When I needed an expander for my exhaust install, I borrowed one from
AutoZone. That's one of the tools they will loan out for free.
Tom Tomlinson
'71 Malibu
Matthew Post wrote:
Thanks. That's what I was thinking. Using a sawzall or cutoff wheel
to trim the pipes where needed. Once the guys pointed me to Lisle for
the expander tool, I found out Summit has one also. Probably not as
good as the Lisle, but about half the price.
Thanks for all the help. Now I just have to get to work!
At 05:30 PM 1/7/2008, John Nasta wrote:
One of those air powered cutoff wheels works well too. That's what I
used on mine. A friend made the down-pipes for me (b/c I have stock
x-mans) and expanded the ends of them to fit into the 2.5" Flowmaster
pipes. My brother also gave me some sleeves that you can put between
the smaller and the bigger pipe but I didn't need to use them. I still
have them (in my kitchen where auto parts belong).
Quoting Tom Rightler <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>:
I used a sawzall and a vice to cut the pipes that needed it. I have an
expander that you can use with a 1 1/8th socket and an impact gun. It
worked out well.
Tom
----- Original Message ----- From: "Matthew Post" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "The Chevelle Mailing List" <chevelle-list@chevelles.net>; "The
Chevelle Mailing List" <chevelle-list@chevelles.net>
Sent: Monday, January 07, 2008 11:34 AM
Subject: Re: [Chevelle-list] best self-install kit?
Tom,
You mentioned that you "had to cut and expand pipes on each of the
installs." What type of tool is used to expand the pipes
inexpensively at home?
Thanks,
Matt
At 08:50 PM 1/6/2008, Tom Rightler wrote:
Jim,
The Flowmaster or Pypes systems really aren't all that hard to
install in your garage. I've done several exhaust systems in a
day taking my time and making sure everything fits as it should.
I put a system on a 72 Monte Carlo with stock manifolds that
consisted of a set of down pipes (from Pypes) that made up the
length difference from the stock manifold to where a typical
header would dump out at, then finished it off with one of those
cheap Summit Racing systems. It went OK at best, the generic
Summit kit was not my choice, but the owner of the car wanting to
get it done cheaply.
I put the Flowmaster American Thunder system with the 40 series
mufflers on my 70 back in 2000. It does fit the car nice, no
complaints there, just the mufflers rotted out on the bottom and
blew the baffles loose so I need to replace them. That was a
system off a set of Dynomax Headers.
I put the Pypes 2.5" X Crossover system on the Charger. It was
one of the best fitting systems I've ever put on a
car...seriously. The only problem I ran into with it are where
the Hooker Super Comp headers dumped out under the body. They
didn't line up with the humps in the trans crossmember so I had to
be a little creative there and use a mandrel bent pipe to
complete the system. I used their Race Flo Mufflers that came
with the system. Overall, the mufflers sound OK at best, and the
car doesn't have that MOPAR sound like it should. I'm
considering changing the mufflers out.
On my 86 Cutlass that I put a 350 in and full length headers, I
used a Dynomax dual system designed for G body cars with small
block chevy engines. The system fit OK. I don't like how they get
around the fact that G body trans crossmembers don't have 2 humps
in them for dual exhaust. They bend the pipe around and then try
to tuck up back up. That system has been on that car since 2001
and it's rotting and falling apart, probably in part to the fact I
was driving the car thourgh those wonderful NJ winters for a
couple years until I got the truck. I would imagine the system
they have for 68-72 A body GM would be a tad better in quality.
All of these systems can be installed in 1 day by yourself and as
long as you have certain tools like a pipe cutter or sawzall and
some wrenches. I've had to cut and expand pipes on each of the
installs I listed above.
Tom Rightler
MCC Newsletter Editor
----- Original Message ----- From: "J. Brady" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "The Chevelle Mailing List" <chevelle-list@chevelles.net>
Sent: Sunday, January 06, 2008 10:36 AM
Subject: Re: [Chevelle-list] best self-install kit?
That's one thing about my current system that's
probably working out as a "good" thing- since it's not
sealed real well right now, all the moisture drains
out on the floor in my garage!! 8^]
I appreciate everyone' input on this, thanks so much.
I saw the Pypes setup in either my Jegs or Summit
catalog, and knew nada about their stuff, so it's good
to hear some feedback on it.
And I guess you guys are concluding from me talking
about an exhaust swap, that I decided NOT to trade the
car 8^] The exhaust thing has been the biggest
thing bumming me out about the vehicle, so if I can
get that resolved I think I'll be in a much better
place.
Regards,
Jim
--- John Nasta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
OTOH, I've had Flowmasters on my 69 El Camino for
about 4 years, and
it is a driver that I park on the street and drive
in all kinds of
weather, and everything is fine. No signs of rust or
rot anywhere.
Maybe just the fact that I drive it more often keeps
the water from
sitting in there long enough to do damage. Leaving a
car sitting (esp.
in this kind of weather) is probably bad for just
about any muffler.
Just throwing out an alternative experience. Your
results may vary.
John
Quoting Tom Rightler <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>:
The Flowmaster kit was easy to install on my 70,
however, after 6
years and less than 20K miles, the mufflers blew
out on the bottom
from moisture collecting and now they need to be
replaced. The
pipes themselves are not in that great of shape
either and this is
on a car that doesn't go out in the rain.
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