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Exhaust Manifold Question

FOR MUD

FOR MUD

1/2 ton status
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Due to recent modifications, I'm going to have to run a single exhaust system on the drivers side.
My question is what's the best type of header to use, short or mid length? Or even a stock manifold?
I want to keep this as tight as I can on the crossover, so I will be running 2" tube.
I'm not really concerned about the power losses running this type of system cause it's a slow speed rock truck.
The engine is a sightly warmed up 1986, 350 running on propane.
 
Mine doesn't look anywhere near that nice, but it wasn't THAT tough to do. You don't have much choice if you want to really tuck the exhaust up.

All the pre-made stuff I'm aware of hangs much lower, and the pre-fabbed Y's are pricey...plus, with a parallel merge (mine is more like an "r" merge) you end up pushing the setup back into the crossmember.

I used a band clamp along these lines http://www.ryderfleetproducts.com/images/nprod/s4620a_.gif to tie the y-pipe into the main exhaust. That way I can drop the Y without issue, and if I need to remove the rear portion, I can unbolt it and slide it rearward.

I don't have pics, I should get some. I had to make it up in a hurry, but works good. no noticeable change in power before/after with true duals and longer headers previous.

Edit: Said I'd get pics, if anyone ever looks at this thread again. :)

This is why they use aluminized pipe for exhaust lol. Only about 6 months on this. But I did it on the cheap to get me by for a couple more years until I can swap bodies and do full on stainless, and learn how to make this stuff up. I also learned I need a welding helmet that allows me to see what I'm doing. :(

0305161418a.jpg


It was hot, I wasn't going to touch the pipe. But it gives you an idea of how much clearance there is between the bellhousing and pipe. No contact, no heat issues with the aluminum.

0305161418.jpg
 
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What's the pipe size you used? I'll probably make my own or have a friend who owns a exhaust shop make me up a system. On the good side, it's going to be short....Only to the back of the transfer case.
 
I used 2.5".

You can get on these guys mailing list for b-stock (seconds) http://www.mandrelbends.com/clearance-b-stock.html I see they have 25lbs of aluminized 2.5" bends for $25. Shipping is a bit, but I *know* you can't buy a 2.5 to 3" Y-merge for that price.

The boxes you get are supposedly random, but I ended up with roughly half the box being 180* u-bends, one quarter 30* and a quarter 45*. That was enough to make the y-pipe with a LOT of pieces left over. The only butchering I really had to do was the merge, the rest of them I just cut in the right places to make the angles correct. None of the pieces IMO were so badly bent up that they were unusable. If I was racing, making a show vehicle, or cared about looks I might not like the fact that they had some minor dents, bumps, or ridges in them. But none of that was a factor for me.

I used plain steel simply because its a stop gap until I go stainless.
 
I would use shortys or manifolds. My exhaust goes right below the torque converter. Right in front of the pan. It's pretty out of the way
 
When I had the blue Jimmy, I went with Hedman 69830 headers on it, they fit VERY nicely. I got a set of 69230 for my K30 now. (not installed yet, they are the same shape as the 69830 but WAY cheaper since they are painted instead of the fancy coating) I think it would have been possible to run a "U" in the bellhousing area of the trans (IIRC) but, I went with running dual until a Y just aft of the T-case, that way the trans and doubler could be dropped easily without even having to unbolt the exhaust.
 
I'm running shorties with 2.5" pipe into a crossover under the bellhousing, into a Y and finally a single 3" down the drivers side with a Magnaflow muffler with a tailpipe.

In the past, I've always run full length headers with dual exhaust. I still prefer that sound over the more tame single set up but having it all tucked up high and out of the way far outweighs the loss of cool factor. It always seemed like anytime I had to work on the truck I had to pull one side or the other, not anymore more and I don't miss that.
 
I took a good under there yesterday. Shorties look like their going to work the best for this....Next step is going to try to fit a muffler.....
 
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