Side-pipe supports

[Cobraman]

Ok I'm getting to the point of putting the body on and getting everything to fit but need to address side pipe support. A while back saw a post with some turn buckles that kept pipes from sagging. Has anyone else done this or is there a better way to accomplish no sagging.

[BEAR-AvHistory]

Think turn buckles at the headers to frame are pretty common. I have been using them since 2014. Not an original thought on my part got the tip from someone who built a car before me.

[OSU Cowboy]

The FFR-designed side pipe support points will prevent sagging. What that support point will not resolve is the stress on the header pipes at the collectors that attach engine-side. Consider how long those header pipes are in order to get all the way to the sides of the car. These act like levers with the weight of the side pipes, stressing those header tubes on every bump/dip/bounce in the road. In my own experience, I had the d-side header tubes crack not once, but twice, and had to remove them and get them repaired both times. After the second time, I finally wised up enough to add the turnbuckles with rubber support on both sides to prevent the header tube cracking/breaking. Now to be fair, my side pipes are heavier than most as I got the Flowmaster double-wall stainless exhaust pieces grafted into my side pipes (Flowmaster discontinued those parts about 3 months after I got them six years ago). So that extra weight translated in a big way to my header tubes.

Still - doing that update is an excellent step to build reliability into the car. Highly recommended you do that, and certainly not difficult.

[Jeff Kleiner]

Ok I'm getting to the point of putting the body on and getting everything to fit but need to address side pipe support. A while back saw a post with some turn buckles that kept pipes from sagging. Has anyone else done this or is there a better way to accomplish no sagging.

You may be talking about the forward hangers that I make to keep the pipes from sagging at the front when using J-Pipes or ball flange headers.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=181943&d=1679580697

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=181945&d=1679580735

It's all just a few bucks worth of hardware store turnbuckles, J hooks, nuts and bolts, a couple short pieces of steel angle and a generic Mustang style double donut rubber tailpipe hanger.

Jeff

[gbranham]

What Jeff said...

223835223836

[Cobraman]

Thanks for all your information Ill pick up parts to get this done.

[Cobraman]

What Jeff said...

223835223836

Looks like you're turn buckle is around 5"? To accommodate the rubber Hanger and eye bolt.

[Ejzajac]

What Jeff said...

223835223836

I see you are using BRASS nuts on the collector to side pipes that are "extra" long. I can source them locally, but in standard length only. Is the long length required or could I "double nut" them?
Thanks Ed Z

[gbranham]

Looks like you're turn buckle is around 5"? To accommodate the rubber Hanger and eye bolt.

Yep, they're 5 inches.

[gbranham]

I see you are using BRASS nuts on the collector to side pipes that are "extra" long. I can source them locally, but in standard length only. Is the long length required or could I "double nut" them?
Thanks Ed Z

Amazon is your friend! :)

[rponfick]

I see you are using BRASS nuts on the collector to side pipes that are "extra" long. I can source them locally, but in standard length only. Is the long length required or could I "double nut" them?
Thanks Ed Z

I just ordered some of the longer brass nuts, and they came in a box of 25, Dorman part 680-104, so I used them on all 7 bolts on the connectors. They are not the metal lock nuts like in the kit, but not sure if that matters. I went to a little longer hex bolt on the 4-position mount to accommodate the longer nuts.
Ralph

[Jeff Kleiner]

...They are not the metal lock nuts like in the kit, but not sure if that matters...

The proper place to install those kit supplied lock nuts (Stover nuts) is into the nearest trash can.

Jeff

[Cobraman]

The proper place to install those kit supplied lock nuts (Stover nuts) is into the nearest trash can.

Jeff
I made that mistake now I must admit it lesson learned I've ordered brass nuts..
That's what I get by following the manual to the T.��