'83 FJ60 New Exhaust system/Man-A-Fre Header kit

[John Staton]

Wondering if anyone has purchased this full kit from Man-A-Fre. I am looking at options to replace all of some of my exhaust system as the muffler is full of holes and the pipe is in bad shape. This system is designed for the FJ60/2F:

MAN-A-FRE FJ60 FULL EXHAUST SYSTEM WITH HEADERS

Man-A-Fre Fluid Heat Riser Kit F and 2F Engines

I think it has a blank straight pipe where the cat goes so I would loose that. They also sell this heat riser that I suppose you would purchase as well....not sure what would plug into those connnecitons.

Anyone buy this setup from Man-A-Fre? Would love to hear feedback.

 

[Trapper50cal]

I got the straight pipe and cat-back exhaust but I didn't get the headers
or heat riser plate. Fit good, sounds a touch loud with the X-Lerator Muffler
they include. The 60 is breathing freely, that's for sure.

 

[3_puppies]

did you try going to a good local muffler shop and see what they say. they can bend and install any muffler you want.

 

[John Staton]

did you try going to a good local muffler shop and see what they say. they can bend and install any muffler you want.

Yeah....that would be cheaper way to go, but I didn't buy an 83FJ because I was looking for cheap project. If I go that route I am torn on removing the cat or not.... Just weighing out options. I want to do the exhaust and the desmog at the same time.

 

[NookShneer]

Yeah....that would be cheaper way to go, but I didn't buy an 83FJ because I was looking for cheap project. If I go that route I am torn on removing the cat or not.... Just weighing out options. I want to do the exhaust and the desmog at the same time.

I have those headers, then 2.5 back with the cat delete, different muffler.

My rig stacked against a 3FE FJ62 & a 5.3 FJ60 is the loudest and throatiest in the line up at idle.

It's louder than what I would like (a bit of a drone at 2600 RPM) and a bit stinky. If I were to do it over it would have a Cat and a whiter muffler. Headers and 2.5 open it up nicely with a desmog, recurve dizzy and carb build the tractor engine feels pretty quick.

 

[4Cruisers]

Sorry to hijack, but I'll be to the point of having my '86 FJ60 project vehicle ready for the custom exhaust shop in about 3 or 4 weeks. It's got a 3FE/H55f and I'm keeping the FJ60 exhaust system from the catalytic converter back. It looks like the shop will need to fabricate one section of pipe for me to tie the exhaust manifolds to the catalytic converter. I'm thinking it'll look a lot like the Y-pipe section shown in the first photo. Sound right? I'll have the shop weld in oxygen sensor bungs, one on each section of pipe ahead of the Y. Is it that straightforward?

 

[Willard]

I thought about that cat delete and decided to keep that part of the smog system. I figure if nothing else, it will not smell like an old truck.
Cannot help on the header.

As for the heat riser, connects to your cooling system

Heat Riser - Good or Bad
Fluid heat riser

 

[sd60]

I have the MAF cat-back system and replaced the cat with the magnaflow direct fit on a similar metallic brown '83. I like it - sounds a little more purposeful but definitely not obnoxiously loud. I have to warn you though, MAF took forever to ship the cat-back kit (4 or 5 months?). They had multiple issues with their supplier. If you're planning on going that route I'd give them a call and push them for an honest estimate on when you can expect to receive it. My build thread linked below has more info on the system and pics of the install.

 

[Trapper50cal]

Yeah, mine took forever too....same song and dance. Their supplier (the whole company apparently)
"went on vacation from the middle of October to the Middle of November."

I would only order if they guaranteed that the systems were in-stock...not "a week away from
delivery."

 

[gregnash]

Recently rebuilt my cat back myself with an increase to 2.5 all the way back. My Thrush Welded muffler has a nice throaty sound to it but is not overly droney or anything like that with the muffler/straight pipe on there. you will more than likely get better service and more of what you want from a local shop vs. going with that specific system. Also remember that things like cat-delete and headers MAY be county/state emissions specific so check with your local goberment regulations before you go about doing that stuff. MOST states do not allow for a catalytic converter delete.

 

[lovetoski]

agreed with the others that deleting the cat makes for a stinky truck. I had no difference in power, noise, or mpg by deleting. Only got really stinky. I would not do it again.

 

[John Staton]

I have the MAF cat-back system and replaced the cat with the magnaflow direct fit on a similar metallic brown '83. I like it - sounds a little more purposeful but definitely not obnoxiously loud. I have to warn you though, MAF took forever to ship the cat-back kit (4 or 5 months?). They had multiple issues with their supplier. If you're planning on going that route I'd give them a call and push them for an honest estimate on when you can expect to receive it. My build thread linked below has more info on the system and pics of the install.

Very similar!!. I put the same lift and size tires on mine. I think I will go to the exhaust guy my mechanic told me about. He builds hot rods and has been going to him since he was 16. Picked up a few tips from your post...thanks. I just got mine less than 3 months ago and am working my way through it. Need to start a write up and combine my many posts on here since I got it. This site has been great as I am not a mechanic but love to tinker and can do the small stuff myself. Looking at exhaust, desmog, H55 conversion and new carpet.....I have made it through a lot of small things but one thing keeps leading to another....I need your fuse box door, lol. Waiting for one to turn up...half the fun of owning these things I guess.

 

[John Staton]

Very similar!!. I put the same lift and size tires on mine. I think I will go to the exhaust guy my mechanic told me about. He builds hot rods and has been going to him since he was 16. Picked up a few tips from your post...thanks. I just got mine less than 3 months ago and am working my way through it. Need to start a write up and combine my many posts on here since I got it. This site has been great as I am not a mechanic but love to tinker and can do the small stuff myself. Looking at exhaust, desmog, H55 conversion and new carpet.....I have made it through a lot of small things but one thing keeps leading to another....I need your fuse box door, lol. Waiting for one to turn up...half the fun of owning these things I guess.
View attachment 1595299

 

[Trapper50cal]

Looks like the two "clamshell" pieces of plastic that surround your steering column are loose...
be careful retightening those as sometimes the plastic surface that retains the bolt head are
brittle and can crack rendering it untighten-able.

That root beer brown paint looks just fantastic and you should count yourself amongst the
luckiest with the condition of those original seats. That fabric is literally unobtainium.
Throw some heavy canvas seat covers on those bad boys

 

[wngrog]

I just unhooked my fluid heat riser with my new engine and AFI efi swap.

I’ve run it in 20 degree weather and it’s running and warming fine without it.



I have a Flowmaster 40 2.5 with headers and it does sound good at idle. Not Loud at all once driving.

2 piece headers. Nice. I’ve had them before. They seal up nicely.

I may add a cat back to mine to kill the fumes.

 

[John Staton]

Looks like the two "clamshell" pieces of plastic that surround your steering column are loose...
be careful retightening those as sometimes the plastic surface that retains the bolt head are
brittle and can crack rendering it untighten-able.

That root beer brown paint looks just fantastic and you should count yourself amongst the
luckiest with the condition of those original seats. That fabric is literally unobtainium.
Throw some heavy canvas seat covers on those bad boys

Thanks...yeah, that interior pic was from the Ebay pics when I bought it...I have since changed out to steering wheel from the one that came with it as it had a couple places with chunks missing out if it. Found a cherry one on ebay but had to pay $250 for it. Was able to tighten clamshell during the change. The seats do look good...I just had an OME lift put on and I can see why people wear out the drivers seat as I know find myself sliding out of the seat because of the new height. Someone should start making that fabric again...bet it would sell good. I am going to put up a build thread soon on my work...I will say the engine was totally rebuilt so its been lighter work mechanically...tie rods, alternator, etc...but you learn something with every little fix. Enjoy reading about other folk fixing up theirs....a lot to glean.

 

[pv40]

I'm planning on doing a desmog and exhaust also. I've been eyeing the header from TC outfitters and have a local guy do the rest I'm planning on keeping the cat and thinking a magnaflow muffler. But I'll ask the shop. Any pro or cons about TC's header.

 

[Ian Crawford]

I had a local shop do the exhaust on my 60, they fabricated it from the (stock) exhaust manifold down and back. I told him I didn't want a loud truck and to make is look and sound as stock as possible.

I'm pretty satisfied with what I got and it only set me back $200 (cash deal). The cat was eliminated but I kept it along with the rest of the smog equipment I removed just in case.

 

[Trapper50cal]

$200 is a smoking deal, I was quoted over $350 from a local shop that I didn't
even trust to route above the crossmember w/o specifically requesting it...
and that was only everything downstream of the cat.

 

[sd60]

Very similar!!. I put the same lift and size tires on mine. I think I will go to the exhaust guy my mechanic told me about. He builds hot rods and has been going to him since he was 16. Picked up a few tips from your post...thanks. I just got mine less than 3 months ago and am working my way through it. Need to start a write up and combine my many posts on here since I got it. This site has been great as I am not a mechanic but love to tinker and can do the small stuff myself. Looking at exhaust, desmog, H55 conversion and new carpet.....I have made it through a lot of small things but one thing keeps leading to another....I need your fuse box door, lol. Waiting for one to turn up...half the fun of owning these things I guess.
View attachment 1595299

Hah yeah, it's like I'm looking at pictures of my truck. Keep up the good work.