Hey all,

its finally time to put a true exhaust system on our 56 sunliner.  Found a guy locally who does really great custom work - done cars for sema, magazine cars, etc., and has a great reputation locally.  But I have a few questions, and since I wasnt around "back in the day", he was asking me questions I cant answer, since im not too familiar with the terms... can you all offer any insight?

Engine is a 292 with blue thunder intake, holley 390 carb, ford-o, and a mild to moderate cam from mummert... i can get the exact specs if needed, but i dont think it matters?  Car currently just has downpipes into smittys that dump in front of the rear axle...  questions:

Im assuming (per other thread) that 2" is sufficient?

Guy recommended aluminzed vs. stainless due to cost vs. benefit for how we use the car... He uses 14ga aluminized, which i guess is thicker than most....he claims that it should last probably 8-10 years with the fair weather driving we do... thoughts?

He asked if I wanted it to "rap' or "pop"?  I dont know the difference.... can anyone describe it to me?

I think that im going to use Brockman Mellow-tones instead of smittys as most people say they have a "fuller' sound, and are a little smoother.  Thoughts or experiences?  I know some people use resonators instead of packs, or flowmasters, etc, but im looking for more of a traditional sound....

Can anyone describe the difference between steel packs and glass packs?  I want something that sounds "healthy" and makes a bit of noise, but isnt deafening... we frequently strap my 2 year old son in the back (car seat, of course), and now it is too loud/droning....

What impact does length have on sound, etc?  Any length recommendations?  Brockmans have body length options of 9.5", 17", and 22".  Im assuming that the body length is whats important, not overall length?  Any idea the max dim that would fit in the stock location on a 56 sunliner?

Anything else I should be aware of or consider?  Any nd all help is really appreciated; I just done have enough experience in this stuff to know the differences.

THANKS IN ADVANCE!

Ron Grove

Wauconda, IL

I bought some generic glasspacks from Calif. because they were a bolt-in on the original exhaust system. You may find yourself driving with the top up more often!

My aluminized 1 3/4" pipes still like new after 10 yrs./70k miles, BUT, I almost never run the motor without a long drive to heat everything up.

6 VOLTS/POS. GRD. NW INDIANA

I would like myself, to try Brockman's. I have never had a set, but have heard them and sound a lot nicer than Smitty's, and they were 17" steelpacks. They do "rap" a lot more than the Smittys  when you back off on them after being revved up. I tried to do a search for Brockmans, their supposed to be in Hagerstown, Indiana. I checked white and yellow pages, but they must be made under some other name other than Brockman. I would say too that 2" is okay for a motor that isn't built up too much. If it were I'd go up to 2 1/4 pipe insted. The only problem I can see with that is (2 1/4) that Smitty's or Brockman's aren't made over a 2 " diameter. So if you did go larger you'd have to probably use something like Cherry Bomb's or some other type of glasspack. One thing a lot of people don't realize when installing glasspacks is the "fins" that stick out from the inside of the glasspack,  if their turned so the fin is not picking up the sound as its going back through, they become a lot louder. Basicly turning the glasspack around so that the flow isn't being being picked up by the fins, so it flows right over the top of it, going straight through, and not up into the steel or fiberglass. They rap a lot more that way.

                                                                   Michael

Michael

Sandy Valley, NV

Thanks for the replies, guys!  So it seems like the consensus is that aluminized will be just fine, 2" should be a good size, and that mellow-tones are a good alternative to the smittys.

Any thoughts on the length of the mufflers and impact on sound?  Also, anybody have insight on "rap" vs. "pop", and on steel vs. glass?

THANKS for any thoughts!

Ron Grove

Wauconda, IL

Just a FYI reguarding the sound. The shorter the muffler, the loader they are. Hope that helps a little.

                                                 Michael

Michael

Sandy Valley, NV

That actually helps a lot!  Any way to estimate order of magnitude?  i.e. "a muffler twice as long is half as loud..." or whatever?

Thanks!

Ron Grove

Wauconda, IL

If I remember, 50s hot rodders favored one glasspack and one steelpack. Best of both worlds.

6 VOLTS/POS. GRD. NW INDIANA

My Uni will get Cherry Bombs (installed backwards) when the 292 goes in it.

1964 F 100 LWB Roller 5.0 & T-5

2001 Jeep Cherokee XJ

2009 Harley FXSTB Night Train



"I still have a Y block - it's just not in anything yet."

Hey Greg,

   how long of Cherry Bombs and what diameter? Just wondered. Think I'm going to do 2 1/4" that are 18" long on my Unibody 292 with modified car manifoldds.

                                                   Michael

Michael

Sandy Valley, NV

Got a stock 272 with headers, 2 1/2 409 stainless and flow masters that dump in front of the tires.  Its like a sheep in wolfs clothing.  A real deap sound that will bark pretty loud at 60.  It might not be for everyone but its sweet music to my ears even at $4.00 a gal    

Warsaw, IN