I have decided what setup I will use (and I won't mention what it is here so we can stay on topic... ). Is it feasible to buy items from Summit/JEGS and install my own system from headers back? Since the headers dump at an odd inward angle, I will need to straighten the 2-1/2" pipe after the collector to get it parallel with the drive shaft, then angle it up toward the space under the rear seat, then hang the muffler and downturns before the axle. I have had nothing but bad luck with previous muffler installations, with fires, brackets breaking soon after, and bends in the wrong places making things rub. Therefore, I was wondering if I could buy the items from catalogs in the angles I need and use straps to assemble, rather than weld it all together. If not, what kind of place should I take it for the work. I usually go to those local "muffler guy" shops who also do alignments, brakes, etc. Also, Mandrel Bend...what is it, can the shop do it, is it worth it? If you have any, please post pictures of how you have your dual exhaust set up, especially if you have dumps before the axle. I need to see how to best hang everything. WHEW...this was long, sorry
The mandrel bending process maintains a constant inside diameter, even through pipe bends. Flow area remains consistent, increasing flow when compared to stock, serrated bent pipes.
Sounds cool, but how do you do it? I see the mandrel bends in chunks in the catalogs, but can someone do them in my local shops? If so, what kind of shop do I have to look for (I know my regular local guys can NOT do them).
On a 70 mav I just did for a guy we used a few mandrel pipes and made are own it came out nice pics are on Matts site under my handle.
My maverick exhaust ended in a turn-down just ahead of the rear axle. Yes, cab resonance was very annoying. I cut off the turn-down and used two 45 degree bends and a short piece of flexpipe to go over the axle and extend slightly beyond the bumper. Works for me. I just redid the exhaust on my pickup, too. I don't think I will ever use a muffler shop again. Edit to add: I got the bends and flexpipe at Advance Auto.
PERFECT!!! I just cannot see where or how you guys hung them. I want exactly that, except dumping before the axle. Who did the bending and how? Especially right after it leaves the reducer?
I have bought one Flowmaster Super 44 (only 4" thick), a joint of 2-1/2" pipe, a pair or reducers with header flanges, and a couple of couplings. I guess at this point I am committed (my wife probably agrees that I should have been years ago ). I will try to get that first bend from the header maybe started at the actual reducer by cutting a nick in the tubing, bending it to close the nick, and welding it shut. I am going back to the store right now to see what my options are in prebent chunks of pipe so I don't have to do anything really weird with this "nick-and-weld" system...
They will have 45's and 90's. Their stuff is crinkled (at Advance anyway) on the inside of the bend. Can't remember if it was just one or the other or if both were like that. Even if you had the exhaust shop bend just the angles you need, you'd probably be better off, if they will give you a decent price. Oh yeah, why do you have one muffler?
Seems like you asked around already. So you might be out of luck. It takes a shop with a mandrel bender, which is a machine that uses a mandrel that gets inserted into the pipe as it is bent to hold the consistant inside diameter. Sounds like you can weld, so your best bet would be to buy a universal kit that includes 180 degree bends. Then just cut the pieces at any degree you need and weld it all back together.
At this point, I should only have 2 bends in each half, the slight bend to make the "v" NAFORD was talking about (where the headers sort of exit facing the middle of the drive shaft) more parallel with the drive shaft, then straight back and another bend up and outward to the muffler mounted under the back seat in the recessed area. Then just a turndown. I only bought one muffler because I figured it would sound really cool with 4 cylinders firing into an open header and the other 4 firing into a flowmaster. Then, when the cops pull me over, I can tell them "Sir, I have a muffler... " No, the store only had one in stock, and I figured I would spend the next weekend or two installing this one and then buy another once I have worked out the bugs (or decided to have a muffler shop install them if it gets to ugly ) I will have the pipe all laid out and ready to accept the passenger muffler once it is ordered and comes in. By the way, I found my Flowmasters for a couple bucks cheaper than JEGS/Summit (and NO SHIPPING or HANDLING FEES!!!) from my local O'Reilly...
Hey Scott one way i have done it to lay out my bends was to use a flexable hose like a hot air choke stove pipe,or something similar that will hold it's shape once you bend it but will easily go back to straight.Alot of suppliers Summit,Jegs,ETC.. sell 45's,90's and 180 mandrel bends all you have to do is cut them to the shape you need tack weld everything into place then remove it carefully from the car then solid weld all the seams up.It sounds like alot of work but it's really not that bad. Derek.
If your dumping the exhaust in front of the rear-end you could probably use one of these kits. http://store.summitracing.com/partd...&N=700+4294923429+4294921571+115&autoview=sku
