Needed a better looking exhaust setup ...
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,145
Likes: 133
From: East Chatham, New York
Needed a better looking exhaust setup ... But Meineke wanted a fortune, plus, they didn't like my questionable emmissions compliance 
So I went to Harbor Freight and got a MIG Flux welder for around $89 plus tax. It comes with a spool of flux wire suitable for welding mild steel.
Next, I went to O'Reillys and got some 3.5" slash cut chrome tips. These are made to bolt/clamp to 2.5" pipe but my homemade system is 3" all the way back. I put the end of the tip in my 3" and then took a black sharpie and traced a line around the perimeter for a cut point.
Then I took out the $37 Harbor Freight Reciprocating saw and cut off the ends.
I used my floor jack to suspend the muffler and tips at the desired height. Then I took the tips and, using a straight edge, I brought the top end of the tips parallel to the bottom lip of the bumper cover, then started welding. After that, I welded a support on each side, using the stock exhaust hanger/isolators.
Here's what it looked like before,
Here's what it looks like now...
So I went to Harbor Freight and got a MIG Flux welder for around $89 plus tax. It comes with a spool of flux wire suitable for welding mild steel.
Next, I went to O'Reillys and got some 3.5" slash cut chrome tips. These are made to bolt/clamp to 2.5" pipe but my homemade system is 3" all the way back. I put the end of the tip in my 3" and then took a black sharpie and traced a line around the perimeter for a cut point.
Then I took out the $37 Harbor Freight Reciprocating saw and cut off the ends.
I used my floor jack to suspend the muffler and tips at the desired height. Then I took the tips and, using a straight edge, I brought the top end of the tips parallel to the bottom lip of the bumper cover, then started welding. After that, I welded a support on each side, using the stock exhaust hanger/isolators.
Here's what it looked like before,
Here's what it looks like now...
not bad for truck tips....sorry but every chevy and ford truck around my parts has those tips...I had them at one point and realized how hideous they are...some corsa clones would look great on that car...but to each his own..as long as you like them thats what matters...They look better than they did
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,145
Likes: 133
From: East Chatham, New York
Yeah. There were several others there that actually did have better eye appeal but they were invariably stainless steel and I didn't think they'd weld very well with this cheap welder. As you say, just about anything was better than the 'Hooptie' look I've been "sporting" 
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,145
Likes: 133
From: East Chatham, New York
Thanks! Harbor Freight/Chicago Electric. It was on sale when I purchased mine. If you check on their site frequently, you can occasionally catch them marked down substantially.
Nice, nothing wrong with those tips... Nothing like saving quite a bit of cash and learning to do something to boot.
Lots of people might have them but, its better than bare pipe sticking out.
EDIT : I think I actually have those on my truck too
Lots of people might have them but, its better than bare pipe sticking out.
EDIT : I think I actually have those on my truck too
