Welding on the frame

[86DodgeRam360]

I am about half way done building a custom exhaust on my 92 Chevy Blazer. I plan on lifting the truck and using it for mud bogs and some fun in the mountains. the way i would like to run my exhuast is have it come out before the passenger rear tire. i would like to keep as much ground clearance as i can so my idea was to cut a 3" hole in the frame and then using a piece of 3"  1/4" thick drill steel to strengthen the frame back up. will this work and if so am i going to damage any electrical components when i weld on the frame?

[69 GTS Clonvertible]

Are you going to trailer it? If so slight 15* angled header pipes up from the heads would be the best way to go. no mufler etc. cutting a 3" hole in the frame rail may have some ill effects. if you do want to go with the pipes just before the rear axle bring them up through the floor and out the top. weld heat sheilds around the pipe holes in the interior from floor pan to ceiling. in my opinion

[abqdart]

If you reinforced where you cut it should be fine. One thing I was thinking about is when the exaust system flex's, Its gonna bang and rub on the frame. I would say just run the exaust as high up as up as you  can and then run dumps.

[jamesdart]

kick it up with a 90 and another 90 to go over the frame, straight out the side, cut a hole i n the body instead. most trucks have enough room to sneak the exhaust over the frame if you get crative, especially if you add a body lift.

[abqdart]

oh yeah, disconnect the battery. and DONT lay your cell phone on the car while welding.....dont ask how I know.

[GTS225]

I would strongly suggest, if you just have to run it through the frame. Box the frame in that area, but also weld in a piece of larger diameter tubing as a "tunnel" for the exhaust tubing to pass through.  I don't mean spot weld it in......fully weld it.  Ya can't be too strong on the basic foundation of a vehicle that both of us already know you're gonna beat on out in the boonies.

As for the electronics, I say remove them from the vehicle.  I burned out an MSD ignition welding on my race car.  MSD was mounted to the dash, but still wired in.  Had the battery disconnected, was welding in the trunk, with the ground on the rear bumper mount, and still burned it out. 

Roger

[375InStroke]

Many people do this to low riders and baggers on Chevys with X-frames in order to get dual exhaust and slam it on the ground.  The guy down the street from me did this on his '60 Pontiac custom.

[NYrr496]

Disconnect the battery and unplug the computer if you still have the EFI engine in there.

[b569rr]

Many people do this to low riders and baggers on Chevys with X-frames in order to get dual exhaust and slam it on the ground.  The guy down the street from me did this on his '60 Pontiac custom.

I know for a fact that Chevrolet did this on the '63 to '67 Corvettes. I just did it to an Art Morrison rear clip. 4" standard wall steel pipe for 3" exhaust. Weld the circumference completely.

Tom

[69 GTS Clonvertible]

Many people do this to low riders and baggers on Chevys with X-frames in order to get dual exhaust and slam it on the ground.  The guy down the street from me did this on his '60 Pontiac custom.

I know for a fact that Chevrolet did this on the '63 to '67 Corvettes. I just did it to an Art Morrison rear clip. 4" standard wall steel pipe for 3" exhaust. Weld the circumference completely.

Tom

Everyone also has to remember that the  low riders and the street machines aren't going to be climbing rocks, mountains, and running through mud bogs, so there is a greater chance of bracking then if it was just driven on the street.
Also another item that was missed is that he said he wanted to lift the truck, why not do a body lift that was high enough to put the exhaust pipe between the frame and body? My other .02 cents

[flyboy01]

I would strongly suggest, if you just have to run it through the frame. Box the frame in that area, but also weld in a piece of larger diameter tubing as a "tunnel" for the exhaust tubing to pass through.  I don't mean spot weld it in......fully weld it.  Ya can't be too strong on the basic foundation of a vehicle that both of us already know you're gonna beat on out in the boonies.

As for the electronics, I say remove them from the vehicle.  I burned out an MSD ignition welding on my race car.  MSD was mounted to the dash, but still wired in.  Had the battery disconnected, was welding in the trunk, with the ground on the rear bumper mount, and still burned it out. 

Roger

 

For a 4x4, going through the frame is a bad idea, most people try to make their frames stronger, not weaker.

[GTS225]

For a 4x4, going through the frame is a bad idea, most people try to make their frames stronger, not weaker.

*************************************************************
I agree with this....that's why I put the stress on the word "have" in the statement of mine that you quoted.  (He had already been advised not to, I figured I didn't need to beat a dead horse.)

Roger

[86DodgeRam360]

Thanks for everyones input.

[abqdart]

Why not just run ZOOMIES through the hood?!? You wont have to worry about anything other than hearing problems....

[69 GTS Clonvertible]

Why not just run ZOOMIES through the hood?!? You wont have to worry about anything other than hearing problems....

That's what there called!!!!!!