Well, my muffler's gone.

[jr307]

Well good news, after a harrowing, white-knuckle white-out snow/blizzard journey over 300 miles I have just purchased a '85 standard 720 yesterday! After a few months of serious searching, It turned out to be one of the best I've looked at so far. All the body panels were solid, little to no rust, engine in good shape and really clean (though not now that I drove it home) When I was looking under the body, it all look really good... Except the exhaust. Everything else was very solid, still metal colored and no rust, but the exhaust was brown and really rotten out looking, however everything was still attached. I still made the deal, only paid $1000 which I though was a fair price ( he originally asked for $1800) considering the age and given exhaust issues. Well not more than 30 minutes up the road, I heard a terrible metal vs. pavment noise and pulled off to the side. I looked under the truck and the wire holding up the exhaust pipe behind the muffler had come off violently ripping my poor old rusty muffler off almost completely. I realized I'd need a new one anyway so I jerked on the rest of it until it came loose and tossed it in the bed, I continued my long, loud journey home. The truck ran great by the way, 4x4 saved my a** and I had to pull my buddy out behind me once

But heres' the issue I'm facing: It's really loud in my cab and I would really prefer to have a proper exhaust. I'm having a hard time figuring out what I want to do with it though. I don't think I need anything more powerful or a performance style setup for my use as a commuter, but I'd rather not spend a bunch and end up with something that I'll have to replace again in a year or so.

So what's the best bang for the buck for a commuter that I want to get good torque and good (as possible) mpg? (and if possible a really nice sounding little rumble)

I don't really know a whole awful lot about exhaust systems to be honest so any feedback is definitely appreciated. I'll put up some pics of the truck soon too!

Thanks!

[XavierBK]

My suggestion would be to just take it to a local exhaust shop and have them fab you a whole exhaust, or whatever needs replaced. Not only would it be cheaper than a "box kit" exhaust it will also, from my experiences, end up sounding better. They'll be able to assist you with picking out a muffler combo to get the sound you're looking for, too.

If you can, go for stainless piping for longevity.

[breadbox]

The stock exhaust isn't really that restrictive after the cat. So I'd just make sure the cat isn't about to break apart to inside and if its decent before the cat just get a new cat and have a shop weld up a new resonator to straight pipe exiting where ever you want.

If you want a "muffler" then just get a shop to fab something up, these trucks are pretty much DIY, you can get timing kits and stuff on ebay and parts stores so no matter the issue you can replace it or make it yourself with low end welding and some freetime.

If you want a header, there maybe be a pacesetter header floating around, but its not worth it on these motors, or the KA24e either in my opinion.

^^^BK I probably started typing mine before yours, lol, I get distracted.

[jr307]

Well I'm not sure if its even the muffler at this point as soon as I get a host Ill put up a picture of the piece that fell off as far as it being better be for the cat is doubtful my whole exhaust system seems pretty rotten and ill post some pics of that too if I can get some

Conveniently my roommates dad owns an exhaust fab shop so I'm hoping hell do a check on it for me and let me know what he thinks

[breadbox]

If that is the case roll up there and see what he says. Just get a stock replcement as the truck isn't too loud in general, unless you like having highway drone.

[jr307]

Heres the toasted exhaust that's in the bed, didn't get a good pic of the rest of the system but it's pretty rotten all the way up to the engine


Exhaust by JRE307

[PEZi]

Custom is the only way to go. Ideally, high flow or no cat... 2.25" and a high flow muffler or glasspack. The most important thing about these trucks is NO BIGGER THAN 2.25"!!!