E-Bodies.org Cuda Challenger Forum

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OK...Something is not right here...and I think its user error and could use some help.

As you can see...sort of... the resonators are in different positions.

The drivers side is to far back and does not want to slide any further onto the pipe. As a result the I can not get the over the axle pipe and muffler on.

On the passenger side. I am closer...but I still think it need to go up a lot further.

So some questions:

I assume that the bends in the head pipes should be somewhat symmetrical.

Haw far should the pipes go into the resonators and mufflers (they are in a bout two inches now)

Should the resonator hanger be on the outlet of and act as the clamp or on the over the axle pipe.

Jason

Probably have to shorten your head pipes :alan2cents:

Quote from: anlauto on April 14, 2018, 09:48:55 AM
Probably have to shorten your head pipes :alan2cents:

:iagree: And a little tip, put bits of masking tape on the pipes to give you a reference on how far the pipe is in the muffler.... If it's to deep it will restrict exhaust flow & if it's not deep enough it may leak... Or fall apart... Little bit of tape gives you a reference & can be removed without a trace...

Tip #2 when fitting the exhaust...a little bit of grease on the pipe helps lessen aggravation  :alan2cents:

Quote from: anlauto on April 14, 2018, 09:48:55 AM
Probably have to shorten your head pipes :alan2cents:

Yeah that's what I am thinking.

Quote from: 1 Wild R/T on April 14, 2018, 12:42:15 PM

Quote from: anlauto on April 14, 2018, 09:48:55 AM
Probably have to shorten your head pipes :alan2cents:

:iagree: And a little tip, put bits of masking tape on the pipes to give you a reference on how far the pipe is in the muffler.... If it's to deep it will restrict exhaust flow & if it's not deep enough it may leak... Or fall apart... Little bit of tape gives you a reference & can be removed without a trace...

good tip....I have been using a sharpie for that purpose.

Quote from: anlauto on April 14, 2018, 06:08:42 PM
Tip #2 when fitting the exhaust...a little bit of grease on the pipe helps lessen aggravation  :alan2cents:

You serious about that Clark [in my best cousin Eddie voice]

I use a little bit of grease all the time, or even WD40 :dunno:

is it possible you have Challenger headpipes in a 'cuda?  :dunno: they're 2" longer

Quote from: 6bblgt on April 16, 2018, 11:38:25 AM
is it possible you have Challenger headpipes in a 'cuda?  :dunno: they're 2" longer

That's what I was thinking....I've ran into that issue before....

Start at the back and work your way forward.  :alan2cents:

Quote from: anlauto on April 16, 2018, 11:48:18 AM

Quote from: 6bblgt on April 16, 2018, 11:38:25 AM
is it possible you have Challenger headpipes in a 'cuda?  :dunno: they're 2" longer

That's what I was thinking....I've ran into that issue before....

I thought that too! Manufacturer says no. I specified for a cuda, called talked to them, and they said the numbers and measurements were correct.

I think I will start buy cutting 2 inches off the head pipes (after I measure it all again).

Jason

Quote from: Burdar on April 16, 2018, 02:09:16 PM
Start at the back and work your way forward.  :alan2cents:

I think I will try that too before cutting.  At leas I can verify the mufflers and over the axel pipes will fit.

On the passenger, with the two piece head pipe there is lots of room for play.  On the drivers side, not so much, but enough.

Now I just need to find some time to actually work on it...crazy busy at work and currently out of town until Saturday morning.

Jason

Sorry, no knowledge to impart, but what exhauset set did you get?  Assuming factory to factory manifolds?

Quote from: Adam213 on April 19, 2018, 12:16:48 PM
Sorry, no knowledge to impart, but what exhauset set did you get?  Assuming factory to factory manifolds?

I would rather not say at this point...yes factory manifolds with factory pipes (72-74 two piece head pipes).

Jason

Jason, although based on the photos it looks like the pipe was going in deep enough, if it'd help, we have a pipe expander and an electric impact you could borrow if they'd help. I'd also only cut one inch off that pipe and if it needs it, then cut the other off. Easy to cut, not so easy to stretch, eh?  :cheers:

 

Quote from: jimynick on April 19, 2018, 09:04:16 PM
Jason, although based on the photos it looks like the pipe was going in deep enough, if it'd help, we have a pipe expander and an electric impact you could borrow if they'd help. I'd also only cut one inch off that pipe and if it needs it, then cut the other off. Easy to cut, not so easy to stretch, eh?  :cheers:

Thanks Ian.  I have a pipe expander and impact...tried that, it helped a bit.

Right now I am trying to get one of the one of the resonators off, its on there good.

In think i need more heat.

Jason

Quote from: Burdar on April 16, 2018, 02:09:16 PM
Start at the back and work your way forward.  :alan2cents:

Good advice man! 

I got both mfflers in and the over axle pipes on and one resonator. The over axle pipes are both in the same spot, so good there.

I put the driver side resonator in place and the small section of the headpipe on the manifold. When i line up the longer piece of the headpipe to the shorter peice you can see its at least 2 inches to long.

In the pic below, the fist tape line shows the how far in the pipe will go into the longer pipe, the second tape line (closer to the bend) is how far the it need to go in.

The measeurment is 2.5 inches. I may not have had the pipe all the way into the resonator, so i think if I take 2 inches off the longer peice it will all line up. Given how far the short peice goes into the loner one, i could take off more and be safe...I think.

Jason

2" would be the difference between Cuda and Challenger....two piece head pipes ? that's weird.....I guess I don't do enough small blocks :drunk:

You didn't say whose system it is but Accurate Exhaust recommends working from the back to the front.  I believe it's in their instructions.  Glad you're getting it figured out.

I used to work at an exhaust shop when I was in high school.  I was used to doing exhaust work on a hoist.  When I installed the exhaust on my Challenger, it was a huge PITA.  I never want to install another exhaust system with the car on jack stands ever again.  :pullinghair: :verymad:

If you need more heat Jas, call me. We just refilled the oxygen and acetylene tanks yesterday and there's a rosebud you can use as well.

Quote from: jimynick on April 25, 2018, 04:20:29 PM
If you need more heat Jas, call me. We just refilled the oxygen and acetylene tanks yesterday and there's a rosebud you can use as well.

Thanks man as always.  I will let you know if I can't get it off this weekend,

Jason

Quote from: anlauto on April 25, 2018, 04:10:43 AM
2" would be the difference between Cuda and Challenger....two piece head pipes ? that's weird.....I guess I don't do enough small blocks :drunk:

Yeah...that is supposed to be the correct pipe when using the 71-74 manifolds.   :notsure:

Jason

I hate exhaust!!!

OK, so I finally got the resonator free from the head pipe....don't ask, it was a pain.

So I mount the resonator to the over axle pipe and in the hanger, and I will be dammed it the passenger side is now further ahead then the driver side.  :bricks:  :pullinghair: I would assume that they should be in the same place.

So I start looking at it and the passenger side resonator mounting bracket , which is new, is bent.  It starts to bend right over the bolt that attaches it to the body bracket.   :verymad: :notsure:  I am sure that is part of the problem, but not convinced that is the only issue.

My plan is to hammer the bracket back straight, and bolt it a litter lower and hope is does not bend again.  If it does I will replace it.  Hopefully the resonators will line up and then I can deal with the head pipes.

Jason

 :bricks:

Ok made some progress, i think.

One question though, does any one know if the rubber muffler mounts that bolt to the trunk and supposed to be closed off at the back. If so i screwed one up and pushed right through the passenger side one, but I think it helped.

Anyway, I adjusted the over the axle pipes and how they sit in the mufflers, and here is where I got to.

The resonators are still sitting at differnt angles, and not even, but they are a little closer...I am not sure what else to do at this point.  I am going to mount the short  headpipes to the manifolds tomorrow and see if the long pipes are close to connecting the two ends.

:fingerscrossed:

Anyone else have this much trouble with exhaust. The weather is nice and I want to drive my car!!!!

Nice work.  I wouldn't worry too much about the angles as long as the mufflers don't hit anything and the pipes don't hang too low.  I'm going through my own exhaust hell now trying to mate Dougs headers to a 3" TTI exhaust w/o a hoist.  Mufflers are not straight.

still no luck with this damn thing.

The passenger side I have manageed to get together, although I am not total happy with how the pipes sit...it is very close to and below the driveshaft.  I expected it to run alongside the driveshaft.

On the driver side, the head pipe is still to long, probably by less than two inches.  If you slip the pipe into the resonator (it goes in alt leas two inches) you can not get the pipe onto the manifold. 

So I think I am going the start by taking an inch or so off the short piece of the head pipe and see if I can get it to slide in a little further...if it does not there is lot of overlap so no harm no foul.  If that does not work I am going to take some off the back of the long head pipe so it slides a little further into the resonator.

MY biggest problem with both of these is the guts to cut...I hate cutting new parts!!

I am also not a fan that the pipes will no longer be symmetrical under the car...but I think they will be close enough that I can live with it.

:pullinghair: :pullinghair: :pullinghair: :pullinghair: :pullinghair: :pullinghair: :pullinghair:

Jason

Quoteit is very close to and below the driveshaft

Mine was the same way but it doesn't hit.  Mine is close to the driveshaft up front.  There is very little up and down movement of the shaft on the front side.

Quote from: Cudajason on May 10, 2018, 06:20:04 AM
still no luck with this damn thing.

The passenger side I have manageed to get together, although I am not total happy with how the pipes sit...it is very close to and below the driveshaft.  I expected it to run alongside the driveshaft.

On the driver side, the head pipe is still to long, probably by less than two inches.  If you slip the pipe into the resonator (it goes in alt leas two inches) you can not get the pipe onto the manifold. 

So I think I am going the start by taking an inch or so off the short piece of the head pipe and see if I can get it to slide in a little further...if it does not there is lot of overlap so no harm no foul.  If that does not work I am going to take some off the back of the long head pipe so it slides a little further into the resonator.

MY biggest problem with both of these is the guts to cut...I hate cutting new parts!!

I am also not a fan that the pipes will no longer be symmetrical under the car...but I think they will be close enough that I can live with it.

:pullinghair: :pullinghair: :pullinghair: :pullinghair: :pullinghair: :pullinghair: :pullinghair:

Jason

Wow....I hope you're not charging the guy by the hour :bigmoney:

Quote from: anlauto on May 10, 2018, 07:03:57 AM

Quote from: Cudajason on May 10, 2018, 06:20:04 AM
still no luck with this damn thing.

The passenger side I have manageed to get together, although I am not total happy with how the pipes sit...it is very close to and below the driveshaft.  I expected it to run alongside the driveshaft.

On the driver side, the head pipe is still to long, probably by less than two inches.  If you slip the pipe into the resonator (it goes in alt leas two inches) you can not get the pipe onto the manifold. 

So I think I am going the start by taking an inch or so off the short piece of the head pipe and see if I can get it to slide in a little further...if it does not there is lot of overlap so no harm no foul.  If that does not work I am going to take some off the back of the long head pipe so it slides a little further into the resonator.

MY biggest problem with both of these is the guts to cut...I hate cutting new parts!!

I am also not a fan that the pipes will no longer be symmetrical under the car...but I think they will be close enough that I can live with it.

:pullinghair: :pullinghair: :pullinghair: :pullinghair: :pullinghair: :pullinghair: :pullinghair:

Jason

Wow....I hope you're not charging the guy by the hour :bigmoney:

yeah no kidding, I thought this was going o be a very easy and quick process...given I amusing all factory style components.  It has been nothing but easy.

:headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :verymad: :verymad: :verymad: :bricks: :bricks: :bricks: :whiteflag: :whiteflag: :whiteflag:

"It has been nothing but easy."- I think you mean it's been nothing near easy Jas. What a royal PITA!  I PM'd you about a buddy who may be able to help. Let me know if there's something I can do personally.  :bigthumb:

Quote from: jimynick on May 10, 2018, 07:43:31 PM
"It has been nothing but easy."- I think you mean it's been nothing near easy Jas. What a royal PITA!  I PM'd you about a buddy who may be able to help. Let me know if there's something I can do personally.  :bigthumb:

Yeah that's what I meant!!!

But GOOD NEWS!!!!

I sliced an inch, well a little less than that, off the short headpipe, and that allowed it to slide back enough to fit onto the manifold!!!   :ohyeah: :ohyeah:

Man I about whacked my head off the underside of the car once I got it to fit!!! 

I am happy with the way the driver's side fits, like I said the passenger side, not so much, but I think it will work.

So next up is adding turn downs to the mufflers.  I do not have the cut out valance, which is fine with me.  I have some turndowns mocked up, need to finalize the fit and weld them up.

@jimynick (https://forum.e-bodies.org/mlist/jimynick_55) if you are around would you mine tacking them up for me.  Not sure when I'll have them ready, but hopefully sometime next week.

Thanks for all the support ton this guys...very frustrating.

Quote from: nsmall on May 23, 2018, 09:30:48 PM
Love the paint job.  Thats awesome if you get to take your daughter to prom in the Cuda.  How about just letting her drive it alone? :pokeeye:

Its maybe just my computer, but it sounded toned down to me.  Not sure what you had before, but I personally love loud exhaust.  I'm glad you finally got it to fit.

Thanks man...people usually love or hate the paint, there is no in between.

that was the idea, tone it down a bit...so I am happy.  I will see if I can find an old video of the Thrush 2.5 inch exhaust I had on last year.

Always happy to take the kids out for a spin, prom is extra special.  But no, she is not driving it. :foul:

Jason

I like the paint job as well. With head phones  on my computer it sounds really good. Well done