Exhaust Options

[brielly]

My exhaust is completely shot-needs new everything from the manifold back. Unfortunately they do not make replacement parts for 6 cylinder rigs. I was quoted $750 for a new system but would like to try to go the DIY route. The shop was going to use a newer XJ cherokee downpipe and modify as necessary, then run the rest of the system. I'm wondering if the tail section of the exhaust that runs over the rear axle from the V8 is the same or similar to the 6 cyl? If I could use that piece it would save me lots of aggravation and I'd only have to deal with the downpipe. Anyone have any experience with piecing together your own exhaust? Is this a reasonable job or should I just pay to have it done?

[Stuka]

I have never heard of a shop trying to retrofit some other system. And the XJ exhaust is entirely different as the exhaust manifold is different, and it routes back different, plus the length is wrong.

Any decent exhaust shop should be able to build a new system from scratch. Its been some years, but I had a complete manifold back 2.5" system done on my J10 (also a 258) done for $480.

I would call around to some other shops.

[Cecil14]

Yes, definitely find a different shop. That one is charging you a fortune because they don't want to do the work. The exhaust on these rigs, especially the I6 equipped ones, is incredibly simple. Any decent shop will probably have a full exhaust done in an hour or so.


aa

[candymancan]

Go to a diff shop.. i was qouted like 400$ to do custom headers and remove my old rusted ones and a new stainless steel exhaust if i provided the muffler and cat of my choice...

It shouldnt be hard to do a exhaust system yourself... hell you could go to autozone buy some stainless pipes and do it yourself its just some curvs and straight pipes and i have no doubt the v8 tailpipe from walker or something will work just fine

[Cecil14]

I believe you can get mandrel bent pieces (different degree bends, straights, etc.) from Summit and likely other sources online, if you want to do a really nice custom exhaust yourself.

aa

[Stuka]

Doing stainless yourself is pretty tough unless you have a tig welder. You can technically mig stainless, but it requires a different gas mix and just doesn't turn out as good.

If doing it at home, just go with aluminized steel. Way easier to work with, a lot cheaper, and still resists rust pretty well.

[brielly]

Thanks for the opinions. I am definitely going to check another shop. If I do this at home I have no choice but to use aluminized steel. The good news is I don't drive my rig when they salt the roads, I use my xj for that. Does anyone know if the v8 tailpipe section is the same for the straight 6?

[Stuka]

From the transfer case area back the bends will be the same (Technically the diameter and muffler are different, but that doesn’t matter). If you area thinking of a premade one, the only one I have seen had pretty meh quality.

[fsj454]

Exhaust Kits are nice . But I did have to buy a lisle pipe expander kit for 150.00 . Mandrel bent 2 1/2 kit very good quality iron pipe 350.00 . Built not Bought. Total 500.00 . I will not let anybody touch .drive or work on my jeeps.

[Fast79Chief]

To answer your question, and to save you A LOT of money, you can use V8 exhaust parts from the cat to the tailpipe inclusive. These parts are still available. Do it.

[brielly]

I went ahead and purchased the v8 tail pipe and muffler plus a universal cat. It also looks like a wrangler 4.2 downpipe will get me close to where I need to be as well. At $24 its worth a shot. I'll have to adapt the 2" downpipe to the 2 1/2 tubing buts thats no big deal. Any excuse to play with my mig welder. Looks like my manifold is cracked so thats going to get replaced as well.

[Fast79Chief]

I had some 2.5" 14 ga. 90 degree mandrel bends and a couple 45 degree bends, so I built the down tubes from the factory manifolds, then I fabricated a 2 into 1 just before the trans support on the passenger side, then picked a nice round muffler with 2.5" Inlet and outlet , and ran it into a 2.5" factory tailpipe. Sounds awesome.

[candymancan]

Thanks for the opinions. I am definitely going to check another shop. If I do this at home I have no choice but to use aluminized steel. The good news is I don't drive my rig when they salt the roads, I use my xj for that. Does anyone know if the v8 tailpipe section is the same for the straight 6?

They sell exhaust paint.. put on 2 or 3 coats and itll save the exhaust system for many years.. I put some on my entire exhaust system when i redid it myself from the y pipe down. ( i didnt do the manifolds but i started at the oil pan y pipe i cut bad parts out and got a 90 degree angle pipe and welded it on.. then from the end of thr y pipe i did all straight piping into my magnaflow cat. Thrn to my flowmaster super 44 muffler then like 2 morr feet of straight pipe into the walker tailpipe which goes over the axle and bends 90 degrees to the side. I welded a little bit of it but i used stainless clamps on most of it. Then i painted it after i drove it to burn off oils.. i put on exhaust paint its a flat black paint. Put like 2 or 3 coats on.. Its still on my piping 2 years later.. It did flake off on the walker pipe where they bent it and it has those wrinkles in the metal.. ill just get a can and repaint spots.

And i drive this in the winter with brine on the roadd.. i know i shouldnt lol but i wash it good with a hose every winter then spring.

If you do decide to paint it which i recomend you do.. Make sure you use goggles and a painters respirator from jome depot or lows from 3m....trust me.. the fumes are bad and linger under thr body even when outside.

Only tools i used was a sawzawl to cut the old piping off.. my electric impact for the clamps (socket wrench works too just make sure its gorrilla tight.) And a angle grinder with a 4 1-2 inch cutting disk to cut the pipes after you measure thrm underneeth. I used my welder a little but but weldkng isnt needed. Clamps are fine.

I do highely recomend the stainless clamps though in thr blue boxes at autozone.. the regular ones rust in a year or two and turn to dust litterally..

I used all piping from autozone. They sell stainless piping and pre-bent for fairly cheap. As well as couplings if you need them

[quakerrd39]

It's to bad that this system can't be bought. S I was wondering which front exhaust pipe will work on me 1979 258 with a 1981 manifold on it. The manifold has a cup om the out let. This J10 has a lot of not original parts on it . I can bend my own pipes or Just run a straight pipe system back . Any thoughts on this will help a lot.

[quakerrd39]

It's to bad that this system can't be bought. S I was wondering which front exhaust pipe will work on me 1979 258 with a 1981 manifold on it. The manifold has a cup om the out let. This J10 has a lot of not original parts on it . I can bend my own pipes or Just run a straight pipe system back . Any thoughts on this will help a lot.

[J20Hunter1]

If you dont have another exhaust shop and you are doing yourself you might try and find a chassis shop. Circle track racers have benders . Just a thought

[tgreese]

When I needed an exhaust for my J10, the local custom exhaust shop did it all front to back for something like $300. Used the torch to pop the manifold bolts out, bent the whole system and installed it. They did a good job too. Lou's Custom Exhaust.