The Summit Racing Universal...
The Summit Racing Universal Rod Builder’s exhaust kit is perfect for the do-it-yourselfer. It can be assembled without welding for those who don’t have the equipment, and the perfect selection of straight and pre-bent tubing section make for endless possibilities with the use of a hack saw and a tape measure.
I hate farming out any kind of work when building a project vehicle. It doesn’t matter whether it’s body work, paint, wiring, upholstery, or exhaust fabrication, I just need to do it (or at least attempt it) myself. Maybe it’s vanity, maybe it’s stubbornness, more than likely it’s stupidity—or at the very least masochism. Whatever the cause, I often find myself creating more work for myself than is actually necessary—but when I do so, I usually end up trading the extra work and aggravation for monetary savings, and that’s always a good idea (well, almost always).
This time around, I think I made the correct choice when I decided to utilize one of Summit Racing Equipment’s Universal Rod Builder’s exhaust kits (PN SUM-670146). First of all, it’s pretty darn affordable considering you won’t be on the hook for a stout labor charge from the local muffler shop, plus, the system you end up with is one that is routed exactly where and how you want it—not how the muffler guy finds it easiest and fastest.
The starting point for my...
The starting point for my new exhaust system is a pair of Doug’s headers. These ended up being perfect for my situation (after trying a few others that weren’t) since the ’57 is now equipped with an aftermarket street rod-style IFS system. For those interested in exactly what headers I used, they’re Doug’s part# D317, Summit Racing part# DOU-D317 and their true usage is on early Chevy II’s and Nova’s.
The Summit kit includes a great selection of 2½-inch exhaust tubing in various configurations—it’s all the tubing anyone would need to fabricate a custom exhaust system for just about any application. To be specific, the contents of the kit consist of four sections of 4-foot long straight tubing, four 45-degree bends, four 90-degree bends, and four 180-degree bends. Summit is also a great source for mufflers and all the hardware you’ll need as well. In that regard, when I placed my order for the kit I also ordered one of their PN SUM-642125 2½-inch diameter X-pipe kits (which also includes a package of eight standard muffler clamps), a couple of PN SUM-693250 2½-inch stainless band-style clamps that I planned on using to mate the header collectors to the X-pipe, and a pair of PN SUM-638252 race mufflers. So basically, four part numbers gave me everything short of a few exhaust hangers, which I already had on hand, and a fresh pair of tube headers to connect the system to the small-block Chevy used in the pickup. Unfortunately, I had to pass on ordering one of Summit Racing’s two-post lifts, so I was forced to fabricate and install my custom exhaust system while laying on my back underneath a pickup supported by a quartet of jack stands—oh well, ya gotta do what ya gotta do. Anyway, all went well and I had a complete custom exhaust system fabricated and installed in one weekend, plus, I never had to load the truck up onto a trailer and haul it to my local muffler shop—or pay somebody a bunch of cash for their labor. That’s a win-win situation if you ask me.
So, follow along and see how I spent a weekend moving one step closer to getting the ’57 roadworthy. It was time well spent, and something that you may wish to consider yourself—Summit makes it easy. CT
The Summit Racing exhaust...
The Summit Racing exhaust kit is packed pretty darn well. Each set of tubes are separated by a layer of heavy cardboard and though the exterior of the shipping box was a bit road-weary by the time it got to the house, the contents were dent-free and in perfect shape.
Since the small-block in the...
Since the small-block in the ’57 is a stout 383 stroker, I wanted it to have an equally muscular exhaust note. Hoping for the best, I ordered a pair of Summit Racing Street and Strip Race Mufflers PN SUM-638252. These are chambered aluminized mufflers with 2 1/2-inch offset inlets and outlets.
I’ve always heard that systems...
I’ve always heard that systems that incorporate X-type dual exhaust setups help engines make more power by scavenging cylinders better and countering the uneven exhaust pulses of a V-8’s firing order, plus, they help create an aggressive exhaust note, too. The Summit X-pipe kit (PN SUM-642125) is made up of four 45-degree mandrel-bent sections of aluminized steel tubing (which you trim to size), a prefabricated X-section that is the heart of the system, and a package of eight heavy-duty clamps to hold it all together.
I started the installation...
I started the installation with the headers. Above all, I wanted to make sure that they fit and didn’t interfere with the pickups new rack-and-pinion steering setup. Aside from having to create a small bit of clearance by strategically making a small indentation on the number five primary tube, the headers fit great considering the crossmember/suspension setup is far from the trucks stock configuration.
The Doug’s Headers come equipped...
The Doug’s Headers come equipped with header to head gaskets, a pair of three-bolt collectors, collector gaskets, and the needed nuts, bolts, and washers as well.
I’m hoping you’ll cut me a...
I’m hoping you’ll cut me a bit of slack regarding my less than artistic drawing abilities, but taking some time to eyeball the situation and composing a plan sure beats multiple trial and error exercises. This pair of crude drawings illustrates the plans I formulated for the ’57.
Once I decided my plan may...
Once I decided my plan may actually work, I then laid out the contents of the exhaust kit on the garage floor to decide which pieces I’d need to use and/or modify to fabricate the system rearward of the X-pipe. You can see in this image how Summit has constructed the components so there are few connections that won’t take advantage of slip-fit assembly.
After installing the headers...
After installing the headers the next step was bolting on the collectors. While under the truck I took another close look around to make sure the plan I’d come up with would indeed work and that I didn’t overlook anything that’d throw a fly in the ointment.