Another day of work on the Tahoe completed - new exhaust day!
The prior owner had a custom exhaust on it. Workman ship was.. questionable, and clearly the elements were not kind to the mild steel tubing they decided to use. The rearmost hanger was barely attached, having been rusted all the way through most of the way around, and the middle hangar was rusted entirely through.
With my brand new Gibson 615501 in hand I got to the install - but as usual, nothing ever goes to plan. Two of the three nuts on the exhaust flange studs were equally rusted and had become part of the studs. Despite soaking them for a few days in PBlaster and a lot of propane torch action I broke two of the three studs. Working to knock out the remaining portions I discovered that the same guys that did this fine exhaust also decided to weld the studs into the flange while they were busy with the hack job on the rest of it.
So I gave up, and taking inspiration from those replace-a-bolt clamp brackets for the exhaust manifolds on a 5.3, I did what any reasonably lazy GMT400 owner that didn't want to do more work or drive to an exhaust shop for another butcher job would do - I ordered a boatload of tiny stainless clamps, busted out the 1/2" drive ratchet, and clamped the absolute hell out of that flange using the remainders of the two broken studs as locator pins.
To my absolute amazement, this actually works great. Thing leaks less than the flange on the Suburban, and that flange is brand new. Three days of driving on pavement, washboard dirt roads, and over speed bumps and potholes and the clamps haven't moved at all. While I really can't recommend you do this, if someone else wants in on this absolute foolishness let me know and I can link the clamps.
Also, Gibson's measurements must be wonky, because the tailpipe exited right under the rear leaf spring shackle, resulting in the tip being half-way to the ground during test fits, despite all my connections being slammed all the way home. A few seconds with a hacksaw resulted in a pretty sick 45 degree dump behind the axle at the level of the fuel tank. Close enough to send the gasses past the body just fine, and keeps me from having to clean mud off a polished tip.
The next day, a familiar smell returned to the truck - the smell of a leaking rear glass/tailgate seal having soaked the cargo area carpet, yet again. New rear weatherstrip comes tomorrow, hopefully that fixes it, because it would be really nice to take it places when it's raining.
Oh, also got it aligned again, and the steering finally feels true. Still heavier than I expected it to be, but at least it doesn't wander anymore and the play in the steering has gone. I'll take it and call it good enough.
The prior owner had a custom exhaust on it. Workman ship was.. questionable, and clearly the elements were not kind to the mild steel tubing they decided to use. The rearmost hanger was barely attached, having been rusted all the way through most of the way around, and the middle hangar was rusted entirely through.
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With my brand new Gibson 615501 in hand I got to the install - but as usual, nothing ever goes to plan. Two of the three nuts on the exhaust flange studs were equally rusted and had become part of the studs. Despite soaking them for a few days in PBlaster and a lot of propane torch action I broke two of the three studs. Working to knock out the remaining portions I discovered that the same guys that did this fine exhaust also decided to weld the studs into the flange while they were busy with the hack job on the rest of it.
So I gave up, and taking inspiration from those replace-a-bolt clamp brackets for the exhaust manifolds on a 5.3, I did what any reasonably lazy GMT400 owner that didn't want to do more work or drive to an exhaust shop for another butcher job would do - I ordered a boatload of tiny stainless clamps, busted out the 1/2" drive ratchet, and clamped the absolute hell out of that flange using the remainders of the two broken studs as locator pins.
You must be registered for see images attach
To my absolute amazement, this actually works great. Thing leaks less than the flange on the Suburban, and that flange is brand new. Three days of driving on pavement, washboard dirt roads, and over speed bumps and potholes and the clamps haven't moved at all. While I really can't recommend you do this, if someone else wants in on this absolute foolishness let me know and I can link the clamps.
Also, Gibson's measurements must be wonky, because the tailpipe exited right under the rear leaf spring shackle, resulting in the tip being half-way to the ground during test fits, despite all my connections being slammed all the way home. A few seconds with a hacksaw resulted in a pretty sick 45 degree dump behind the axle at the level of the fuel tank. Close enough to send the gasses past the body just fine, and keeps me from having to clean mud off a polished tip.
You must be registered for see images attach
The next day, a familiar smell returned to the truck - the smell of a leaking rear glass/tailgate seal having soaked the cargo area carpet, yet again. New rear weatherstrip comes tomorrow, hopefully that fixes it, because it would be really nice to take it places when it's raining.
Oh, also got it aligned again, and the steering finally feels true. Still heavier than I expected it to be, but at least it doesn't wander anymore and the play in the steering has gone. I'll take it and call it good enough.
