Dual Exhaust System for a Flare Side

[Bronco638]

I'm trying to do some long range planning for when the new drivetrain is installed in the truck. My 1980 Flare Side will have a 302 with SROD 4-speed transmission. Thanks to the mechanical clutch linkage, it appears as if I'll be using stock exhaust manifolds (which is not that big of a deal since the engine is pretty stock). I looked at the Exhaust System images in the documentation and I think I can see a path forward. What I'm trying to do is create a true dual exhaust system with the muffler being the 'cross over'.

Starting with a stock Y-pipe, I'd like to split it at the "Y" and shorten the portion of the driver's side where it crosses under the bell housing. Shortening the longer side means that I can run the pipes side-by-side under the passenger side floor and have the muffler be located under the rear of the cab. Then, I want two tail pipes to exit the passenger side under the step, forward of the passenger side flare. Thrush makes a dual in, dual out muffler (two actually) and I'm sure others do as well. And, there are custom exhaust pipe fabricators in my area (I'm not suggesting I cobble something together) I just wanted to see if anyone had any feedback (I'm a sucker for Lake Pipes...). TIA.

[ArdWrknTrk]

You might look at Bear River Converters

They have a bunch of fully welded stainless steel mufflers, in all kinds of configurations.

https://www.bearriverconverters.store/products/jones-mf2468-muffler-no-stock

[Bronco638]

Thanks Jim. And, decent pricing, too.

[ArdWrknTrk]

They might have other lengths & configurations...

I expect it's going to be tight on a short chassis.

[Bronco638]

ArdWrknTrk wrote

I expect it's going to be tight on a short chassis.

That's kind of why I wanted to put the muffler in the spot where the converter normally goes. I did something similar on a long-bed '85 Ranger and it worked out nicely. I'll have to eye-ball it once the drivetrain is in and I can mock something up.

I was really just wondering if anyone else had any experience doing something similar.

[ArdWrknTrk]

I really think we need a F.O.G. subsection when the forum moves to the new platform!  😉

It's just so much more capable of handling requests like this.  

[Bronco638]

F.O.G.?

I was also thinking that something like an "Ask the Experts" section might be kind of nice, too. So, you could get a question answered without a specific thread being dedicated to a simple question.

For instance; Do kick panel vents indicate a non-AC truck? I know the answer to this is 'yes' but only because I stumbled upon the answer while reading about something else.

The rules of the Forum would require the responder to quote the original question and provide an answer. If the response does not quote the original question, then the answer is removed/deleted. That seems heavy-handed and probably requires a lot of moderation but it would keep things organized. It could also be used as a basis for FAQs or How-To threads.

[ArdWrknTrk]

Well, I'm definitely NOT an expert on exhaust systems.
More along the lines of Vivek's "Works for me" YouTube.

When a certain banned member would always answer with links to his own page (which is not contributing to THIS forum and just increasing his Supermotors page rank) I created the tech pages up here, with the hope it  would become a "knowledge library" that would stay here forever.

But that just seemed to anger him more.. 🤷‍♂️

[ArdWrknTrk]

Sorry, I coined the F.O.G. when we got a flurry of Flareside Owners, and had a dedicated core including Cory/Rembrandt, Dave/FuzzFace and Ron/Reamer

I felt that they were enough subtle differences (wood bed, chains on the tailgate, cab closure panels, taillights and wiring, license plate bracket, etc that it would be nice if they had a section to address those unique things.

Maybe it's just a fantasy of mine? (or an inside joke)

[mat in tn]

yes, it does seem logical to have a f.O.G. section or even a fog thread. but I do know it's easy to get cluttered by adding too many sub sections. perhaps better to have chapters by body, engine, manual trans, automatic trans etc.  however, I have gotten use to using the site as it is, and the move is something I'm focused on. there is one (whydtytt) that has gotten so big that it takes very long to load, for me anyway. I wonder how that will be with the better format.

[Gary Lewis]

We do have the option of creating different things, like a FOG group.  But I fear people will ask questions there that are or should be asked in the main section.  We could say "Only ask questions specific to Flaresides", but not everyone knows what those are - and there aren't that many of them.

As for slow threads, I'm hoping that the new platform will fix, or greatly reduce, the time to load them.  I know that Franklin moved all the forums to one server some time ago, and I think that is a big reason why it takes sooooo long to load.  I hope.  

[ArdWrknTrk]

You're still loading the entire WHYDTYTT....
Imagine what that's like for someone on DSL or Hughesnet and what it does to someone who has limited data, if they keep going back to it for answers to their post?

[Bronco638]

ArdWrknTrk wrote

Sorry, I coined the F.O.G. when we got a flurry of Flareside Owners, ...

Geez, and I've even used the abbreviation over at FTE. D'oh!

Does anyone have a definitive list of things that are unique to Flare Sides? Obviously the bed and the other things you mentioned. As I dismantle the F-100 parts truck, things really aren't that different between the Flare Side and the Style Side. However, aren't there subtle differences between 1980 trucks and the rest of the series (1981-86)?

As for forums and how things are laid out, I'm good with whatever the brain-trust decides to do.

[ArdWrknTrk]

I'm aware that F-100 trucks could come without power brakes and that some had a car lug pattern, but I don't think that's unique to Flaresides.
1980's had a unique flex circuit, some subtle wiring differences, and the door locks changed to 'pin type' at some point.
Again I don't think this stuff in the cab was unique, but across the board for all pickups.

[Bronco638]

ArdWrknTrk wrote

I'm aware that F-100 trucks could come without power brakes and that some
had a car lug pattern, but I don't think that's unique to Flaresides.

I knew this as well. My '81 F-100 Style Side has the same lug pattern as my '80 Flare Side does (and thank goodness because the Bullet Hole wheels look good on the Flare Side). It does have king pins. And, to my eye, the TIBs are thinner looking than the TIBs on the F-150.

ArdWrknTrk wrote

1980's had a unique flex circuit, some subtle wiring differences, and the
door locks changed to 'pin type' at some point.
Again I don't think this stuff in the cab was unique, but across the board
for all pickups.

What's a Flex Circuit?

My '81 F-100 (built in 1/81) has the sliding door locks. I thought sliding door locks was an 1980-81 or 1980-82 thing.

Man are we off topic.......

[ArdWrknTrk]

The mylar wiring that connects to the back of the instrument cluster.

I believe the slide locks were a running change, but I definitely know the '80 has them and they vanished before hydraulic clutches happened.

It's your thread.
You could change the title, or you could just wander off topic all you like.🙂