Reds Headers' dual exhaust kit

Scott H in Wheaton

Scott H in Wheaton

Well-known member
I'm attempting to install the dual exhaust kit made by Red's Headers.
Chassis is 1938.
Headers bolted up nice and Reds does a nice job of labeling the pre-bent pipes, as well as giving a clue as to how to install a couple of the hangers they include.

Looks like I'll have to get the ends of the Smitty mufflers bent approx 15 degrees to line up with the pipes. Since I don't have a bender the local muffler shop said they can do it for me.

I'm looking to see if anyone else has installed this kit and I'm trying to get a clue as to how to install the middle hangers. In the below pic the right side shiws where I think the hanger should go, just don't know where to attach it or in which direction.
image.jpg
 
If you look in your first picture, just to the engine side of the rear edge of the muffler, there is small hole in the bottom inside portion of the frame rail. There should be a corresponding hole straight across from that in the x-member rail. This is for a horizontal bracket (metal strap really) the exhaust clamp is supposed to locate vertically on (at least that's the way my 39 works). As you can guess, the Smitty's are too long to really fit in the space Ford provided and certainly will not allow the factory style intermediate pipe clamp to work. The overall length is one reason some members here use mufflers made by other manufacturers in the 35-41 Ford application.
 
I have a Red's Headers kit on my '36 sedan. I found that it's both good and bad. The hot-coated headers are beautiful and the kit comes with all the hardware you need. However, there are NO INSTRUCTIONS and fitment of some of the pipes that go toward the rear seem a little off. As for where to mount the exhaust hangers, I just found corresponding holes in the frame and bolted them there.
 
When I installed mine on my '48 F1, the tail pipes seemed like they were mislabled (left and right were reversed). I also wasn't able to use the hangers mid-way. There was no place for them to go. For a "temporary" fix I just tied them up with wire hangers. 6 years later they're still there :rolleyes:
 
Admiral said:
I have a Red's Headers kit on my '36 sedan. I found that it's both good and bad. The hot-coated headers are beautiful and the kit comes with all the hardware you need. However, there are NO INSTRUCTIONS and fitment of some of the pipes that go toward the rear seem a little off. As for where to mount the exhaust hangers, I just found corresponding holes in the frame and bolted them there.
Click to expand...

Did you put the mid-hanger at the rear of the muffler or the front?
I can't seem to find a corresponding hole.
The hangers for the tailpipes fit beautifully.
 
I used their kit on a '36 coupe and had a similar experience to the Admiral.

First, you don't need to use a muffler shop to tweak the mufflers. The end caps deform fairly easily. I just put a piece of appropriate sized pipe in the vise, dropped the muffler ends over the pipe and gave a tug til it was the needed angle. You do have to make sure you bend them on the same plane to keep the pipes hanging correctly, and for me it took the tweak, test fit, tweak a bit more, test fit.....repeat...method, but without a body that should be a caker for you.

As with the Admiral, the headers, front pipes, and mufflers (with above work) all fit fine. It was the tail pipes that needed modifying. I hung them for the most critical placement.........the loop going over the rear axle. In my case the front portion of the tail pipe was too long by almost 7" (better than being too short for sure). The only issue that presented was losing the bell Red's had formed to mate with the muffler. That did require a trip to the muffler shop to have them press the flare.
 
Thanks Uncle Bob. Yeah it seems like I might have to trim a couple pipes a bit.
Still, I think my tailpipes fit fine, its the mid-pipe I'm fussing with.
As you can see in the picture there is no body on the frame yet so its easy access.
If I want to take it to the muffler shop they are only 1.2 miles away.
 
check driver side ,clutch linkage hitting the pipe ,the only problem on my 40 deluxe coupe, ,a little heat and a hammer solved that problem, other wise all good
 
I installed Red's Headers & exhausts on my '37. I have had to modify every pipe except the headers which fit good. The extensions didn't fit through any hole in the frame and the tail pipes exit out the back at about a 30 degree angle. The instructions are non existent and their customer service is worse. I emailed them twice and sent photos and they never returned an email, so I called and was put on hold for 15 min., tired of waiting I hung up.
 
My experience on a 1940 was similar---had to cut, weld, re-bend, most pieces, except the headers, which fit nicely. Also had to scratch my head for hanger mounting.
 
white64 said:
I didn't see a dual exhaust kit on their website...

Is there a long wait to get their parts?
Click to expand...
I don't recall a long wait when I got mine, but that was a couple years ago. From other posts I've seen more recently the headers are on long term backorder, duals kits may be the same. Best option is to call Red's. From what I recall they were pretty helpful with my order, making sure they knew I was using a '38 car frame with a 40 engine.
 
Just finished installing Red's kit in a '41 chassis. We hung the mid straps from a hole drilled in top of outer frame. It does not hang 100% vertical but does the job. Used a scissor jack tween frame & pipe at front of exhaust and the exhaust input bent nicely to near center of the frame cross piece hole. Some wood blocks & iron bar repositioned outlet to nicely clear rear Xframe hole. We just had to do this reforming on drivers side. Dave has tube shocks and the rear pipes fit nicely near frame & shocks. Bending the actual exhaust pipe is tough. The ends of the mufflers conform easily enough and worked fine for us while in place. Don
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top