I just came in for a lunch break from my Jeg’s exhaust project on my ’65, and would like to get any pointers that may save me from future issues. So far I got my headers tight, X-pipe, mufflers, and complete system hanging in the desired position ready for final welding. No hangers yet and supported with wire and jack stands for very close desired position.



Do I very lightly do small tacks starting from headers back doing both sides as I head back? I assume I lightly hand bend/twist the final wanted placement, all while heading back and tacking in two or three places at each connection. Once everything is secure with tacks, do I then position my hangers to help support the system and comfirm final placements while final welding. I also plan on welding about 1” sections at a time on different connections to also avoid warping.



Should I also place the car back on ground after light tacks to check all clearences maybe missed while on jackstands? I can’t set it down now because some jacks and blocks are helping for positioning. I could break out more tie wire and start hanging everything.



This seems simple as is going great. I’ve just never installed a complete system and could use a few of the little hints or tricks.



Thanks,



MJ

just something I heard (but didn't do myself when I did my new x-pip system a couple weeks ago) is that you don't start from the headers and work back, you get the exhaust tips and tailpipes right (tips mainly) and work your way to the headers. The reasoning being that the tips are the most important to be correct, and it can be tricky to get them to look right if the rest of the system gets knocked or anything as you are securing it. Anyways, just something I had heard, I'm sure more experienced people can chime in here as to whether this is useful or not...

Brad

Everything went quite well, up untill the last 1/4" of weld on the last pipe. OOPS - ran out of wire. I then decided to clean up and lower the car to check everything out and admire my work. The loop over the axle may have been a little to far forward and/or not quite large enough. As the rear comes into the u-shape it's very slightly touching. Tried a little crow bar and that helped a little. Need to brake out a large one and "make a little room". I should have followed my thought of lowering the car down before final welding. Guess I got a little over confidant and rushed a little too much. Sure came out nice though. I also adjusted the rear tips better before final welding up front like BChevelle advised above, that helped.

As a tip for other people to learn from my mistake, support the axle and not the body. The rear came up a little more then I thought and a little back.

Getting closer to fire-up.

mj