Hi Folks. Need some help here. We've got a 78 F-150, 2wd, with a 400M and a C6 in the garage. No matter what we do, we can't seem to locate a dual exhaust kit to fit this truck. In fact, we can't even find an "original" exhaust system to fit this truck. Tried one from LMC, no good. Tried Hedman headers, no good. Now we're stumped. Can't find anyone in the area to custom make an exhaust system for it (too old they say). The truck has the orignial manifolds (can't find headers to fit that clear the #2 cross member). Can anyone recomend an exhaust kit that might fit? Or, does anyone know of headers that we clear the crossmembers? We'd like to run duals, but don't have to. At this point we're desperate, as this is the only thing holding this truck up from being finished. Thanks!

 

Ford never offered a complete exhaust system over the parts counter. Individual parts only.

Ford never offered a dual exhaust system on Ford trucks from this or just about any other time frame.

With 1000's of muffler shops nationwide, the demand for some company to offer exhaust systems unless HiPo or something special is about nil.

Forget the chain stores, try an independent shop. There are 100's of 1000's of owners of old cars that do just that.


A word to the wise: It is very dangerous for someone to route an exhaust pipe near underbed gas tanks, one very good reason few offer this type of system. In a word: Liability.

 

It might help with responses and recommendations. Easy enough to fab one yourself.

 

I've used the Flowmaster U Fit dual exhaust kit before on my Cougar. Very nice kit, easy to create a good solid pipe setup.

 

I know Ford never offered this as original equipment. There are dual exhaust kits (aftermarket, of course) for it, but like I said, don't work. Or at least the ones we found don't work. Just curious if someone found one that did. What I meant by "original" exhaust, was the original style "y-pipe" set-up, which of course is no longer available from Ford, but NAPA sells replacements, but don't fit. We're in North Haven, CT, but can't find a muffler shop to do the custom setup, stock or otherwise. Never tried to fabricate an exhaust system, so I'm not sure where to aquire the pipes, and have them bent (the muffler place down the road doesn't want to know anything about this).

 

You don't have to *bend* anything.. The flowmaster kit includes some 90 degree pieces, some straight pieces, and an X pipe setup.

Basically it's all slip fit. Cut to the size you need, then weld. Easy once you line up the pieces.

Probably took me a full weekend to do on my car, and that includes half a day of head scratching.

http://www.v6z24.com/jbodyforum/files/thumbs/t_000_1026_300.jpg

http://www.v6z24.com/jbodyforum/files/thumbs/t_000_1028_974.jpg

http://www.v6z24.com/jbodyforum/files/thumbs/t_000_1031_191.jpg

http://www.v6z24.com/jbodyforum/file...0_1030_592.jpg



There aren't any kits for the 72-79 Mid Sized Fords either, so I went this route.

 

Had a dual setup put on the 74 F100 that I had.No problem.Just drove in,told the service manager what I wanted.Drove out about 40 minutes later with the dual setup.Had a 302 in it.

Leo

 

A American Muffler Brake
(203) 777-9800 | 335 Whalley Ave New Haven, CTzip code
Search the Web | More Information

http://www.louscustomexhaust.com/locationsmap.html

If you can get the truck to MA then Lou's is worth the drive, I don't think Worcester is all that far from you.

 

http://www.exstremefab.com/
Exstreme Engineering and Fabrication, LLC
39 McDermott Road
North Haven, CT 06473-3634




Ace Andover Custom Exhaust

(860) 742-9212

5 Bunker Hill Rd
Andover, CT 06232

Custom Muffler Of Enfield
Address: 33 Palomba Dr., Enfield, CT 06082
Phone: (860) 741-4344

Fast Go Muffler & Brake
Phone: (860) 646-6801

 

I'd make sure wherever you go can do mandrel bent.. for the $ you're spending it's worth it.

I've seen Lous *Custom* exhaust work. I haven't been impressed. At least on a Honda, the dual setup was dangling. At least they had a Lous decal, heh.

 

Forgot to mention in earlier post.Had exhaust installed on my 84 F150 300 6,from manifold to tail pipe-------$65.00.

Leo

 

Too old to bend custom exhaust? That's a first. Bring it to NJ. I'll do it. nothing is too old LOL.

 

Just thought of something.If the bending equipment is COMPUTER CONTROLLED,they just might NOT be able to bend it up for you.The programing cards only go back so far.IIRC 10 years.The newbys probably ain`t smart enough to freehand bend the pipe.Hehehehehe.

Leo

 

I also wanted an aftermarket dual exhaust kit for my 77 F150 and I only found one that they said would fit my truck, which had a 302 engine and the front gas tank set up. The one I got was from LMC, but it did not fit exactly. Both front down-pipes off the exhaust manifold were not bent correctly, but since the rest of the system was correct I decided to make this kit work and reform the down pipes. I just cut the supplied down pipes in various places to get it to go in the direction I wanted and then MIG welded them back together. I had never done this before and was a little apprehensive as to how hard it was going to be, but it was not too difficult if you take your time and go at one step at a time. To get started all you need is marker, hacksaw, and a roll of masking tape. I just cut the pipe where I felt it was going in the wrong direction and then realigned the two pieces and then held them together with masking tape. I then repeated this procedure until I had the pipe going where I needed it to go. I then removed small sections of the tape and then tack welded them to lock in the orientation before removing them to complete the welds. To make sure I was running my down pipes in the right direction, I laid out the rest of my exhaust system in the truck supporting it with wires and jack stands in the correct positions and then brought the down pipes to them. If you don't have a welder you can just build your exhaust system as I stated and hold it together with masking tape and then bring it to someone else to weld it up.
I was really happy with the way my exhaust system turned out. Since my exhaust was just mandrel bent steel, I removed after welding up the pipes and painted the entire system with Eastwoods High temp silver paint to help prevent it from rusting.
Here's a link to some pictures of my project:

 

300ForMe
Welcome to FTE.
I am not sure which cross member you are talking about, The radius arm or the tranny crossmember. I think both of these can be addressed where you can come straight off the headers (if you still have the headers)
From there it would be an easy home fabrication to finish your exhaust setup.
Even if you want a Y-Pipe. Even though I have never used a Y-pipe on headers, You can go into a dual inlet and single outlet muffler or a dual outlet muffler. You also may want to notch the radius arm crossmember to, even
though I have only had to do the radius arm crossmember notch on one truck
years ago!

Here is what I did to my tranny crossmember to address the header pipe issue.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...=79912&width=0

Wally Womack