On my 340 Duster many years ago, I ran cheap headers, original dual exhuast pipes, added my own crossover pipe, and cheap 'turbo' mufflers. They lasted over 120,000 miles, IE LOTS of abuse, for example: I whiped out to pass a guy, and theres an unbroken cinder block laying right in front of me. I thought there goes the headers. Nudged the car over a skosh and caught the block on the K frame where the lower control arm attaches. The cinder block exploded out from under the car!!!! Only put a dent in the K-frame, no other damage. Whewwwww. But in the end many of the cheapie primary pipes were smashed at least half flat. Still got 17 mpg on the highway.
I would use good gaskets at the cylinder head. Remflex makes them, others brands out there also. IF the primary pipes slip together (mine did) they will leak all the time, either weld them solid, OR I would suggest buy mid-grade headers (dougs, hooker, etc).
Put decent free flowing mufflers, many available now. Don't dump the exhaust down at the road ahead of the rear axle ( I did). The noise echos between the road and the car. It's tolerable, but I wouldn't do it again.
I added the crossover pipe because my old 440 GTX had it from the factory. Don't need all the stainless IMO. None of my system was, and like I said it lasted many years of winter driving, tire chains, smashing over rocks on dirt roads, etc.
In the end I sold the car to an oil rig worker headed for Alaska. He pounded that 340 up and down the alcan highway numerous times. It was the only 340 Duster with a brush/deer guard on the front I've ever seen.
He beat the crap out of the car, said everywhere he went was 100 mph. The headers were still on the car and still working last time I saw it years later.
Topic: POLL...What to Do, What to Do, What to Do...I'm Exhausted (Read 1741 times)
