UPDATE: I reported last week that I got my mufflers attached. Here’s some pics of that. On my last jeep, I never liked the way I connected my mufflers, so I decided this time I would create a more secure setup.
To start, I select some ‘Cherry Bomb’ mufflers that were the smallest, least expensive ones I could find at my local Schucks store. Between the headers and muffler I added a short piece of flexible pipe, in part to provide a little flexibility and to turn the corner underneath the front cage mount. Behind the muffler, I connected a tube with a 50 degree bend and an angle cut at the very end. To the tailpipe I also welded a flat piece of steel with two holes so that I could connect the muffler section to the bottom of the tube show in the pics below. You can see that I drilled a holes and inserted studs, which I welded in place, so I could easily connect the mufflers.
Dave, On a 57 cj5 that I once had, with a 231cid, I used H Farmall tractor mufflers. They hooked to the collectors, then I used a short length of chain to support the end of the muffler. Flex pipe never worked to well for me?Do you have solid motor mounts? That would help keep things from flexing. Nice job. JohnW
I never thought about using tractor mufflers (don’t know anything about them really). The flex tube definitely isn’t ideal. The ‘flex’ portion of the tube isn’t very long, as there’s straight tube that enters both sides of the tube to make it less flexible.
I did get rid of the old motor mounts. I used those in my last build at there was more spinning/rocking of the engine then with my modified mounts. You can see those here: http://www.ewillys.com/?p=419
my 46 had chain hangers. my 49 (built) had solid aluminized with isolator grommets. it was rigid, but had enough flex. the thing i dont get about the retro builds is the header/collector placement. it just seams like a loud ride home when you smash it on a rock. my 225 used stock manifolds into dual, never hung below frame rails. many sbc/jeeps i see use old style ramhorn manifolds such as found on vettes (vette owners like em too, and usually have more $ than jeep owners). this also only is to be taken into account if crawling, sand and mud doesn’t seem like a clearance issue. i understand flow/hp gains but without a slider below the exhaust, it seems like a weak/low spot. dave, your vehicle is sweet, not nitpicking, you have done a great complete build. on another note, went to sac yesterday on a parts hunt, cl mission (did well). my 05 (bought new) 2500hd speedometer went out on the way home. started dragging, wondered why i was flying by everyone at 65. anyway chevy replacing for free. no speedo for the t day holiday,hopefully no ticket. my point, new cars chauked full of import parts suck.
You are right. Running the pipes and collector over the frame isn’t the best setup. In fact, the V8 I pulled out of the CJ-5 I bought had headers with short collectors that allowed the tail pipe to slip within the frame. It was a well done setup. Unfortunately, there aren’t a lot of header options for the buick v6. Besides, the headers sticking over the frame is so old school that I had to do it.
The biggest problem in my last build was that my v6 header gaskets went bad often, the air would sneak in and create backfires. I attributed that to the over-movement of the exhaust, which prompted the above design. Also, the headers I have now are beefier at the point where they mount to the exhaust manifold, which should help also.
Had me worried there for a minute with “cherry bombs”…Not legal in the woods around here due to no spark arrestor capability…It appears though that you have turbo style mufflers that are legal.. I ran my exhaust like this for alot of years and had very little trouble with it.. Mine was headers with mufflers bolted directly to them with a welded on flange and a rubber hanger at the turnout mounted to the body…All I ever replaced was a few rubber hangers and rotted out mufflers. Changed it for hearing purposes.
my buddy just had to use cherry style on a tj longarm due to space. it was a flowmaster ss. alittle loud for me, but compact. if it is legal here, it is legal everywhere, except smoke.
Let me rephrase- Glasspack, cherry bomb, anything straight through that has no spark arrestor in a national Forest will get you fined if the ranger checks. I’ve seen it happen and it’s stated fairly clearly in most literature….
It’s perfectly legal to run them……….On the street…
Interesting .. I used to run cherry bombs. I was never a huge fan of them anyway. Glad I went a different way this time.
When you talk about Cherry Bomb Mufflers, you are either older than 50 or had an older brother…do they make them yet? I personally would have exited the exhaust behind the rear wheel (smell and noise), but that probably would involve a muffler shop. I think some brite yellow heat resistant paint would be a nice accent.
alot of pak style mufflers out here. i think if you run them behind the rear or have some bends, they might be legal? there are pics of my 49 exhaust on here somewhere. if you end your exhaust at the muffler, maybe. if your exhaust isn’t out there for the world to see, no one is gonna see it, ticket it.
Every so often the rangers or officers around here will check.. And you will get a ticket running a straight through muffler….
Used to see different length “Cherry bombs” in a barrel in just about every auto store you entered up until a few years ago… I’m 31 and no older brothers, but been doing the “Jeep thing” for just as long….
lol .. some days I feel older than 50, but I still have a few years to prepare for that party :-). No older brothers here either.
No room for yellow on this build. It’s either satin black, aluminumish, or tealish. I’ve done my best to maintain a color scheme on a low budget.
– Dave
ill leave this one in daves hands. here’s the project: find/list all laws (usda,epa) related to dot on road vehicle approved exhaust. all i could find related to ohv and arrestors. only bylaw i found that stuck was dot approved exhaust. that can go a long way with aftermarket systems. as to arrestors and mufflers, usfs approved stamping. maybe im just smoking to much med here in norcal again but i have never in my life seen a usfs stamped/approved muffler. also stated testing was done with a plastic rod 3/8″ diameter. if the exhaust doesnt end at the muffler, they better be carrying a long rod. i googled, maybe i shouldve binged. anyway it seems some states dont require them yet epa(act not agency) require them. i know alot of old timers, and live 7 minutes from shasta/chappie ohv, never seen/heard of a reg’d vehicle getting sited here) sometimes dickheads live near you, some become rangers
James,
I think that would be a useful collection of information. Someone must have gathered that somewhere?? I’ll spend some time to see if I can find an easy way of gathering that info. If nothing else, it should be listed on the DMV sites.
– Dave
The rules are clear for national forests: (http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/sanbernardino/recreation/ohv/sparkarrester.shtml)
“United States Forest Service approved spark arresters are required year round on the National Forest. Most approved spark arresters are stamped as such someplace on the unit. Just because it is “stock” does not make it legal. Motocross bikes do not come stock with spark arresters. If you have a motocross bike (for example RM, YZ, KX, SX, CR, etc.) please check it. If your vehicle does not have an authorized and functioning spark arrester, do not bring it to the National Forest. You will receive a citation.”
There are sporadic reports across the offroad spectrum about users (jeeps, motorbikes, dune buggies) getting cited.
ok i’ll do you one better. here is every usfs doc pertaining to spark arrestors.
http://www.fs.fed.us/t-d/php/tdc_search.php?category=Key%20Word&srchword=arrester
these regs (as far as i have read so far) all pertain to off highway vehicles. its cold in the garage so hunting the net will do for now. i also scanned all cal dmv as to exhaust, no arrestor requirements for reg’d vehicles.
At first, I thought these guides were meant for vehicles that are operated only Off Highway. But, I think that might be the wrong interpretation. Instead, I think these are guides for all vehicles operated off highway.
Obviously, the difference would be that this guide covers all vehicles, including both DMV road approved vehicles and offroad only vehicles during their time in the USFS.
This section underscores this language:
Appropriate Standards referenced in this SAG establish the minimum performance and maintenance requirements of spark arresters for internal combustion engines to be operated on or near grass, timber, brush, or other wildland fuels. During periods of very high or extreme fire danger, spark arresters meeting these Standards will not give complete protection against exhaust spark fires. Additional measures, including shutdown of operations, may be required during such periods.
http://www.fs.fed.us/t-d/php/library_card.php?p_num=0751%201803P
still haven’t ever in my life not even on fs wagons (who my wife and father work for) a usfs stamped approved muffler as required by above code. i am in no way saying i am a lawyer, but i read alot of the code so far. all arrestor requirements and approved arrestors are referred for off highway vehicles. part3 lists all such arrestors and manufacturers. if it is a sited law that you are all being sited for you would think it would be pretty straight foward
Hey, it’s the government. Nothing’s straight forward 🙂
James- Even with all the confusion around the laws (I agree BTW, it is not clear) the fact remains that people around here have been cited when running a Glasspack/straight through design muffler when off road. There’s a fair chance that Dave will be in this area wheeling at some point..(I hope) and my original intention was just to make sure that nobody will be questioning his exhaust choice while in the woods..The last thing I want to happen is ruin a good weekend with a citation for something as ridiculous as exhaust. Since the law is unclear it may be fairly easy to get a citation dismissed, but do you really want to go through the hassle just to run a particular muffler? That IMO sounds kinda ratty anyway….