[RICH1965]

I have a 65 elcamino with a 350 and has really old exhaust pipes and old glasspacks. They dont have rust holes but are probably going to have them in a few years. I dont want to spend alot of money on exhaust and was wondering if I could just grab a newer exhaust off some other type vehicle in the junkyard and modify it to fit my truck. This elcamino is just being revived from the dead and I just want to get it road worthy again for as cheap as possible.

 

[427L88]

I;d price some Summit components before I went to a yard.

 

[novass]

by the time you try to piece something together from junk yard parts it would be cheaper and quicker to build it from scratch from new parts.

 

[RICH1965]

Yeah I figured as much. I was hoping maybe there was some cars that came with SS exhaust or something that I could make work. I mean for 100 bucks for a complete dual exhaust with muffler is pretty cheap, thats why I was wondering.

 

[71350SS]

If your old pipes only have surface rust on them they are probably a lot stronger than you think they are.This is how we tested a pipe to see if it was good and could be left in place. Take a pair of channellock pliers and grab it.Then try squeezing the pipes, if they are rusted out they will crunch with only a slight amount of pressure from your hand and the rust will flake off in large pieces. If they are only surface rusted and healthy you will have to squeeze them really hard to try to to squeeze them or crunch them.
If that's the case do not crunch them, your pipes are OK and they will last at least 2-3 years maybe more if they don't sit around a long time.Nowadays junkyard cars are all mostly front wheel drives with Catalytic converters and probably never going to find something that fits a 65 Chevelle in there.

 

[jeff swisher]

I get all my exhaust from the salvage yard.
Newer trucks and vans mostly.
Tail pipes were 5 bucks and that is from the back of the muffler to the end of the pipe.
2.5 and 3" and larger mandrel bent factory stuff.
If the bend is not exactly right I can cut it and twist it and but weld the pipe back together with my mig.

I paid to have exhaust put on vehicles 2 times in my life and both times it was a fail.
Pipes hit the tank or the shock or just squished bends.

I can build my own and make it fit perfectly for way less.

People mention time spent.
Yea that does not count really unless you actually work 3 shifts and do not ever have a couple hours to tinker on anything.

 

[RICH1965]

I have the tranny and exhaust dropped right now for a seal change. Thats why I was thinking maybe exhaust on the cheap since I only want to kick it down the road and check off a box for ok.

 

[jeff swisher]

If you can cut and weld go to the salvage yard.
I have been doing my own exhaust since I was 20.
Used coat hangers for a bit then got an AC225 welder and used 6013 rod and now a 110 mig

 

[catzodellamarina]

My friend's dad was my auto mechanics teacher in hs. He said he hadn't paid for a new muffler or exhaust system in years. If he saw part of an exhaust system or muffler laying on the side of the road, he would pull over and throw it in the back of his car to be used later.

 

[67_LS1]

I’ve seen cars at the local pic-n-pull that had Flowmasters and Magnaflows on them. Late model stuff so should be salvageable.

 

[RICH1965]

Im going to give it a shot now. It wont hurt to at least go out there and scout, leave the dewalt sawzall in the truck.

 

[jeff swisher]

No power tools allowed at our pick a part salvage yards.
I took 2 hacksaws with me in a tool box and had several new blades taped to the rib on the hack saw so under the car if one broke i had a replacement quick like.

I got a lot of exhaust pieces in a short time and the guy taking my money told me no power tools.
I said I don't have any power tools.
He said no way you cut all those off that quick.

I opened my box and showed him my 2 hack saws with blades at the ready and they were good Milwaukee hack saw blades.
Not walmart blades

Check with your salvage yard and make sure they allow power tools.

 

[mr 4 speed]

Sticks of aluminized pipe is cheap. And there are plenty of $29.95 performance mufflers on ebay.

 

[confused]

I have saved many a late model truck tailpipe that we have taken off at work. Made my exhaust for my 87 Dodge Ram from late model F150 pipes.
Check any local speed shops as they usually have a pile of new stock exhaust removed when customers upgraded.

 

[shovelrick]

During Cash For Clunkers my 96 Ram with 1-1.5 yr old dual exhaust and 2 Flow Master 40's went to the JY, I told a friend and he went and got the whole system Cheap so you never know what's there unless you look, personally I wouldn't want to wait for a good exhaust to show up at the JY, could be a long wait, JMO