HJ 61 Exhaust Advice Needed

[Sooke]

Hello everyone,

I have read as much as I could find about exhaust upgrades to my stock HJ61. I can't decide between a 3" straight pipe with or without a resonator. It is my daily driver and I don't want a loud drone on the highway. At the same time I would like to hear the whine of the turbo spooling up. Does anyone have any experience they can share?

I live on the southern part of Vancouver Island, can anyone recommend a good exhaust shop to do the install?

Thanks in advance

Cody

 

[niffa]

Cant recommend an exhaust shop as im in adelaide Australia but I can tell u that u wont be disappointed if u go straight pipe no mufflers or resonator. I had a straight thru muffler on mine when I first put the 3" mandrel system on and went back a week later to have it removed. I love the sound of the 3" system and mine dosent drone at all on highway speeds. Has a deep rumble when accelerating hard but quiets down when cruising. You'll hear the engine more than the exhaust at highway speeds. I must have driven around for a week straight with the radio off and all windows down to hear it. Love it

 

[Sooke]

Niffa

Thank you for sharing your experience, I can't wait to hear and feel the difference. Did you open up your 12-HT after the 3" exhaust was installed? i.e., give it more fuel, turn up boost etc?

 

[niffa]

Yes I did. Fuel, boost and a top mount intercooler. Makes a huge difference. Get an egt guage before u get ur exhaust fitted so u can get the bloke to weld a nut into exhaust the same size as ur egt probe

 

[Sooke]

I currently have an EGT installed pre turbo. I have my boost currently set around 10 PSI. Probably increase it to around 12 to 14 PSI after the new exhaust is installed.

 

[Spudman]

I'm currently going thru this ATM, I'm putting a top mount intercooler, pyro and boost gauges, manual boost control and hopefully a 3 inch exhaust, straight through is the way to go

 

[Sooke]

Spudman,
Good luck with your resto, I would like to put an intercooler in as well but will have to prioritize as funds become available.

cheers

 

[Spudman]

Yes mate, you got that right, I'm in the same boat, I was just lucky enough to talk to a guy who knew a guy who wanted to sell his intercooler, all the pipes and bonnet scoop for a total of $40, all in good nick

 

[brownbear]

I'd say put it in without a muffler. or resonator. You can always add it later.

I also suggest going as close to stock routing of the pipes as possible. The turns take out a little of harsher noise. Too straight is going to be too loud.

2.5 inch might also be big enough. Then there is pressure to clear water out of the exhaust. A little is good. It's not going to be restrictive. My 7.3 diesel RV has 2.5 exhaust.

 

[blis]

Got a 3" stainless exhaust on mine with single 300mm long freeflow muffler... The exhaust exits just in front of rear tire... For the noise, it's not much louder than the stock pipe and you can definitely hear the turbo spool up...

ps. here's a video of mine for reference... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39TgUCWHHaE

 

[Sooke]

Thanks for the input and suggestions brownbear and blis. I had a 1989 HJ 61 with a 12-HT where the exhaust exited just before the rear tire. I wish I had taken a closer look to see if it had a muffler or resonator on it because it sounded great. Unfortunately I didn't have that particular one very long due to an unfortunate incident in Baja, Mexico. Blis, your rig looks and sounds great, thanks for the clip. I will see what my options are in terms of cost difference and routing possibilities between the 2.5 and 3". I like the idea of going without a muffler or resonator and adding it if I don't like how it sounds.

 

[Spudman]

The last couple of days I've been in contact with a few exhaust places regarding a 3 inch straight through, all of them are telling me they don't make em up, you have to bring the truck in, impossible for me due to distance.

I've seen one on eBay for $1100 and got a quote to have someone make and fit $1500, what a bloody rip off for a straight through with a couple of bends.

So I've decided to make my own, I'll buy some straight 3 inch pipe and a couple of hot donuts (exhaust bent in a circle the size of a dinner plate) so you can cut your 90 and 45 degree bends etc.

Spudman

 

[brownbear]

I wasn't so sold on needing stainless. Most exhaust last 20 years anyhow. Aluminized pipe lasts longer than the old stuff.
I'd just go to a regular muffler shop and let them bend it in. I paid 350 for mine about 3-4 years ago and they did it in a few hours.

All my joints are welded. Stock routing,but I had them keep it tighter to the rear of the back wheels as to not catch it while wheeling.

I don't drive my cruiser on salt roads anymore. Its a summer vehicle. Maybe You drive in a salt environment in Aus?

 

[blis]

The last couple of days I've been in contact with a few exhaust places regarding a 3 inch straight through, all of them are telling me they don't make em up, you have to bring the truck in, impossible for me due to distance.

I've seen one on eBay for $1100 and got a quote to have someone make and fit $1500, what a bloody rip off for a straight through with a couple of bends.

So I've decided to make my own, I'll buy some straight 3 inch pipe and a couple of hot donuts (exhaust bent in a circle the size of a dinner plate) so you can cut your 90 and 45 degree bends etc.

Spudman

Thats the way to go with it.. I think i paid around 150e for materials when i did my exhaust from stainless (tig wire and gas not included) and probaply took me 5-6 hours to fit and weld it...

 

[Sooke]

Good luck with your install Spudman. I wish I had the tools and knowledge to be able to weld my own up. What an invaluable skill set. I bought a little arc welder to try and teach myself how to weld. There are just so many things that I would like to fabricate for my truck, trailer, etc. I will be going the route that brownbear did and have a local shop do the install.

Brownbear, did you go with the 2.5" with stock routing like you had previously suggested to mef? I do drive my vehicle all year round (daily driver) here in BC so I am hoping to find a shop that works with stainless that won''t cost me my first born!

 

[Spudman]

Hey mate (I was going to say hey sooke, but that's not appropriate )

Yeah I was lucky enough to a trade in sheet metal work over 30 years ago and learnt how to weld (haven't really touched my trade since) the best thing you can do is throw that arc welder away and get yourself a gas less mig welder, they are so easy and you can weld basically any grade of steel.

I never actually picked up a spanner until 8 years ago when I purchased my first HJ60 and it's been miles of fun ever since

I reckon it would have been easier to get someone else to do it and still can't believe it's not a stock item.

Spudman

 

[blis]

Hey mate (I was going to say hey sooke, but that's not appropriate )

Yeah I was lucky enough to a trade in sheet metal work over 30 years ago and learnt how to weld (haven't really touched my trade since) the best thing you can do is throw that arc welder away and get yourself a gas less mig welder, they are so easy and you can weld basically any grade of steel.

I never actually picked up a spanner until 8 years ago when I purchased my first HJ60 and it's been miles of fun ever since

I reckon it would have been easier to get someone else to do it and still can't believe it's not a stock item.

Spudman

Seriously, TIG is the way to weld stainless (and pretty much anything fancy)...

 

[brownbear]

Good luck with your install Spudman. I wish I had the tools and knowledge to be able to weld my own up. What an invaluable skill set. I bought a little arc welder to try and teach myself how to weld. There are just so many things that I would like to fabricate for my truck, trailer, etc. I will be going the route that brownbear did and have a local shop do the install.

Brownbear, did you go with the 2.5" with stock routing like you had previously suggested to mef? I do drive my vehicle all year round (daily driver) here in BC so I am hoping to find a shop that works with stainless that won''t cost me my first born!

Even year round, I don't think in BC you need stainless. If stock exhaust can last 20 + years, how long do you want it to last? I did stock routing, with 2.5. Or shall I say I paid for it.. lol.

Don't go with my numbers, but I have a feeling stainless is going to be double ot triple the cost of regular aluminized exhaust.

I also feel diesel exhaust is not as corrosive as a gas engine. So our exhaust lasts longer anyhow.

 

[Sooke]

Hey Spudman, not sure what Sooke relates to in your neck of the woods, but here it just refers to the name of the small town I live in.

Thanks for the reply brownbear, I will see what the price difference is and my wallet will most likely decide what the final product will be.

Cheers

 

[Spudman]

Today I put my truck up on the hoist and checked out the exhaust, as to what I require in relation to bends etc. for my 3 inch exhaust that I will be making and installing myself.

Now I've never seen such an easy exhaust, it comes off the manifold then requires a long three quarter bend then it's straight all the way back to you get to the rear axle, so then you need 3X normal three quarter bend pipes and then it's straight again to the end, I will have the exhaust out the back as coming out before the rear wheel will be too short and too loud.

So when I go to Kununurra next week for the exhaust bits I'll be ordering the following parts

4X metres of straight 3 inch pipe
1X long three quarter bend
3X normal three quarter bend pieces

Can't believe there are mongrels out there wanting to charge over a $1000 for a very very simple exhaust

Spudman