus is on best headers to throw on. I really wanted long tubes but after searching it looks like Stan's headers are no longer in business. I was entertaining the Sanderson headers as they seem to be a direct fit but want to make sure they won't inhibit based off future plans. Are there any long tubes that anyone recommends here for our trucks that actually fit?

The long term plan is in a year or two when I bring the truck back to yank out the 390 and build a 445 stroker stump puller in the 500hp/550tq range. Not trying to build a high revving screamer. Would like to build this exhaust with that in mind so was thinking it would be a single 3" or 3.5" exhaust.

Thanks in advance, been doing a lot of searching of old threads but wanted to get y'alls input.

 

If you are looking to run a single exit and want to plan to make upwards of 500hp in the future, you would need at least a 3.5" exhaust. There is a few really good Exhaust Size Calculators out there (that's how I got the apprx 3.5" measurement for a single exit).

 

Years ago I had a 1969 F-100 2 wheel drive automatic with a 360 V-8. I ran some Heddman's long tubes and I had to jerry rig a heat shield for the starter. It was a true dual exhaust system with glass packs and I made them turn out just in front of the rear wheels. I was working for a aftermarket exhaust header company at the time. And they let me use their four post lift and some scrap exhaust tubing. It was one of the better jobs I've had in my life. I don't know if Heddman stills makes any headers for our trucks or not.

 

After more digging it looks like these are the ones. I spoke with the guy at Heddman for a while. It looks like they fit with the factory starter. https://www.hedman.com/product-detail/89830

The instructions are entertaining. "THEY WILL FIT."


I think I am going to upgrade to this ministarter while I am at it. That should make it easier and give it adequate clearance to minimize heat soak.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/pwm-9506m