Register now to get rid of these ads!

Flathead Ford exhaust

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by antiqueautomike, Mar 17, 2010.

  1. antiqueautomike
    Joined: Dec 15, 2008
    Posts: 200

    antiqueautomike
    Member
    from Spokane

    What type of exhaust are you running in your flat head powered cars? I'm looking for Pipe size, Muffler style, dualed, or single exhaust, equalizer connections, Chrome tips, etc. I'm going to be replacing the exhaust in my 37' Fordor, and would like something burly sounding but drivable, and at the same time elegant, but not necessarily stock!

    Mike
     
  2. thunderbirdesq
    Joined: Feb 15, 2006
    Posts: 7,091

    thunderbirdesq
    Member

    An old set of W headers shortened to work with the stock wishbone through 1.75" straight pipes all the way out. Sounds nasty! I left long straight sections along the TT in case I want to add mufflers later. I doubt it...

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
  3. Running home made manifold into 3" collectors and 2" out into 30" Smitty's sounds good being fed by a blown flattie.........
     
  4. krylon32
    Joined: Jan 29, 2006
    Posts: 9,842

    krylon32
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from Nebraska
    1. Central Nebraska H.A.M.B.

    W headers with 2 inch pipes out the back of my deuce roadster with no muffs.
     
  5. Flat Ernie
    Joined: Jun 5, 2002
    Posts: 8,406

    Flat Ernie
    Tech Editor

    The 'W' headers make a wee bit more power than more 'traditional' designs - not that you'll ever notice on the street.

    I run Fenton cast irons to 1-3/4" pipes and 12" Brockman steelpacks on my '40 Ford - sounds good.

    On my '36 P/U, I run Red's tubular steel headers to 1-3/4" pipes and 22" Brockman steelppacks - sounds pretty good too.
     
  6. Da Tinman
    Joined: Dec 29, 2005
    Posts: 4,222

    Da Tinman
    Member

    I got W headers, 2 1/4' pipes, 24" glass packs, no crossovers.

     
  7. the-rodster
    Joined: Jul 2, 2003
    Posts: 6,947

    the-rodster
    Member

    Lake headers, no baffles.

    Flatheads just aren't very loud compared to OHV.

    Rich
     
  8. mikemo
    Joined: Oct 31, 2007
    Posts: 110

    mikemo
    Member

    I'm runnin' Fentons & 17" Mellowtones with 1 3/4" pipe, sounds great.
     
  9. lowsquire
    Joined: Feb 21, 2002
    Posts: 2,567

    lowsquire
    Member
    from Austin, TX

    2 1/4" stainless thru frame system with two 15"x4" spiral auger mufflers, the big pipe size makes it really gruff sounding at idle, but it actually gets quieter between 2-3000 RPMS and passed a noise test at 91 db! very hard to run this large a pipe thru a 32 frame like mine, but Im happy with the results and the sound!

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  10. barry wny
    Joined: Dec 31, 2009
    Posts: 451

    barry wny
    Member

    Home made headers, you can get 2" pipe to fit the center flange. Tractor mufflers are glass, or steel packs, look for 2" inlet, think outlet is 1 1/2 pipe. Home made bells on the end, not fancy. Tin headers make more noise, cast iron seem's to be a sound sponge, had stock manifolds to get it driving, there is a difference.
     

    Attached Files:

  11. On my 53 Merc had straight pipes, didn't have much low end power, good top end, put on a set of super traps, the motorcycle ones, great low end, top end OK, they were adjustble.
     
  12. tommy
    Joined: Mar 3, 2001
    Posts: 14,757

    tommy
    Member Emeritus

    When I fist started doing exhaust for a living, I ran 2" all the way. Everyone wanted bigger pipes. They never sounded like the old flatheads. I couldn't figure out why and assumed that the new glasspacks were the problem.

    I had a customer come in and insist that I run 1 3/4 on his box stock 51 Merc using the same glasspacks. Bingo! It had that classic flathead/glasspack sound.

    Some guys fret about limiting the potential of their hot rod engines and never get over 75 MPH:D I'm more concerned about sounds. If you want the classic sound stick to 1 3/4" pipe all the way.

    My buddy had me remove his glasspacks and replace them with straight pipe. I was sure that he would not like it but it wasn't bad at all.

    Sounds are a very personal taste type of thing. One size does not fit all. I didn't build my flathead powered hotrod to race on Sat night.
     
  13. ken1939
    Joined: Jul 5, 2008
    Posts: 1,558

    ken1939

    I started with a pair of off the shelf headers, cut the flange off and welded a 90 degree angle out of 2 1/2 inch, and welded a reducer to 2 inch with a flange. Silver HPC Coated. The remainder of the exhaust is 2" polished stainless, with off the shelf shortie polished stainless mufflers. Welded hangers into the frame X as I went, so I could use the U bolts one time. Had the up over the rear custom made for a reasonable price, polsihed as the other pieces. Its a nice sound, not to loud as glass packs, but a good sound.
     
  14. antiqueautomike
    Joined: Dec 15, 2008
    Posts: 200

    antiqueautomike
    Member
    from Spokane

    I like the look of the pipes being wide when they exit the underside of the car.
     
  15. TAYLOR
    Joined: Jan 21, 2007
    Posts: 591

    TAYLOR
    Member
    from DALLAS,GA.

    Fenton headers , 1 3/4" straight pipes on my 39
     
  16. antiqueautomike
    Joined: Dec 15, 2008
    Posts: 200

    antiqueautomike
    Member
    from Spokane

    1 3/4" seems to be the standard.
     
  17. Pinstriper40
    Joined: Sep 24, 2007
    Posts: 3,627

    Pinstriper40
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Red's headers, short smithy's, 2" pipe dumped out right before the rear wheel. Some say it sounds "bitchin'".
     
  18. 4dFord/SC
    Joined: Sep 12, 2004
    Posts: 837

    4dFord/SC
    Member

    Fenton cast iron headers, 1 3/4" pipes, Brockman steel packs, and 3" Echo cans on my '40. Sweet.
     
  19. antiqueautomike
    Joined: Dec 15, 2008
    Posts: 200

    antiqueautomike
    Member
    from Spokane

    Okay, I got my exhaust done! Dualed 1 3/4" from stock headers, to 15" glass packs with little chrome tips to finish it off. sounds great! It also smells much better, I had an aftermarket manifold heater on the Passenger side bank, after some contemplating I removed the heater, instead of factoring it into the works.
     
  20. Dons37
    Joined: Nov 15, 2016
    Posts: 3

    Dons37
    Member

    Just got my Reds kit. Am handing off the Smithy's mufflers to a friend for another of his projects and we're going to run straight pipes. Can hardly wait.
     
  21. Blown35
    Joined: May 20, 2008
    Posts: 236

    Blown35
    Member

    Fenton headers through 2 inch duals with Smittys - pictured here is with the straight pipe option but they were way loud so tamed down a bit with mufflers - pushing moucho power so perhaps why they are so load un-muffuled. PICT0025.JPG PICT0031.JPG
     
    mgtstumpy and Bandit Billy like this.

Share This Page

Register now to get rid of these ads!

Archive

Copyright © 1995-2021 The Jalopy Journal: Steal our stuff, we'll kick your teeth in. Terms of Service. Privacy Policy.

Atomic Industry
Forum software by XenForo™ ©2010-2014 XenForo Ltd.