Custom Exhaust for the 351W

Topic: Custom Exhaust for the 351W (Read 12404 times) previous topic - next topic

Custom Exhaust for the 351W

Reply #15 – May 02, 2011, 12:01:42 AM

Mike's shop is rented and needless to say the rent is cheap and it gets the job done. His family owned and operated an exhaust shop for over 30 years and the only way he and his brother could get his dad to retire (health reasons) was to close it. They kept enough equipment to work on custom exhausts for the hot rodders and thats it, no more $39.99 ler replacements. We talked over a 4" exhaust but there is just not enough room to clear it and keep any kind of ground clearance with the car sitting at its current height. Mike always likes to see just how much he can stuff under a car for future "Hey man, hold my beer...I think we can do this" kind of moments. Back in the day that usually ended up with a blue bottle in the trunk and broken T-5 parts. Anyhow, I will post more pics when we change it from slip fit to s and then when I get it all back from the coaters. Hoping to have it finished by the end of June.

Darren

Custom Exhaust for the 351W

Reply #16 – May 02, 2011, 06:49:46 PM

Gorgeous bird man...I want those exact rims on my bird.

Custom Exhaust for the 351W

Reply #17 – May 03, 2011, 11:17:27 AM

Bullitt replicas, 17X8 and 17X9. Your car will tuck a lot more tire than mine will so you have more choices in width and tire size.

Darren

Custom Exhaust for the 351W

Reply #18 – June 12, 2011, 11:24:04 PM

Finally got back up home last weekend and we ditched the slip on portion of the headers and X-pipes. Its all d now so changing the X-pipes out or dropping one for transmission service (hopefully that won't be an issue) will be 100X easier. Now I have to disassemble the headers and take them and the 3-1/2" X-pipe to OKC to get coated. Work is keeping me busier than I would like but it will get done adventually. I will post up pics of the headers and X-pipe when I get them back but it will be at least a month...the agony.

Darren

Custom Exhaust for the 351W

Reply #19 – June 13, 2011, 02:21:15 PM

Love the car...and your exhaust setup will be very unique indeed. Next time you are around the car, snap some more pics of it for us! That is one nice looking '83.

Custom Exhaust for the 351W

Reply #20 – June 13, 2011, 10:36:12 PM

Darren, that is a well thought out system! It's nice to see someone who knows the value of flow, instead of most people saying " you'll lose torque down low"..... LOL. You can easily upgrade to a 408,418 or 427 without having to do any more exhaust work. VERY IMPRESSIVE.

Mark

Custom Exhaust for the 351W

Reply #21 – July 11, 2011, 09:47:52 PM

Well, I finally made it up to the shop this weekend and got the headers off the motor. Took them and the catless X-pipe to OKC to get them coated and they should be ready by the 22nd. Hopefully work will allow me to make it up there and pick them up and get the system fully installed. Will not be much left after that to get the motor started and get it over to the body shop for the TC nose and some deperately needed TLC. Car has never been buffed since it was painted in 99 so hopefully we can bring it back to looking like when you touch the car it will come back wet with paint.

After all this I doubt a bigger motor will be in the future. I want to drive it for a few years...

Darren

Custom Exhaust for the 351W

Reply #22 – July 11, 2011, 09:53:49 PM

Wow very nice!

Custom Exhaust for the 351W

Reply #23 – September 25, 2011, 03:03:57 PM

And for those of you that were patient and wanted to see the end results here they are:

Darren

Custom Exhaust for the 351W

Reply #24 – September 25, 2011, 03:10:58 PM

I am still working on other things to get the car running so it will be awhile but wanted to update those that were watching the thread on the exhaust.

Darren

Custom Exhaust for the 351W

Reply #25 – September 25, 2011, 04:20:20 PM

very nice setup! if it wasn't for the pics of you building the system, you could pass it off as a direct fit kit.. very nice work

Custom Exhaust for the 351W

Reply #26 – September 25, 2011, 08:14:22 PM

Nice Pic/work

Did you build the headers also???

Custom Exhaust for the 351W

Reply #27 – September 25, 2011, 11:10:19 PM

Well, I had the headers built by a friend who is a fine tig welder. They are 1-7/8" primaries to 3-1/2" collectors. He ran two of the primaries between the block and the Griggs K-member and the other two go outside the K-memeber and back around it to the collector. Was the only way to fit the large primaries and still make it where I can get them in and out with the slip on collectors. Everything is HTC coated and bead polished. It took a lot of effort to get it done so I wanted to make sure it would last for years. Two good friends did all the exhaust work, one built the headers and the other built the X-Pipe and modified the Fox Mustang MAC 3" cat-back to work on the T-Brid chassis. A lot of time and money but I am hoping it will sound kind of like my Coupe car but just a tinge different so it makes a person wonder just before they see the car.

Darren

Custom Exhaust for the 351W

Reply #28 – May 14, 2012, 10:56:06 PM

You might have to pass on some of your contacts. Awesome work on that car.

Custom Exhaust for the 351W

Reply #29 – May 16, 2012, 05:21:04 PM

Tail pipes are MAC units for an 87-93 5.0 LX Mustang that were lengthened by my buddy with the exhaust shop. The X-pipe is custom made by the same guy with mandrel bent fittings and pipe. The headers were built by another good friend from a kit. I took all of it to a coating shop in OKC in three stages. All of this was not cheap, the headers alone were $450 for the kit, $800 in labor to build, and $275 to coat so for $1,525 you can have a set just like mine. Most of you will say F that and I completely understand but its what I wanted and they fit like a glove. Don't get me wrong as I am not bragging, I have to have something seriously wrong with me to pay that but I don't have other vises so this is where I spend my money. Since the 302 kicked the bucket in 2005 I have had nothing but time to save money and plan this. If anyone wants contact info for the headers or the exhaust work just PM me and I can pass that on.

Darren