Heyy everyone. New to the game. I have a 1985 2wd pickup I need a new exhaust and figured I'd do header back. Any suggestions on brands and how big. Don't want anything obnoxious but definitely like a little throaty tone. Hopefully get a little more input then I did when I had wheel questions on here haha

 

2.25 piping and a glasspack.

 

I think the LCE headers are pretty good value for money: they'll last you a long time and give you good performance. Run either 2" or 2.25" to the muffler/glasspack, then 2.25" or 2.5" back from there.

If you're required to do a catalytic converter in your state, do just that instead of a muffler (it acts like a muffler).

Consider electric cutouts before the muffler/cat if you want to be occasionally obnoxious

 

I have rhe lcengineering street header and am very happy with it. No issues, and have to agree, 2.25 is most recommended for,the size, unless u go boosted.

 

Awesome thanks everyone! Did you guys keep the tip coming out behind the drivers side wheel or did any of you make it come out the back?

 

I did a custom cat-back exhaust.

As in I cut off everything after the cat

 

I ran it to a dual tail pipes straight out back. I will change it up this time when i reinstall though

 

LC headers,LC cat, Borla muffler , all stainless,2.5 pipe & stainless tips,all is ceramic coated except the tip ends!!

 

Inverted supra tail lights. Nice touch!

 

Any pics of yours Frinzo? Whatcha going to do this time and what is making you switch it up? Just curious.

 

I'll have to look for a pic. But I torn my truck down to bare frame (see my build thread) Reason I'm redoing the exhaust is because the tips rusted off from sitting for a few years. I want to run a dual corvette side exhaust, but I'm not sure how to run it with it being lowered so much. I have an idea, but not sure I want to run it that way. One member posted a pic of it on his 5th gen pickup.

 

Here is some pics. Specs on this exhaust is LCE street header to a 2.25in exhaust size free flow cat to free flow muffler to duel tail pipes, with tips that were 3in dia. by 2ft long.
This was a very loud exhaust.. So unless you like attention I dont recommend it as a daily; I was young and dump..

 

The LCE header is popular for 2wd because it's a 4-1 layout and benefits at high rpms. Doug Thorley is the other popular high end header, it's a 4-2-1 layout which is better for keeping torque at lower rpms. Stans headers is the only other 4-2-1 layout header I know of for 22r series. There are still a few other 4-1 headers out there like pacesetter, etc but these aren't reviewed high like LCE.

2-2.25" is plenty of pipe when you consider stock is like 1.5-1.75". High flow cats are an option (used one on my 4wd truck - can toss a golf ball straight through it). Muffler choice is subjective - I prefer straight through design with packing around it - so basically glass packs and magnaflow style mufflers which are like bigger glass packs.

My 4wd truck has: stock header, stock "y" from down pipe, 2" behind "y", 2" magnaflow cat, 2.25" pipe, 2.25" magnaflow muffler

My 75 has: headman header, 2.25 pipe and 2.25 flowmaster - sounds loud and obnoxious, will switch to a magnaflow style soon.

 

If I remember right the LC header is the only one that is stainless & it is ceramic coated.

 

Lce header is a solid choice. I'm very happy with mine. I've had 8 different headers on 20/22r/re's over the years and about triple that in exhaust systems and mufflers.

Both lce headers I've had were great, the original Doug thorley was solid too. I wouldn't buy a Doug thorley now since he sold the place and they e gone to using cheaper materials. He started another manufacturer called Doug's headers that still makes high quality parts.

My favorite exhaust combinations have been stainless MagnaFlow mufflers and 2 1/4 mandrel bends. The 89 has the exhaust coming out of the bed side in front of the drivers tire and it's not obnoxious but it sounds damned good at 5k or better.