I am working on an antiwrap setup for my front axle. Well, it is just one of the bazillion things on my list to do. When I started looking at where to mount the shackle, I decided I wanted it where the stock exhaust down tube was. Now rerouting the exhaust and installing my 2.5" Magnaflow muffler is another item on my list, but until now, it was a low priority. So now I have to move it to the top of the list to facilitate mounting up the antiwrap crap.

It just so happens, a friend of mine recently installed a cat-back setup on his F150. Me being a scrounge, I took all his stock crap and leftover Flowmaster kit parts off his hands. This has worked out fairly well since my stock tube was some funky size under 2"; I ended up with some quality 2.25" (or 2.5"? I can't figure out if I'm suppeosed to measure ID or OD) tube and assorted bends for nothing. Of course nothing is free, and neither is this project: My wife convinced me to run a cat, so I got a 2.25" unit from Summit. The Ford tail pipe has jsut the right bend and length to be the start of my system. I hacked the flange off my down tube and welded the section of Ford tailpipe to it. Another peice is melted on now and tommorrw, the cat goes on. I'm working my way back. The system will end up 2.25 from the stock manifold to the cat and then 2.5" from there to the muffler and tail pipe.

couple progress pics...

shortened behind-the-cat hanger to get the cat closer to the frame and keep it tucked up higher while still clearing the FRORFab x-member.


From the manifold to the cat...


O2 sensor bung and sensor xferred over. New cat.

way better 'tucked-in" than stock:

Nice job AJ! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Hey, you need to update your location---no one in Alaska has concrete that clean!! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

Just got my days off switched; I might be able to hook up with the club for a ride this summer. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/notooth.gif" alt="" />

Thanks! Fixed my location. I do miss AK, but I'll be back!

Dude I really gotta ask why you didn't fix the crossover while you were under there? Seems like it would only make sense.

I plan to. I have all the bends and parts to do it. Main (immediate) goal is to get my anti wrap mounted ASAP.

Cat-back pics:






This setup is very quiet. Much quieter than I anticipated. I like it.

Hey Alaska, I noticed that you had a straight pipe attatched to your exhaust manifold, or am I seeing the picture wrong? I'm currently trying to find someone who can either make me a Y adapater off my 2 1.5" exhaust manifold into a 2.5 into my flowmaster and 2.25 or 2.5" from that on back. But no one can seem to do it and they all say we have to see it before we can do it. Is that a special or a stock exhaust manifold that happen's to have that one solid piece attatched to your muffler or by chance did you custom do that?

I do apologize; I'm not exactly sure what you are asking.
The paint is simply rustoleum grill/barbeque paint. I noticed today, it looks fine after running the truck back an forth to work except for the weld locatioins. At the welds the paint is all bubbled and peeling. I assume one of two causes: 1. I simply did a poor prep job around the welds before painting. or 2. The welds are hotter due to more metal in that area and as a result, is retaining more heat, causing the paint to blister and peel. Hopefuly it's the former; I can reprep and repaint when I eliminate the x-over pipe behind the engine.