that squash the pipe and can only fabricate exhaust from 2 -inch diameter tubing, Mopar owners are fortunate to have one of the best resources available for aftermarket exhaust, Tube Technologies, Inc. (tti). TTI has been making all types of Mopar exhaust components since they were founded, concentrating on the fit and quality of their products and catering to Mopar enthusiasts who want great exhaust at a reasonable price. TTI is also known for designing systems for engine swaps and for use with aftermarket heads, like our Indy 440-1s, that have raised exhaust ports requiring special headers.
In addition to the raised-port Indy heads, our B-Body presented some other challenges when it came to the exhaust. Being equipped with a four-speed, the headers would need to clear the clutch linkage without interference. We also upgraded our Plymouth's suspension with oversize torsion bars up front, and an aftermarket sway bar for the rear. Our concern was that these items would interfere with the exhaust, requiring either custom pipes or for the exhaust to be made with smaller diameter tubing than our desired three inches. Knowing that if anyone had an exhaust system that would fit this application it was tti, we visited their website, ttiexhaust.com and found just what we needed.
We installed tti's step headers in an earlier article during the engine installation phase of our project, and were very impressed with the fit of their product. Even with oversize torsion bars and an 11-inch clutch the headers, with primary tubes that step from two inches up to 21/8 inches, cleared everything with room to spare. Better yet, unlike some designs these headers have no slip-tubes, which are prone to leak, and all of the primary tubes travel over the centerlink to give maximum ground clearance. The headers are made from heavy gauge material, with 3/8-inch thick flanges and come with collectors and all the necessary hardware for installation. In fact the only sacrifice necessary to install these headers is to run a specific aftermarket starter. We planned to install a new high-torque starter anyway so the extra expense really didn't affect the total cost for our project.
Impressed with their headers, we chose tti products to complete our exhaust system and quickly found a kit to specifically fit our application while on their website. Though we'll be attaching our exhaust to tti headers, they also offer exhaust to fit Mopar factory exhaust manifold applications, as well as exhaust systems that will bolt up to other manufacturers' headers. Our car was originally equipped with turn-downs at the end of the tailpipes so that's what we ordered, but tti also offers kits for factory exhaust tips and has the tips as well. A quick call to tti confirmed that the three-inch exhaust system we were considering would not only fit our '71 B-Body and clear the rear sway bar but was available in either aluminized or stainless steel tubing. Better yet, the stainless steel kit we chose was in stock and would be shipped to us quickly.
When we received our products from tti a few days later, we were first impressed with the packaging of the exhaust. Nothing is worse than exhaust tubing that is crushed or bent during shipping, preventing the slip-joints from properly going together. Wanting to prevent this problem before it happens, tti obviously takes great care to individually protect the end of each pipe with foam, and then wrap each piece in bubble-wrap before they are packed into the shipping box. Once unpacked, the quality of the exhaust system was apparent. TTI uses computer controlled machinery, and exhaust components feature mandrel bends to ensure consistent tube diameter. Eager to drive our car on the road, we put it on the lift and began installing our new exhaust system.
A lift does make an installation like this more convenient, but there's no reason you can't install a system like this with your car on jackstands in your shop or driveway. Following the included instructions, we started in the rear installing the rear hangers and tailpipes first. Like all tti kits, the exhaust uses factory provisions to mount the hangers when possible, keeping you from drilling holes in your car's floor or framerails. Since our main concern with this application was clearance around the rear sway bar, we were very happy to see the exhaust had plenty of room in this area, even in three inch diameter tubing. The remainder of the exhaust, as well as the included Dynomax mufflers, slipped right into place, held together with the provided clamps and hardware. There was no welding required, and the only fabrication needed was to trim the pipes that connect the mufflers to the system using a Sawz-All.
All told, our installation took about half a day using the lift, and the car looks and sounds great with the new exhaust. The fit of the tti exhaust is awesome, likely better than factory exhaust, and the free-flowing three inch pipes and mufflers should affect the performance of our big-displacement engine only minimally while giving the car a nice rumble. There may be less expensive exhaust systems on the market, but in terms of quality and ease of installation for the cost, tti impresses us each time we use their products. The best part of this installation, however, is being able to drive our highly modified Road Runner on the streets without fearing a ticket from the police for noise pollution, right Randy?
