Exhaust help

[Flysocal]

So I've got hooker cast headers and welded the adapter pipe. There will be a crossover and dual mufflers. Should I weld everything up from header all the way to the muffler? Or run clamps? My thought is to weld everything so it's air tight. So I would end up with headers, one huge section (adaptor pipe, crossover, etc.) clamp to mufflers, clamp from mufflers to side dump. I will post pictures when Photobucket is back up and running

[focusedontheprize]

Originally Posted by Flysocal

So I've got hooker cast headers and welded the adapter pipe. There will be a crossover and dual mufflers. Should I weld everything up from header all the way to the muffler? Or run clamps? My thought is to weld everything so it's air tight. So I would end up with headers, one huge section (adaptor pipe, crossover, etc.) clamp to mufflers, clamp from mufflers to side dump. I will post pictures when Photobucket is back up and running

The situation with a fully welded system is being able to drop it to work the items above it. Would that be an issue for you for your one huge main section?

[Flysocal]

No, in fact it it's all below driveshaft and crossmembers so it would drop right out. Will post pictures when photobucket works!

[focusedontheprize]

Originally Posted by Flysocal

No, in fact it it's all below driveshaft and crossmembers so it would drop right out. Will post pictures when photobucket works!

Haha good ol' photobucket.

I am interested to hear what others have to say, however when I build mine I have the intentions of doing the same (welding to the mufflers). We put a TTI system in the Challenger and my old man is putting one in his 'Cuda. They are fully welded up to the mufflers and they are known for their quality so I would suspect it may be the best way to go.

[oldman3]

Nothing wrong with welding them solid, if you can drop them down when needed.
I welded flanges before and after my mufflers, and also at the H pipe, that way I could have mine hot coated, and never have to worry about replacing. Here's a few pics...Jim

[_Ogre]

if you use dumps before the axle the whole enchilada can be welded
if you go over the axle there should be a flange before the axle

currently mine is fully welded, this summer we're going to see if i can get over the axle

[Flysocal]

Great idea on the flanges so you can ship to jethot! Do you need gaskets at the flanges? I would love to have the whole thing ceramic coated. I plan to have the headers coated but was thinking of VHT paint for the rest. At 150 for the headers I bet it would be close to 1000 to have the whole thing coated. Yikes! I have to work for he next 3 days so I will have time to think about it. As of now I'm thinking welding everything from intermediate (adaptor) pipe all the way to the muffler welded as one unit. Bolt to headers, clamp to mufflers, then clamp from mufflers to side dump. I don't really want to weld pipe to mufflers they look great painted as is unless the consensus is welding is the best option. Here is a pic of the system so far. Going to trim quite a bit off this so the mufflers fit where I want them. Running heavy duty summit swivel hangers.

[oldman3]

Originally Posted by Flysocal

Great idea on the flanges so you can ship to jethot! Do you need gaskets at the flanges? I would love to have the whole thing ceramic coated. I plan to have the headers coated but was thinking of VHT paint for the rest. At 150 for the headers I bet it would be close to 1000 to have the whole thing coated.

Yes, gaskets for the flanges. Nothing wrong with the VHT paint, should work good. It's been 15 yrs since I did mine, so no ideal on cost to ceramic coat...Jim

[_Ogre]

as flysocial's pic shows; our trucks exhaust can go under the frame and xmembers and still be above the scrub line

[Speedbumpauto]

There are probably local high temp coating places cheaper and closer to you than Jet Hot. I used a place in Phoenix that is substantially cheaper and does a better job IMO. They did the one piece header to exhaust section and all the other pieces.

[Flysocal]

VERY NICE exhaust systems!

[Flysocal]

Just a quick thanks to you all for the help. This is my first non-motorcycle exhaust. Fully ceramic coated. With the above good advise I'm happy with the outcome.

[joedoh]

gorg-emous

[vintovka]

wow!!

[dsraven]

verrry nice flysocal. I lik the forethought time spent to consider work in the future. like the drop out centre on the trans mount for instance. the attention to detail like all the painted exhaust, plated hardware etc. great job. very clean. that is how I see my project looking like when or if I ever get time to complete it.

[b-mac]

Originally Posted by Speedbumpauto

There are probably local high temp coating places cheaper and closer to you than Jet Hot. I used a place in Phoenix that is substantially cheaper and does a better job IMO. They did the one piece header to exhaust section and all the other pieces.

Speedbump, I'm confused by your exhaust system. Is this designed so that a portion of your exhaust flows through the mufflers and a portion flow through the 'straight-pipes'? I don't see dumps, but maybe I'm overlooking something...

[_Ogre]

speedbump's dump valves are installed in the bottom pic

our shop does only 304 ss exhaust systems
we had a rod shop move in next door, they had us make an exhaust for one of their cars
all nicely tig welded 304 ss with polished mufflers and welds, a show piece exhaust system
they sent it out to be jet coated... when we asked why? they replied 'because we always do'

[solidaxel]

Originally Posted by Speedbumpauto

There are probably local high temp coating places cheaper and closer to you than Jet Hot. I used a place in Phoenix that is substantially cheaper and does a better job IMO. They did the one piece header to exhaust section and all the other pieces.

Was it Affordable Powder Coating?
They have done a lot of exhaust manifolds for me