Building an exhaust system.

smilexelectric · 02-03-2009, 07:14 AM

Well, how do I know the measurements and the bends and all that stuff, and what diameter piping should I use, and what muffler?

03chevy · 02-03-2009, 08:45 AM

what year make and model for all the bends and 2 1/2" will work great for you. and mufflers you can go with flowmasters, borla, magnaflow are good quality and sounds good too.

smilexelectric · 02-03-2009, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 03chevy

what year make and model for all the bends and 2 1/2" will work great for you. and mufflers you can go with flowmasters, borla, magnaflow are good quality and sounds good too.

98 Chevy w/t c1500 2wd v6 4.3L 262, standard cab, long bed.

bradrhale · 02-03-2009, 11:28 AM

bending pipe is just like bending conduit. it is very much an art. something like this i might let the professionals do.

smilexelectric · 02-03-2009, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bradrhale

bending pipe is just like bending conduit. it is very much an art. something like this i might let the professionals do.

I just dunno what I need to do this haha, i've never done a custom exhaust before.

bradrhale · 02-03-2009, 11:45 AM

dont feel bad. ive put them back together but never made one from scratch on a 1/2 ton truck. only way i did it on a semi truck was due to the flex and band clamps that are used. no bending involved.
take the truck to a few shops and tell them what you have in mind. get a few prices with you buying the parts and without you buying the parts. evaluate for the best deal and go with that. any simple stuff like tips or headers can be easily installed by yourself at a later date.

Grapejuice1998 · 02-03-2009, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smilexelectric

I just dunno what I need to do this haha, i've never done a custom exhaust before.

Are you a good welder?
A lot of shops use MIG to tack pipes where they need them to stay, then they use oxy/acet to weld them up.
Exhaust systems are usually built on a lift, so the pipes can be supported while tacking and welding. It's not something I would try to tackle without a lift.
If I were going to forge ahead and try it anyway, I would buy a swedging tool, a bunch of straight pipes and U bends, then hack them all together. No bending required, just a heck of a lot of welding. And hopefully, GOOD welding. Nothing is worse than a constantly leaking exhaust system.

The exhaust shop is sounding better and better, huh?

Kennyray · 02-03-2009, 02:11 PM

I had one made for an old F150 , I took some metal coat hangers, straigten them out , got under the truck, put bends in the wire where I wanted the bends in the pipe, made measurement for the straigt pieces and had the pipe flared to slide over. cost me less than 75.00 that way for the pipe and 50.00 for the flowtech muffler. System worked well, sounded good and didn't rattle. that is the cheap way of doing it if your on a tight budget

smilexelectric · 02-03-2009, 07:50 PM

Im prob just gonna get a flowmaster muffler, what muffler is good though, I want dual out the back. Then I take the muffler to a custom shop and get them to make a system for me.

batty1214 · 02-04-2009, 02:40 PM

flowmaster makes a single in dual out muffler, I would think that borla, gibson, magnaflow, and the others would make a good one too. thats the easiest way to go from single to dual thtaI know of, If you are going with a new muffler anyways

02-03-2009, 07:14 AM	#1
smilexelectric Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Greensburg, PA Posts: 439	Building an exhaust system. Well, how do I know the measurements and the bends and all that stuff, and what diameter piping should I use, and what muffler?

02-03-2009, 08:45 AM	#2
03chevy Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: jax,fl Posts: 1,186	what year make and model for all the bends and 2 1/2" will work great for you. and mufflers you can go with flowmasters, borla, magnaflow are good quality and sounds good too. __________________ A dirty mind is a terrible thing to waste!

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02-03-2009, 11:28 AM	#4
bradrhale Senior Moderator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 8,024	bending pipe is just like bending conduit. it is very much an art. something like this i might let the professionals do.

02-03-2009, 11:45 AM	#6
bradrhale Senior Moderator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 8,024	dont feel bad. ive put them back together but never made one from scratch on a 1/2 ton truck. only way i did it on a semi truck was due to the flex and band clamps that are used. no bending involved. take the truck to a few shops and tell them what you have in mind. get a few prices with you buying the parts and without you buying the parts. evaluate for the best deal and go with that. any simple stuff like tips or headers can be easily installed by yourself at a later date.

02-03-2009, 02:11 PM	#8
Kennyray Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 648	I had one made for an old F150 , I took some metal coat hangers, straigten them out , got under the truck, put bends in the wire where I wanted the bends in the pipe, made measurement for the straigt pieces and had the pipe flared to slide over. cost me less than 75.00 that way for the pipe and 50.00 for the flowtech muffler. System worked well, sounded good and didn't rattle. that is the cheap way of doing it if your on a tight budget

02-03-2009, 07:50 PM	#9
smilexelectric Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Greensburg, PA Posts: 439	Im prob just gonna get a flowmaster muffler, what muffler is good though, I want dual out the back. Then I take the muffler to a custom shop and get them to make a system for me.

02-04-2009, 02:40 PM	#10
batty1214 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Vernal Utah Posts: 1,135	flowmaster makes a single in dual out muffler, I would think that borla, gibson, magnaflow, and the others would make a good one too. thats the easiest way to go from single to dual thtaI know of, If you are going with a new muffler anyways