Silly question. I have a '58 235 in my '55 1st. The exhaust manifold takes a donut where it mounts to the engine pipe. Any idea of the proper size? I went to the FLAPS and got a 2 inch donut, but it appears as though it is a little too large and something smaller would work better, like a 1 3/4 ". Forget about the guys at the FLAPS knowing anything about something as old as my engine or having a book or something that would give the proper info, cuz that's just not happening. Still haven't found a satisfactory FLAPS around here with people in it that really know what they're talking about. 20 years ago, there was a GREAT FLAPS two towns over. The owner was about 10 years older than me, but would buy trailers full of NOS parts and he had nearly EVERYTHING you needed to work on your 30-40 year old vehicle as well as knowledge. He sold and moved. Sadly, I think the FLAPS that has people who know what they are talking about and have reference books going back years is becoming a thing of the past with big auto chain stores and all their selves full of foo-foo cans and floor mats taking over. Even my local NAPA doesn't have people that know how to think in it. I need to keep looking and trying other stores until I find the right place. CIP (case in point): Along with the donut, I asked for some 3/8 exhaust studs to go along with it. "Parts guy" walks around counter and leads me to pegboard that has each stud in it's own little package hanging on the board with very little to choose from regarding length, etc. What happened to the behind the counter bins full of "just the right parts" in varying sizes and shapes? what happened to those beat up bins full of parts that were organized by size, etc.? Why is it when I ask them for a magnetic 1/2" NPT plug, a puzzled, vacant, glazed look comes over their eyes? Then they point to more little packages on yet another peg board display that doesn't have the part I am looking for. Mind you, this isn't a big chain store, it is a small FLAPS. Still looking for the right, greasy store with the oil soaked counter and someone who knows what they are talking about behind it. Andy
But then again... I went to one of "those" shops to get my exhaust fixed. They told me to quit eatin' beans! Seriously, they bent the most unusual pipe system I could ever imagine. (You'll see in the pictures I'll post of what I'm up to.) With all that done, it STILL sounds like s--- under the hood 'cause the manifold gasket is shot. ~not the dognut. Oh well... It'd be nice to find a split manifold anyway.
That Damned Exhaust Donut I go through this occasionally as there's a couple different donuts that'll fit . No matter what , those two nuts tend to loosen up over time and unless you remember to give them a snug with the box wrench every oil change , you're going to need to replace the donut occasionally and I never can find the old package with the P/N nor the spare one I always buy Once in a great while , I find the killer good ones that have a short lip on one side to position it ' Just So ' in the header.... I've also made up some sleeves out of old exhaust pipe and hammered it into the head pipe so it sticks up maybe 1/2" as a pilot... I'm sure Chevy Duty or Chevs Of The 40's will have the correct ones in stock. The proper exhaust studs are hardened (will be black in color) and have different thread pitches on each end . I found a few here in the antique Dorman hardware drawers you're looking for and put them in my truck . I feel your pain on the FLAPS rant but I have no solution as there's simply NO MONEY in it anymore.... Buy a can of ' Ring Job In A Can ' and slme new floor mats and stop whining
Found this place in Florida that shipped me an entire exhaust system pre-bent just for the AD truck. He even did the header pipe to fit the later 235 I have in the truck. And...he put the short piece of guide pipe for the donut into the header pipe just as Nate described. Entire system from manifold to tailpipe including muffler was $175.00 including shipping. Figured that was as good a deal as I could ever get. Ken was right on the money (thanks ). Pulled the header pipe off the shelf and it does indeed measure at 1 7/8". Now to find a 1 7/8" donut. Andy
Andy, tell me that it wasn't Kepich Exhaust, out of Lehigh Acres, Fla. I've heard some horror stories about them.
We get all our donuts from krispy kreme over here, have all shapes and sizes in stock they do, or they can make one up to match while u wait ________ Amateur hardcore
I didn't ASK them to supply the donut. Yes Ken, it was Kepich Exhaust and I have to say that so far it seems like a quality product and everything seems to be exact with proper bends, etc. Will let you know the real deal after I install it this weekend with the kids. Guy at Kepich was great. Knowledgable, personable, etc. Customized the system to match my different, non-stock engine at no extra charge. Fabricated and shipped quickly. As I said, I'll let you know after I bolt it up. Andy
Can we agree that it is universally accepted that one of the best things in life is how a krispy kreme donut, when right off the line, doesn't have to be chewed? It's like, when you put it in your mouth it just disappears. I gotta go. The fresh light is flashing at KK! Gater
No ~ I'm a Damn Yankee born & bred so I need Dunkin' Donuts Besides , those Kripsy Kreem things are 97 % sugar....
YARG ! . Now that I can afford to buy all the chocolate I want , I can no longer eat one entire bar in one sitting due to too much sugar.... Good donuts are made of grease and flour , not much else...
MMMMM DOHNUTS (Homer style) all this talk bout dohnuts, well gotta go! ________ California dispensaries
Soulution! Just think~ a dozen free Krispy Kremes Doughnuts over and over. Just move to Kansas and go to a Royals game. 12 runs= a free dozen Krispy Kremes to each of those who went to the game!
Had a particularly bad experience at another FLAPS. Let's just say that with my kids present I couldn't tell the guy behind the counter what I thought of him and the store, although he did not have the same restraint and my kids vocabulary was expanded that day by his colorful language. Did however finally find not one, but two FLAPS with good people in them who would actually work to solve a problem. My favorite one was the guy who walked over to a shelf full of old parts books and pulled one out from the bottom. He looked at me and said, "NEVER get rid of old books". Liked him immediately. Real small store in a real small town and toatally into helping out. Got my muffler bearings in two varieties. One beveled on both ends and one flat on one side and beveled on the other. They both fit the pipe diameter perfect. who-da thunk such a simple part would have taken over a week and a half to get right? anyway, my search for a good FLAPS is finally over. Both of the places are local and truely friendly. Really good old fashioned places like I remember from 30 plus years ago. Andy
