Project "My Happy Mess"

[litew8]

Thanks, yeah that's the ideology, don't spend money on things that aren't necessity and try my best to keep original (American) parts. Also, the exhaust pipes are already hung nice. I've read these manifolds (ram horn style) are pretty good because they dump straight down. If it were a 383 build, I don't think I'd be able to get by with the stock manifolds. If I remember right, the ports on the heads are the same size as the exhaust manifold ports. I may get flowmaster mufflers to replace the 10+ year old glass packs. Anyone got any idea which muffler would fit/work well? If I switch out the glass packs, the mufflers would have to be round I think to fit.

[litew8]

Tore down the carb, cleaned up and rebuilding to be bigger/better Holley 600. Who wants to race! j/k

[Dieselwrencher]

Flowmaster Super 40's FTW!

[litew8]

Not sure what FTW means, or why it's funny. I'll laugh along
Those aren't bad price wise, but I'd prob. have to reconfig my pipes.
I think they make round mufflers, will go check...

Okay, I'm back - something like this maybe?

[Dieselwrencher]

FTW=For the win. I really don't like the sound of Magnaflows, so I'd still say no.

[litew8]

Edited

Okay, how about these -


http://www.summitracing.com/parts/WLK-21331/

ooo, aaaa

[Dieselwrencher]

I was going to say, them be for diesels hoss. IDK how'd they sound on a gas engine.

[litew8]

They're not Flowmasters.

[Dieselwrencher]

I wonder how they sound? I don't know any one whom has tried them. They look like they'd fit for you though.

[litew8]

Yeah, I'll just wait until much later to think about it - prob. when my current exhaust rusts bad and falls off into a gutter somewhere
I've seen mufflers that mount near the rear - which I think would work with our trucks.
If anyone has any other options please let me know! tia Flowmaster or equivelent prefered.

....

Looking around, GIBSON has a wide variety, and they cost more than Flowmasters...hmm


http://www.summitracing.com/parts/GIB-788200S/?rtype=10

[JDeere550]

yeah i heard the same thing about those manifolds, so i hear ya. i got the super 40's on mine, too quite! go with super 44's! but ya know how the flow masters have the flat look, i just tilted them both on each of the driveline side of the muffler but idk where the original mufflers sat on these trucks. but if it's too quite youre too old!

[litew8]

Not sure what the 40's or 44's sound like. I'd be looking for a deep muffled sound. Enough to feel but not offensive. If any of that makes sense I live in residential areas so it's got to be conservative but respected deep sound at idle, not an excessive rumble

[Steve Hafner]

. . . .

Use "STOCK" mufflers, like mine . . . you'll be able to actually HEAR the radio !!! LOL

. . . .

[oldman3]

I've used Borla mufflers for years, very nice sound, but not to loud. I've had them on my 48 Chevy for 7 yrs. I also installed pair on a 67 Chevy for a friend. I think Summit has them for about $115.00 each, they are stainless inside and outside and will last forever. Here's a couple pics on the 67....Jim

[JDeere550]

the 40's and 44's have a throaty sound to them, you'd enjoy them because at idle and low rpm it's a nice sound but if you get on it they open up with noise win win situation lol!

[Cameron 1137]

Originally Posted by JDeere550

the 40's and 44's have a throaty sound to them, you'd enjoy them because at idle and low rpm it's a nice sound but if you get on it they open up with noise win win situation lol!

i have 40's on mine, and thats why i like them

[litew8]

Thanks for the feedback all, keep em coming,

Originally Posted by JDeere550

yeah i heard the same thing about those manifolds, so i hear ya. i got the super 40's on mine, too quite! go with super 44's! but ya know how the flow masters have the flat look, i just tilted them both on each of the driveline side of the muffler but idk where the original mufflers sat on these trucks. but if it's too quite youre too old!

A video would be nice, or a sound clip like Jim's Borla website has.

Originally Posted by Steve Hafner

. . . .

Use "STOCK" mufflers, like mine . . . you'll be able to actually HEAR the radio !!! LOL

. . . .

Sound should not be a problem Steve. I'll be laying (black) Hushmat (used and trusted by car manufacturers) down in the cab floor. Also, the bed liner I sprayed to high heaven on the underside is actually a (type of) sound deadener! The one thing I'm concerned with - If I put mufflers in the locations where the glass-packs are now, but tilt the mufflers to fit - I'm afraid the heat will harm the bed wood.

Originally Posted by oldman3

I've used Borla mufflers for years, very nice sound, but not to loud. I've had them on my 48 Chevy for 7 yrs. I also installed pair on a 67 Chevy for a friend. I think Summit has them for about $115.00 each, they are stainless inside and outside and will last forever. Here's a couple pics on the 67....Jim

Wow, looks like 3" piping, nice! Looks really nice all tucked in up there Jim! Looked up the Borla mufflers, and they have sound samples on their website very cool

Originally Posted by JDeere550

the 40's and 44's have a throaty sound to them, you'd enjoy them because at idle and low rpm it's a nice sound but if you get on it they open up with noise win win situation lol!

Originally Posted by Cameron 1137

i have 40's on mine, and thats why i like them

I'm going to have to try and find good sound samples of the 40/44's.

[litew8]

The carburetor is put back together and installed, will post pics later but they're not step by step, and not very exciting. Will run a line and filter. If I haven't mentioned it enough before, my younger Brother is the brains behind the engine build operation (and he's my body/paint guy too) - using my money and input of course! He put the engine together and will take full responsibility if it doens't run or if it blows up!!! Don't think we're going to fire it up until we get the radiator and stuff on.

Not a big deal since I have all the parts needed, ready and waiting!

[Cameron 1137]

Flowmaster has video clips on their website:

http://www.flowmastermufflers.com/index.php?cat=1

This is what mine sounds like at idle:

Exhaust 1/2 Done - YouTube

And opened up:

Open Exhaust - YouTube

Thats with all the windows open, its not annoyingly loud in the cab, only when your on it

Hope this helps

[JDeere550]

youre damn right! lol but i have no sound deadening in my cab (referring to carpet) and i always have the windows down and can hear the music just fine, and i also have aftermarket headers which makes a more noisey difference, so with the OEM manifolds it'll be no problem and have more of a rumble sound with that cast iron instead of the long tubes

[litew8]

Thanks all! I'll have to check the videos later (can't see them here/now). I should def. get mufflers before putting the bed wood in. Getting that far along will prob. be a Christmas present. Call me strange, but I kind of like the glass-pack sound the truck produced with the ole` crate engine. Had a decent bellow sound at idle. Who knows, maybe they are really racing mufflers and I don't know it. Others don't think so. It might actually sound 1/2 way decent with the new build. But I think I'm still wanting to put nice mufflers on.

[litew8]

My younger Brother has just been nicknamed "The Fixer". We're trying to be conservative and creative in "CUSTOM"izing the truck as a throw-back to the early years when the trucks were first produced - people would do something to make it a true "CUSTOM" truck, not by name only. Even if it's little things. We'll see about customizing the wire loom kit I've got in (I hate having to return stuff), if doable. I'm still thinking about replicating the PO's pin stripping on the bedsides, front fenders and doors in respect of the PO's "CUSTOM"izing. Curious what you all think of that pin strip work. I think the guy who did it had some sort of talent if he was invited by Don Johnson to paint dolphins on his race boat back in the 90's or late 80's.

I've got the valve covers and spark plug wire loom kit tonight. Will install tomorrow. I have to wait on the air cleaner, guess it was a special order thing (not really), at least in Summit terms. It won't ship until the end of the month. :/

"have more of a rumble sound with that cast iron instead of the long tubes" a low, undistorted rumble I hope

[litew8]

Stardate 10-26-11 Project duration 4 months.

[litew8]

Wednesday Update

Carb disassembled and cleaned -







Reassembled -

















Valve covers placed on, checked for clearance.
May have to shave the driver's side exhaust manifold a little along the top.




Throttle cable linkage on carb not lining up right.
Had to modify the carb linkage and drill new hole.
Had to modify the bracket by cutting/welding it inward.




















Optimus Prime




Now for the next "stupid" thing to have happen. WTH
The new alternator doesn't line up with the bracket.
The alternator hits the valve cover and the bracket isn't long
enough to reach over to where it'd clear not hitting the valve cover.

Need advice on how to fix this please! tia
We're considering fabricating the existing bracket to extend it out more.
But if there's another bracket and belt we can use, that'd be better.
I thought I had read that a bracket from a Corvette would work.
Any ideas anyone?!











Even the old alternator doesn't seem to line up.

[VA72C10]

hmmm....not sure on the alt bracket other than the custom aluminum ones march makes (or cheap knock-offs of that one ebay )