The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop exhaust question

Time to put in a new exhaust. I was thinking of using a flexible (metal coil) exhaust tube from the manifold to the muffler. You know the kind, it resembles a vacuum hose. I figured this is the cheapest way to go. But as the wise old chinaman says, "Cheap man pay most." Does anyone have good advice about longevity vs. cost when doing an exhaust?

also "the bitterness of low quality lingers, the sweetness of low price is fleeting"
high cost longevity = stainless
repeated low cost = flex
for the "vs" part
don't have much cash now vs will I ever?
don't have much cash vs really wanna get on the road
gotta have exhaust vs gotta have brakes
do I wanna do this more than once vs how long will I keep the truck?

some parts places have prebent "alumanized" components, incl pieces for the old trucks, and doing it yourself can save a bunch over getting it done at a shop - I wouldn't expect the flex stuff to last a long time, if you plan on keeping the truck

Bill

Urban, I don't know your financial situation... and it ultimately comes back to what you can afford.

That said, I would try and avoid the flexible tubing your describing, if at all possible.

The whole dual exhaust set-up on my 46 was done for under $250.00, including the splitting of the manifold, glass packs, all pipe, hangers, and the labor.

You might save a little bit of money going the flexible route.

However, I can tell you based upon the 47 F*rd I'm storing for a buddy, it don't take much at all to bend it, or bust it loose. Once bent, it don't go back.

We quickly and quite easily trashed his entire exhaust system trying to load and unload it from the trailer we used to transport it to my house.

I'm betting my steel exhaust system would have taken the hit and perhaps gotten a small dent at most in the same situation.

One word- - - - -DON'T! I used flex pipe to do the same thing on a 58 Chevy many years ago, and found out that flex pipe vibrates, and breaks at the end connections, repeatedly! I could count on cutting the pipe back and re-connecting it about every 500 miles, and it would get too short to reach very quickly. It's not worth the effort, and a custom-bent real pipe from a muffler shop doesn't cost that much!
Jerry

consider running them without mufflers,, that would save you a bit,, and sound great,,I could here you fire up all the way to Tx.Fred

Allright, Joker!!

I guess you know by now that inline 6 cylinder Chevy engines were made to run straights!! That's where it all started!!

Joe

Do you really want to use something cheap in the area where an exhaust leak would be most likely to sicken or kill you?

CO poisioning is insidious, it warps your thinking before you reach the level where you become unconcious (then dead).

We had a friend who got CO in their house when a roofer knocked off the water heater vent. She said she was worried she was becoming mentally ill, as she got forgetful and easily confused.

if'n you gotta

put the flex pipe over the steel pipe for that old harley look under the hood
ha ha

thanks to everyone...I'm going to get steel pipe, it's worth it.

Wheeeeeeew!!!
Thruwurkin