3" Old School Duals for Supercharged SSRs

Mike in AZ · 02-03-2008, 01:01 PM

I am getting preparing to have a set of 3" duals built for a supercharged truck here in Phoenix. This will either be a "one of a kind" 3" version of the Old School Duals that GHL builds for me or it will be the prototype set to build the production fixtures. The decision to go with building the fixtures depends on the outcome of this thread. There is some real cost associated with building production tooling.

The system would essentially be a cat-back set of mufflers and tailpipes intended for connection to any brand of headers and catalytic converters. The system would begin at the transmission cross-member area with a pair of 3" female slip joints. The mufflers would be staggered (left cylinder bank muffler forward, right bank muffler aft) just like the current design to maintain a good balance of length to both cylinder heads. Outlet pipes would have the same "wrist-lock" cross-over to achieve balanced length plumbing, just like the current design. Tips would be 3" inlet, 5" outlet just like the ones currently seen on the Old School system.

The mufflers will be a pair of hand-built, 6" diameter outer can, 3" diameter inner gut with a straight through design. I call them "steel packs" as opposed to "glasspacks", since the gut is wrapped with stainless steel wool instead of fiberglass stuffing. They WILL have an incredible sound. I'm certain that they will have an awesome rumble at idle and a really sweet purr at cruise.......... full throttle will certainly be a bit heavy handed.

The entire system will be made of the best north American 304 stainless (no Chinese stainless here) available and polished front to back. Materials cost is quite high and I am worried that only building a few of these will not break even with the additional cost of the tooling. If we were to make this into a "production" part, the price tag for the cat-back will be somewhere between $1500 and $2000, plus shipping.

There is significant up-front cash required to make this a production system and I am soliciting your opinions....... I trust this forum a lot... what do you guys think???????

Let's toss this around and see where it goes.......

Mike

2005SSR6Speed · 02-03-2008, 01:12 PM

The Supercharged SSR Owners will Love this system. Way to go Mike, I will buy a set when I get another SSR.

Doug Allen · 02-03-2008, 01:30 PM

My '06 is the subject vehicle for the new 3" exhaust. I asked (well actually begged) Mike and the guys at GHL to fabricate a system for me, knowing it is a one-off very expensive project. I feel that after all the $$$ I've spent and all the modifications I've done to the Rocket, why settle for my Flowmaster 50's and a less than perfect set of pipes?

Besides, after Thumper got Mike's Old School Duals on the Bunny, hers sounds cooler.....

If there are others that would like one of these systems, now is the time to speak up. Time is of the essence because GHL can fabricate the jigs to build future systems while they are constructing mine, and it will save others $$$ down the road. If there is little or no interest at this time, the jigs will not be fabricated due to the rather large up front costs.

I'd also like to state that I'm not making any $$$ on advertising for this system, nor am I saving any $$$, because I'm paying for the system as a one off fabrication.

RUN ROD RUN · 02-03-2008, 01:45 PM

Since I deal with budget planing at work, I’m kinda loss here.. what the major different in tooling requirements between the original Mike’s Old School Duals and this Old School Duals for the Supercharged SSR?
Seem like a good percentage of the (Basic) tooling could be interchangeable.

Thumper · 02-03-2008, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doug Allen

My '06 is the subject vehicle for the new 3" exhaust. I asked (well actually begged) Mike and the guys at GHL to fabricate a system for me, knowing it is a one-off very expensive project. I feel that after all the $$$ I've spent and all the modifications I've done to the Rocket, why settle for my Flowmaster 50's and a less than perfect set of pipes?

Besides, after Thumper got Mike's Old School Duals on the Bunny, hers sounds cooler.....

If there are others that would like one of these systems, now is the time to speak up. Time is of the essence because GHL can fabricate the jigs to build future systems while they are constructing mine, and it will save others $$$ down the road. If there is little or no interest at this time, the jigs will not be fabricated due to the rather large up front costs.

I'd also like to state that I'm not making any $$$ on advertising for this system, nor am I saving any $$$, because I'm paying for the system as a one off fabrication.

Ain't that just like man....gotta be bigger/louder

than the others?

Mike in AZ · 02-03-2008, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RUN ROD RUN

Since I deal with budget planing at work, I’m kinda loss here.. what the major different in tooling requirements between the original Mike’s Old School Duals and this Old School Duals for the Supercharged SSR?
Seem like a good percentage of the (Basic) tooling could be interchangeable.

The tooling I speak of is the welding fixtures to hold the individual pieces of pipe for welding. The fixture actually is made of 1/2 cutout pieces of pipe that cradle the stainless pieces. The existing SSR fixtures are huge and fit 2 1/2" pipe only. The welding fixtures for the 3" will look similar, but are not interchangeable.

Mike

Nancy24 · 02-03-2008, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thumper

Ain't that just like man....gotta be bigger/louder

than the others?

And heaven forbid a woman's truck is louder and sounds meaner!

Doug Allen · 02-03-2008, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nancy24

And heaven forbid a woman's truck is louder and sounds meaner!

Well duh!!!!!

Mike in AZ · 02-07-2008, 08:57 PM

I have been doing some brainstorming with the guys at GHL.....

Would it make a difference if I was to offer a complete 3" exhaust system including the Kooks long tube headers and catalytic converters that will feed this set of mufflers? I don't have numbers on the cost of the Kooks, ceramic coating and the cats yet....... but it would certainly be competitive with the market. Maybe then it would make sense to build a set of fixtures for the 3" system...... complete from the engine to the tips......

Any thoughts?????

Mike

Bigwave · 02-08-2008, 11:17 AM

This summer I was planning on some motor changes, and It looks like 700 HP, I was gonna have to change the exhaust anyway. So the 3" would be perfect for me. Keep me informed as I do need a louder exhaust!

Duane

CarolinaPistol · 02-08-2008, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike in AZ

I have been doing some brainstorming with the guys at GHL.....

Would it make a difference if I was to offer a complete 3" exhaust system including the Kooks long tube headers and catalytic converters that will feed this set of mufflers? I don't have numbers on the cost of the Kooks, ceramic coating and the cats yet....... but it would certainly be competitive with the market. Maybe then it would make sense to build a set of fixtures for the 3" system...... complete from the engine to the tips......

Any thoughts?????

Mike

Mike,
I'd be interested in pricing the complete setup.

hdflstf · 02-09-2008, 01:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike in AZ

I have been doing some brainstorming with the guys at GHL.....

Would it make a difference if I was to offer a complete 3" exhaust system including the Kooks long tube headers and catalytic converters that will feed this set of mufflers? I don't have numbers on the cost of the Kooks, ceramic coating and the cats yet....... but it would certainly be competitive with the market. Maybe then it would make sense to build a set of fixtures for the 3" system...... complete from the engine to the tips......

Any thoughts?????

Mike

As soon as you can get Kooks to get CARB EO for their headers, we need to talk............

mikepowell · 02-09-2008, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hdflstf

As soon as you can get Kooks to get CARB EO for their headers, we need to talk............

if you're not gonna sell your baby just do it anyway

cromprix · 02-09-2008, 04:54 PM

Mike, I am in need of an exhaust system. The 3" duals sounds like the big ticket for me. I would get one from you..... and if you start leaning towards headers and cats, we should talk. CROMPRIX (did I mention that it is 75 degrees here in Florida Today????)

:lo

Mike in AZ · 02-09-2008, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cromprix

Mike, I am in need of an exhaust system. The 3" duals sounds like the big ticket for me. I would get one from you..... and if you start leaning towards headers and cats, we should talk. CROMPRIX (did I mention that it is 75 degrees here in Florida Today????)

:lo

CROMPRIX -

If you are supercharged, the 3" makes sense, otherwise, the 2 1/2" of the existing design "Old School Duals" system is the hot ticket. The 3" is intended to be the answer to the S/C 6.0 needs for flow.

Regards

1luckydog · 02-10-2008, 04:02 PM

Now you've got my attention.
Tired of trying to match a system to the kooks.
Would like to see a before & after dyno on dougs when finished.
JTR

sharptoys · 02-10-2008, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cromprix

Mike, I am in need of an exhaust system. The 3" duals sounds like the big ticket for me. I would get one from you..... and if you start leaning towards headers and cats, we should talk. CROMPRIX (did I mention that it is 75 degrees here in Florida Today????)

:lo

Here is Stuart Little....

JimGnitecki · 02-12-2008, 06:39 AM

MikeinAZ: I know you do things RIGHT, so am asking:

Do you have any plans for a side exhaust system that actually performs and is quiet enough to cruise with?

Jim G

Mike in AZ · 02-12-2008, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimGnitecki

MikeinAZ: I know you do things RIGHT, so am asking:

Do you have any plans for a side exhaust system that actually performs and is quiet enough to cruise with?

Jim G