New Exhaust System

[gmc396]

I have a '68 GMC C2500 w/ a 396 and granny 4-speed. I need a new exhaust system and I'd like one close to original (exiting behind rear tires) and relatively easy to install.

I appreciate your suggestions.

[truckster]

If you can weld, you might want to build your own. I couldn't find anything out there to fit my specifications - stainless steel, 2 1/2 inch duals, exiting behind the rear wheels. I had a local shop quote me $3600. I bought the tubing and built my own with 16" Magnaflow mufflers and a crossover pipe. I love the way it sounds.

[mr.mud1]

the easiest is finding the old original exhaust parts like Walker and others made but that supply has dried up.i emailed Walker about parts for my 72 big block 3/4 ton truck.i found all the part numbers but they reported back that they no longer made those parts.i used Waldron's in Michigan for exhaust parts for my 67 Impala wagon and the tail pipes for this truck that i just finished this past spring,as well as a few other projects over the years.i've always been happy with their stuff.they used aluminized steel pipe or stainless,whatever you prefer.if you have a muffler shop close by with a bender and someone who knows how to use,they can make a system that looks like factory but i've always found that to be hit or miss?i made the rear sections of the front pipes from about 1/2 way back as the front sections were perfect,a pair of cheap Walker muffler i found by going through the listing til i found ones that were the right dimensions except for a 2 1/4 outlet,not 2 as i asked Waldron's to make my new tailpipes from 2 1/4 instead of 2 inch pipe as stock.very happy with the results.

[BAD1916]

https://waldronexhaust.com/product/1...-dual-exhaust/
I haven’t used them for trucks but I did get one of their concourse Arvinode systems for my 65 mustang and it went together easy. If I needed exhaust I would use them again.

[Accelo]

I purchased an exhaust system for my Corvette via a national known mail order ex system supplier.
It didn't fit and even the nuts were tacked on incorrectly.
It was a painful experience and not recommended by me.

I suggest a local muffler shop. Get pictures of a stock system and have it installed as close to possible to stock.

Results may vary. I had my truck exhaust installed and told the owner of the shop I needed my exhaust to clear the transmission or be removable. Otherwise he was the exhaust guru and to install it as he saw fit using my one and only guideline.

And guess what?
It leaked at the exhaust header to the exhaust piping. The tuner found it. The bolt/clamp was loose and ready to fall off. When tightened it was better but still leaked.
When I went to install the higher stall torque converter I couldn't get the transmission out and couldn't remove the exhaust either. Ended up paying a different exhaust shop $250 to fix his mistakes.
Another simple job that costed extra to get right and for no good reason.
Cheers.
When I went back I got the "line of BS" why it was done that way.

[mr.mud1]

Originally Posted by Accelo

I purchased an exhaust system for my Corvette via a national known mail order ex system supplier.
It didn't fit and even the nuts were tacked on incorrectly.
It was a painful experience and not recommended by me.

I suggest a local muffler shop. Get pictures of a stock system and have it installed as close to possible to stock.

Results may vary. I had my truck exhaust installed and told the owner of the shop I needed my exhaust to clear the transmission or be removable. Otherwise he was the exhaust guru and to install it as he saw fit using my one and only guideline.

And guess what?
It leaked at the exhaust header to the exhaust piping. The tuner found it. The bolt/clamp was loose and ready to fall off. When tightened it was better but still leaked.
When I went to install the higher stall torque converter I couldn't get the transmission out and couldn't remove the exhaust either. Ended up paying a different exhaust shop $250 to fix his mistakes.
Another simple job that costed extra to get right and for no good reason.
Cheers.
When I went back I got the "line of BS" why it was done that way.

yes sir,Accelo is right,a good muffler shop is the answer,if you have one.i worked for years when i was a kid,at a local muffler shop that specialized in custom exhaust.it's all i did,day after day and the other guys in the shop did the stock,off the shelf systems,i did all the custom work.i had folks bring cars,trucks,hot rods,you name it,for my work and there were several very good shops around.the problem is,at least here in my end of the world,those shops,just like old fashioned rad shops are mostly gone?i went into an exhaust shop about 10 years ago for a piece of 2 1/4 exhaust pipe for something i was working on,saw the Blue Boy bender through the glass wall out in the bay,just like the one i used to run.when the man came into the showroom to see what i needed,i told him and he said they didn't keep pipe on hand,they ordered it when they needed it??i about fell over?we used to keep miles of pipe in all the regular sizes,in stock?imagine,a muffler shop with no pipe,like a tire store with no tires??nuts.that's why i say,my experience now with exhaust shops,if you can find one,is hit or miss.i've seen the kits you can buy,universal and otherwise.i'm sure there are some good ones but what i've seen and for what the cost,be better off to build something yourself,if you can.Waldron's parts work very well for me.

[70STOVEBOLT]

I used a Pypes stainless 2.5" system on my truck, but it has coil springs. I don't know if they make one for leaf spring trucks. I did have to cut the front pipes for length due to having a short bed, but it fit like it was supposed to. Tailpipes exit behind the rear tires like from the factory. I did not use the x-pipe as I installed electric cutouts, and I had to supply the mufflers. The p/n is SGT79 and it is a crossmember-back system, so no down pipes if you are running manifolds (I am running Hedders).

[my67c20]

Its been years, but I bought a kit from LMC and for the most part it was okay. Took it to a local shop ($180) and they tweaked a few of the bends to clean things up the way I wanted. Overall it bolted up just fine and was worth the cost, the cost of 10 years ago.

[Rich72C10]

When I was getting ready to drive my truck from my brother's after the engine/trans rebuild my left muffler fell off driving down the back roads of East Texas. Well it didn't come off completely, just the back brace came undone - I keep hearing something like a "triangle" chime... it was the tail pipe bouncing on the road!

Brother took it to a shop and the welds looks like I could have done them and I never welded before and looks like crap under the truck. One of the welds I swear has a small leak. It was like a 300~400 job. But the really good thing is they had Credit Card reader problems and charged twice then refunded me. But they actually refunded both charges, so the job ended up being free. My guess that same guy that did the job did the credit card scanning (or worse the place is full of idiots).

[MikeB]

You might want to check HeartThrob Exhaust. I bought a dual exhaust kit from them for a square body. The pipes were aluminized and mandrel bent. I did have to make a few mods to the tailpipes, but they were relatively simple. They make their own mufflers, but the ones I got were very restrictive so I used some Walkers instead.

Their prices are very reasonable. I bought mine through one of their dealers and got a military discount and free shipping!

However, if you want a stock-type system, try looking through the Walker online catalog. https://catalog.walkerexhaust.com/ca...lkerCatalog.do

https://catalog.walkerexhaust.com/ca...dStatus=ACTIVE

*** I just noticed they don't list P/Ns for the pipes, just gaskets, clamps and hangers.

[mr.mud1]

Originally Posted by MikeB

You might want to check HeartThrob Exhaust. I bought a dual exhaust kit from them for a square body. The pipes were aluminized and mandrel bent. I did have to make a few mods to the tailpipes, but they were relatively simple. They make their own mufflers, but the ones I got were very restrictive so I used some Walkers instead.

Their prices are very reasonable. I bought mine through one of their dealers and got a military discount and free shipping!

However, if you want a stock-type system, try looking through the Walker online catalog. https://catalog.walkerexhaust.com/ca...lkerCatalog.do

https://catalog.walkerexhaust.com/ca...dStatus=ACTIVE

*** I just noticed they don't list P/Ns for the pipes, just gaskets, clamps and hangers.

i tried Walker's before i went to Waldron's for my tail pipes.i had some of the part numbers but they told me right from the offices,i think in Tennessee,that they no longer made those parts?seems a shame but i guess not worth their while anymore?

[gmc396]

Thank you all for your comments and suggestions. I will start my research from your ideas for a winter install. Where I live, I'll have plenty of time over the winter...no global warming up here!

[kwmech]

When I got my 68, I was the 3rd owner. I think the original owner did headers and patched in the duals. Same drivetrain as you. When I got it pipes were getting thin and the headers leaked at the heads. I did a couple of gasket swaps, but still had issues at the heads and at the collectors. I got rid of it all and went back to cast iron manifolds and a single 3'' with a magnaflow. Best improvement I've ever done. I'll never run headers on a street truck again. I actually gained gas mileage. Wasn't much of course being a big block, but there was a difference. Been thinking lately about putting in a 4l80e in the truck and getting rid of the 4 speed and ranger overdrive. If you're wondering about speedo there is this:
https://shop.bowlertransmissions.com...ter-conversion

[mrein3]

I used a HeartThrob Exhaust dual kit on my mutt 4wd truck. Fit great. The truck was originally a single exhaust truck so I had to fab a hanger for one side but other than that everything was in the box that they delivered to my door.

I put it on over 20 years ago because I remember laying on the driveway at my house I sold 20 years ago. (That is the nice thing about a 4x4, unless you've had too many beers and your gut is too big you can just slide under there and work on stuff like that with no jack stands.)

Originally Posted by MikeB

You might want to check HeartThrob Exhaust. I bought a dual exhaust kit from them for a square body. The pipes were aluminized and mandrel bent. I did have to make a few mods to the tailpipes, but they were relatively simple. They make their own mufflers, but the ones I got were very restrictive so I used some Walkers instead.

Their prices are very reasonable. I bought mine through one of their dealers and got a military discount and free shipping!

However, if you want a stock-type system, try looking through the Walker online catalog. https://catalog.walkerexhaust.com/ca...lkerCatalog.do

https://catalog.walkerexhaust.com/ca...dStatus=ACTIVE

*** I just noticed they don't list P/Ns for the pipes, just gaskets, clamps and hangers.

[MikeB]

I just found this on a recent thread where we were discussing late 60s/early 70s Cadillac mufflers. They may have what you're looking for.

https://waldronexhaust.com/