Universal Exhaust Kit for V8 AD

[69l46vert]

Can anybody recommend a universal exhaust kit for my AD? It's almost time to run the exhaust and I'd like to get some parts on the way. I'd like to do it myself just because I never have before. Most kits I see are header back and I don't care to use headers.

PS It's a work truck. Looks don't matter.

350 SBC
2" center dump cast iron manifolds
Thanks!

[HUSSEY]

I built my exhaust out of U bends. I show how I went about it in my build thread, see signature line.

[69l46vert]

Thanks Hussey! That's a great help. Nice job on your exhaust. I'll be copying your jig for sure.

[mr48chev]

Having bought pipes and installed them myself, bought pieces and welded them together and having taken the truck or car into the muffler shop and having it done I have never saved an appreciable amount of money doing it myself over having a good muffler shop do the job and it is always a fight if you don't have a hoist to put the rig up on to work under it.

I'll just say this, price it totally out both ways. Figure out what the lead pipes, mufflers, tail pipes, clamps and hangers are going to cost and then find out what the quote will be for the muffler shop to do the system and decide if a full day and maybe more of laying on your back under the truck trying to figure out how to get pipes to fit is worth being able to say you did that part yourself.

[HUSSEY]

I think the post above is true but I think you can produce a better product doing it yourself. The material can be expensive. I first looked at getting my pipes at an auto parts store then called up a muffler shop. The muffler shop was less expensive.

Here's what I spent on just that little section I did.

Hedman Headers, S10 V8 Swap Headers, eBay, Jegs 147.99
Flowmaster Series 40 Delta Flow, eBay, Jegs 83.00
Y-pipe, Dual 2.5 in. in, 3 in. out., ebay 30.50
2.5 in. U-bends, Hogan Muffler, 24.00
3 in. U-bends, Hogan Muffler 12.00
Exhaust Hangers, Carquest 6.00
Exhaust Pipe, 2.5 in pipe, 3.50 $/ft, Seeburg Muffler 21.00
Exhaust Pipe, 3.0 in pipe, 4.50 $/ft, Seeburg Muffler 9.00

Exhaust Total 333.49
Exhaust Total, less headers 185.50
Exhaust Total, less headers and muffler 102.50

[crossfire84]

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/sum-670146

try this it is what i used, a very nice kit.

[mr48chev]

I'd say that "better job" if you do it your self is directly on "your" skills. patience and actual design skills. Dang few home done exhaust systems would match those done by the guy I worked for at Midas Mufflers in Yakima in the mid 70's His name is Tom Girard (sp) and I think he may still have a shop in the Portland Oregon area that his parents had for years. The man was a total perfectionist and a wizard with a tubing bender.

[HUSSEY]

Originally Posted by mr48chev

I'd say that "better job" if you do it your self is directly on "your" skills. patience and actual design skills. Dang few home done exhaust systems would match those done by the guy I worked for at Midas Mufflers in Yakima in the mid 70's His name is Tom Girard (sp) and I think he may still have a shop in the Portland Oregon area that his parents had for years. The man was a total perfectionist and a wizard with a tubing bender.

I doubt the OP would be willing to haul his truck from Buxton, Maine to Portland, Oregon no matter how good the exhaust work.

[69l46vert]

I may go with a manifold back Heartthrob kit that fits the donor. The drivetrain is from a 72 K2500 so it has the 4wd center dump manifolds like the old corvettes. Some mods might be needed around my newly built tranny xmember or I may modify it. Whatever is easiest. But it should be pretty close and for 175$ with mufflers I think I can get a pretty good start for reasonable money.

[1project2many]

Originally Posted by HUSSEY

I doubt the OP would be willing to haul his truck from Buxton, Maine to Portland, Oregon no matter how good the exhaust work.

It would be exhausting!
I know, I know. I should be muffled for a joke like that.

I set up template pipes myself with scraps from the exhaust shop, then I have them bend pieces to match. I save on the labor but not much. But I end up with pipes that fit where I want them to fit and I don't have to drive the vehicle 45 miles from the house to the exhaust shop.

[69l46vert]

To get it to a shop now I'd have to trailer it. Not a big deal but I'm off for the summer so there's plenty of time for me to do it.
When I was a teenager some of the older guys in the neighborhood built hot rods and race cars. I remember them making multiple kerfs and then braze it up to get their bends. Always thought it was cool that they could do so much with very little.

[1project2many]

Years ago I spent time working with a guy who'd been a pipefitter in a papermill in his youth. What he could create from a flat piece of steel was absolutely amazing. I learned a few tricks but I would love to know half of what that guy knew.

[Hampshire]

I had mine done at a Midas shop - only because it was close to where the truck was being worked on. I've been really lucky with almost every sub project on my truck, but the design & much of the workmanship was terrible. On the plus side its now is drivable looks okay at the rear (thanks to some heating with a torch), so I'm going to drive it to another place & have it re-done (Read on.....)

BTW, I'm not saying a Midas shop can't do a good job, just that it depends on who is actually doing the work.

Ironically, last Saturday I was looking at a 50 Buick with a 350 SBC and a custom, from scratch exhaust. The work was outstanding. Turns out the garage that did it is in the next town over from me. Talked to them today. My truck will be on the road in a week or two (knock on wood) and it is going over there first thing for a re-do.