In November of last year I purchased a Stainless Steel down pipe for my 1968 FJ40. And finally in June 2025, got around to installing it.
The pipe was sourced from SOR and yes, it was expensive. Is it worth it? I guess time will tell. So the next piece needed was a flange, I thought about SOR again….but instead decided on a E-Bay item. A 2-1/4”, 304 stainless 2 bolt sloted flange, 1/2” thick. This was actually a pretty nice item…except the slots were spaced too widely apart…so off to the local machine shop where they milled the slots closer to the ID of the gasket flange. Thank you to Cannon Machine Products, Kennewick Wa…they didn’t even charge me, Woo Hoo!
Next was the fit up….2 things to remember if you decide to go this route…the gasket flange interferes with the exhaust flange studs and the stub that pokes up into the cast iron manifold is to longe….the crush gasket would have never sealed.
A grinder and port-a-band took care of that issue.
As you can see, my original pipe was insulated, and I decided to go that route again….only do a better job of wrapping the pipe, plus get it further back toward the muffler. This reduces the heat in the engine bay and under your feet….I use a Heat Shield Products, it has a woven silica 1/2” thick insulation layer, plus an aluminum backing. This stuff is available from Summit racing, it is also expensive (as much as SOR’s pipe)….but it’s the best I’ve found. Standard exhaust wrap just doesn’t cut the radiant heat like this stuff. The wrap comes in various lengths and widths…for the 68, 12” X 72” will take you from the flange to the muffler. For the correct diameter, it’ll be 8-3/4”…this will give you a 1” overlap…stuff cuts like butter with a box knife…just remember, measure twice, cut once…the stuff is too pricey to screw up.
And since I had the pipe on the ground, I could get a complete 360 degree wrap around the pipe….instead of a partial wrap.
Once wrapped and secured, install with a new Felpro flange gasket….
And that’s it….the SOR pipe fits over the Skid plate, length and bends are perfect….just the gasket flange and stub need a bit of adjustment.
Be good, keep it between the ditches.
MMJennings
The pipe was sourced from SOR and yes, it was expensive. Is it worth it? I guess time will tell. So the next piece needed was a flange, I thought about SOR again….but instead decided on a E-Bay item. A 2-1/4”, 304 stainless 2 bolt sloted flange, 1/2” thick. This was actually a pretty nice item…except the slots were spaced too widely apart…so off to the local machine shop where they milled the slots closer to the ID of the gasket flange. Thank you to Cannon Machine Products, Kennewick Wa…they didn’t even charge me, Woo Hoo!
Next was the fit up….2 things to remember if you decide to go this route…the gasket flange interferes with the exhaust flange studs and the stub that pokes up into the cast iron manifold is to longe….the crush gasket would have never sealed.
A grinder and port-a-band took care of that issue.
As you can see, my original pipe was insulated, and I decided to go that route again….only do a better job of wrapping the pipe, plus get it further back toward the muffler. This reduces the heat in the engine bay and under your feet….I use a Heat Shield Products, it has a woven silica 1/2” thick insulation layer, plus an aluminum backing. This stuff is available from Summit racing, it is also expensive (as much as SOR’s pipe)….but it’s the best I’ve found. Standard exhaust wrap just doesn’t cut the radiant heat like this stuff. The wrap comes in various lengths and widths…for the 68, 12” X 72” will take you from the flange to the muffler. For the correct diameter, it’ll be 8-3/4”…this will give you a 1” overlap…stuff cuts like butter with a box knife…just remember, measure twice, cut once…the stuff is too pricey to screw up.
And since I had the pipe on the ground, I could get a complete 360 degree wrap around the pipe….instead of a partial wrap.
Once wrapped and secured, install with a new Felpro flange gasket….
And that’s it….the SOR pipe fits over the Skid plate, length and bends are perfect….just the gasket flange and stub need a bit of adjustment.
Be good, keep it between the ditches.
MMJennings
