…Saved from the Dump!

[DaleP]

i live in Wrangell, a remote island in Alaska. We heat with wood and I have a boat that needs to be pulled out of the water a few times a year. Of course when this '81 square body K20 came up for sale in Facebook for "$300 or going to the dump" I had my buddy take a look at it and I bought it for $200!!
It has a good running 350, 4 speed and lots of worn out or broken stuff. The old girl has lots of rust in the body but the frame is great.
I'll be hitting you up with lots of questions (of course, I'll search the forums first) as Old Blue is brought back to good running order. I'm the scourge of the island right now as the header collectors are rusted out and the exhaust is held together with soup cans and wire or a worm gear clamp. New headers are here, but need new mufflers. I'm not looking for massive power or a loud exhaust but something that will quiet it down and not break the bank…It's a "Beater with a Heater" after all. Any suggestions?

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[animal]

and nice save Dale

 

[Derrick]

 

[1987 GMC Jimmy]

Glad to see it’s not going to the dump. Looking forward to it’s imminent resto. Welcome!

 

[Old77]

 

[Charlie]

 

[rpcraft]

As far as headers go you can't beat a good set of Hooker headers. They aren't the cheapest but they are known for quality as well as great sound. for mufflers, you can get pretty quiet with some Thrush Turbo mufflers, pretty much a staple at most any automotive chain store, and then have a welding ship set you up with some pipe, and for a good seal I'd have them do a straight but weld on the collector joint, instead of using those three bolt header collectors, simply because they are so bad about loosening and leaking. Given you are in a place where rust is likely to be an issue ceramic coating can probably help prolong the life of those headers but if you can't afford to pony up the money for that right away I think there are some spray on Ceramic coatings from VHT now that do a good job of protecting headers to a point.

 

[4WDKC]

Stainless pipes will keep the exhaust from rusting off so plan it like youre going to keep it for ever. Stainless headers will last a long time also but can increase underhood temps as any header will that is not ceramic coated.

 

[Snoots]

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Nice save!

Cheap? Any muffler that has at least 2-1/2" inlet and outlet. Hang 'em and forget pipes until you can afford more.

 

[Lil'm]

Positively stunning!

 

[Rusty Nail]

 

[1973c10]

Welcome aboard