87 Silverado - Exhaust pipe size?

[squierjosh]

Hi all. New to the list. I'm sure I'll have lots of questions this summer as I fix up my recently acquired 87 Silverado. My first project is to install new mufflers and fix the tail pipes. They are in bad shape. The pipes up to the mufflers are fine and have no leaks, so that's good. Does anyone know what size pipes this truck uses? It's a 350 Automatic w/ Overdrive, dual exhaust, if that helps.

Also, any recommendations on what kind of mufflers to get? I like the glasspack sound, but should probably get something more practical.

Finally, where's a good place to get a radiator? Mine had a little leak that some Bar's Leak fixed up, but it's in rough shape and could spring another leak any day.

Thanks, Josh

[VileZambonie]

Where do you live? Any autoparts store can get you a new radiator (autozone etc).

As far as your exhaust pipes it depends on where you are talking. At the Y-pipe it's 3" and reduces down ofter the cat. Depending on your truck you will need to measure it. Do you have the single exhaust dual outlet muffler on it now?

[squierjosh]

Napa quoted me at $175 for a refurbished radiator...is that a decent price?

After a bit more research, it turns out a previous owner made this into a dual exhaust, so it doesn't have standard sized pipes on it, just whatever he decided to use. So I get the fun of taking off the mufflers and figuring out what sized pipes he used, then rebuild the exhaust from the mufflers back. Weekend project!

Where do you live? Any autoparts store can get you a new radiator (autozone etc).

As far as your exhaust pipes it depends on where you are talking. At the Y-pipe it's 3" and reduces down ofter the cat. Depending on your truck you will need to measure it. Do you have the single exhaust dual outlet muffler on it now?

[Blazin]

Most off the shelf after market systems use the same size pipe all the way back. I would use a tape and get an educated guess by eye of the outside diameter of the pipe before the muffs. Then measure the tail pipe. Then buy the mufflers ID size the same as the OD size of the pipe. Or get the same size and buy adaptors to fit them up to your OD size and the ID size of the mufflers.
Welcome to the board as too.
Pop into the welcome subject and introduce your self.

[VileZambonie]

http://www.autozone.com/N,16300172//shopping/partTypeResultSet.htm

Also pick up a digital caliper, you'll use it all the time working on your truck

[squierjosh]

Thanks for the advice. Whoever put the exhaust system in apparently didn't realize that it snows in MN, and he welded the mufflers to the pipes, and welded the brackets to the tail pipes to hold it up. I'm gonna need to use a hacksaw to cut out the mufflers.    I think I'm going to go with a couple Cherry Bombs, just because I love that glass pack sound. 

Most off the shelf after market systems use the same size pipe all the way back. I would use a tape and get an educated guess by eye of the outside diameter of the pipe before the muffs. Then measure the tail pipe. Then buy the mufflers ID size the same as the OD size of the pipe. Or get the same size and buy adaptors to fit them up to your OD size and the ID size of the mufflers.
Welcome to the board as too.
Pop into the welcome subject and introduce your self.

[ccz145a]

Get yourself one of these .

It will save you a couple of hours now and countless hours in the future.

[squierjosh]

Hmm...that's probably a good idea. Who can't use a Sawzall at some point?

Get yourself one of these .

It will save you a couple of hours now and countless hours in the future.

[Blazin]

I weld all my joints including mufflers. I weld my hangers to the pipe too.

[VileZambonie]

Me too. I weld everything. And I have 3 different sawzalls and a mini air saw that I am constantly using - good investment

[squierjosh]

I have a reciprocating saw, but it's not a Sawzall brand name. I assume I need a special blade to cut metal, right? I think it only came with blades for cutting up small tree branches and stuff.

[ccz145a]

Just a bi-metal blade with small teeth (10 to 15 tpi) and long enough to span the part your cutting.

[Blazin]

As long as its a brand name blade even wood blades will cut exhaust pipe. It ruins them but will work for several cuts.

[Lt.Del]

Napa quoted me at $175 for a refurbished radiator...is that a decent price

I don't know what they mean by refurbished---simply a ringsin??
$175 is not a good price.  I am sure you have a radiator shop near you, unless you live in Montana or Wyoming. Every metro area has radiator shops that sell new radiators....i bought a four-core for $200 brand spanking new.

www.delbridge.net/install

[squierjosh]

yeah, I actually had two metal blades that it came with. I only bought the saw for cutting up small branches and stuff, so I'm glad I didn't need to buy any major tools for this project.

Just a bi-metal blade with small teeth (10 to 15 tpi) and long enough to span the part your cutting.