I became "That kid" tonight

"Dingers Ghost, Champion Jockey" (dingersghost)
04/22/2015 at 00:12 • Filed to: Braap

I decided for some reason to put a glasspack on my Ranger.

This project became a lot more expensive than I was intending. Around $6 for a 25” Thrush Glasspack at Advance, plus clamps, a 90 degree elbow, and a mid-pipe for a short wheel base Ranger all together set me back about $50. I originally planned on just removing the muffler on the truck (the whole system cat-back was only about a couple years old. I decided it was too quiet) and putting the Thrush in its place, to use the mid-pipe and tail pipe I already had. After that wouldn’t work because I couldn’t get the system to separate without destroying anything, I just decided to go the short pipe route. For right now, I just have the 90 on the end towards the outside, eventually I will put an end on it and it will go out the whole way.

After taking a short drive and letting the truck run a bit, I do like the sound. It isn’t as loud as I expected/feared. It is nice and quiet at idle but does make some noise once you get on it. There’s a slight bit of drone at cruising speed, but not nearly enough to annoy me. I’m curious to see how the sound changes over time.

I ended up managing to save the old muffler and mid-pipe, but I had to cut the tail pipe to get it out of the truck. No big deal, really. I don’t really plan on needing it again.

Oh, and another thing? I discovered how hot these glasspacks get. Very, if you’re wondering.

DISCUSSION (33)

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > Dingers Ghost, Champion Jockey
04/22/2015 at 00:19

How easy was it? Ive been thinking of doing this but I have no idea how to weld.

Dingers Ghost, Champion Jockey > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
04/22/2015 at 00:26

Oh mine’s not welded either. Clamped. There’s no leaks by the time I’m done with it. Probably why my old pipe didn’t come apart. It wasn’t really super hard at all. The hardest part for me honestly was getting the mid-pipe to the cat flange bolts undone. I ended up snapping one of those, even though I had them completely undone a couple months ago to replace my transmission. And then removing the old exhaust was a pain, but that was because it was impossible to do intact. Nothing a grinder wouldn’t fix.

It would probably sound better on your truck because you have a manual. More crackle when you shift.

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > Dingers Ghost, Champion Jockey
04/22/2015 at 00:35

So you mounted it before the cat? What did you do with the excess pipe? I also have a 4.0L, the more displacement, the throatier the exhaust note

Dingers Ghost, Champion Jockey > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
04/22/2015 at 00:40

Oh no, it’s mounted post-cat. I guess my wording isn’t right haha. I see my mistake now (thank you almost 1 AM) The bolts I had trouble with were where the mid-pipe bolts onto the cat-pipe. Where the donut gasket is.

lone_liberal > Dingers Ghost, Champion Jockey
04/22/2015 at 00:42

The sound of glasspacks, though with a V8, was the sound of my youth. But we didn’t usually bother with catalytic converters even if the car was technically supposed to have them. I still love the sound of a big V8 with a lumpy cam and glasspacks but at my age I don’t know if I’d want them on a car I drive on a regular basis.

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > Dingers Ghost, Champion Jockey
04/22/2015 at 00:45

Hang on.... I have a mid pipe? I gotta remember to look under my truck tomorrow and examine my exhaust. If I can get a glasspack the length of my midpipe, I can get a throatier exhaust note in a pretty easy applictaion. Hmmmmm, youre giving me ideas

Dingers Ghost, Champion Jockey > lone_liberal
04/22/2015 at 00:46

Oh I love the sound of a big fat lumpy cam and glasspacks on a V8.

My grandfather was hangnign around the garage while I installed the muffler tonight, he said that he used to use them all the time when he was around my age. He said he didn’t realize they still made them though.

Dingers Ghost, Champion Jockey > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
04/22/2015 at 00:48

Usually it’s called an intermediate pipe, I just call it a mid-pipe. Should be the pipe after your cats but before your muffler. About 2 feet long?

lone_liberal > Dingers Ghost, Champion Jockey
04/22/2015 at 00:55

I know they quit making Cherry Bombs for a while and Thrush isn’t nearly as large as they used to be. It seemed like back then most cars in a high school parking lot had a Thrush sticker on it. It’s kind of cool that they’re making a comeback.

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > Dingers Ghost, Champion Jockey
04/22/2015 at 00:59

Sounds about right, but due to my shot front springs my front end sits a bit lower than the rest of the truck, so I havent been able to get under my truck and follow the exhaust that far forward. I can fit under the engine, but just barely, There comes a point where I can no longer maneuver. So it becomes a “If I fits I sits” type of thing. I thought my exhaust was all one piece after the cat. Actually......... Jake Huitt is helping me drop my driveshaft and replace my pinion seal (Ford 8.8 Strikes again, lol). He has a 4 point lift at his disposal. We’re using it on sunday and I’m helping him replace his water pump. I can get a good look at my exhaust then and form a plan.

Dingers Ghost, Champion Jockey > lone_liberal
04/22/2015 at 01:00

Well, when I was in school (graduated a year ago) there were quite a few people I knew had glasspacks, usually Thrush. There were the few that had a nicely built truck/car that had them. But most of the guys I knew that had them drove Rangers and S-10’s. I think most of the time the glasspack wasn’t by choice, moreso that their exhaust rusted out and they had to fix it on the cheap.

Dingers Ghost, Champion Jockey > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
04/22/2015 at 01:04

If your exhaust is like mine is supposed to be then you have your manifolds, to the Y pipe with the cats, to the mid pipe, to the muffler, to the tail pipe.

8.8 Life lol. While my pinion seal doesn’t leak, my cover gasket seeps a little even though I’ve fixed that once already. That reminds me, I should check to see sometime if my end seals are leaking again.

lone_liberal > Dingers Ghost, Champion Jockey
04/22/2015 at 01:05

Yep, they were doubly attractive to kids. They were both cheap and loud.

lonestranger > Dingers Ghost, Champion Jockey
04/22/2015 at 01:12

Kinja'd!!!

What engine ya got? My last truck was a ‘92 with the 4.0 Cologne & a 5 speed. I took it to a local O/O exhaust shop that most of the gearheads know & love. I just told him “Have at it. I know you’ll make it sound nice without being obnoxious.” He put on a Flo-Pro baffle pack , and man, did that truck sound nice. Best sounding vehicle I’ve ever owned.

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > Dingers Ghost, Champion Jockey
04/22/2015 at 01:25

I’ll take a look on sunday. Are you in the Oppo facebook group? Id love to talk rangers with you on and off in the future. Btw, what year is your ranger and is it a single cab or an extended cab

Makoyouidiot > Dingers Ghost, Champion Jockey
04/22/2015 at 07:24

I also have a glasspack, on my Fiat. It’s lawlz

Dingers Ghost, Champion Jockey > lonestranger
04/22/2015 at 09:47

I have a 3.0 with an auto. I was trying to get the sound the truck made without a muffler without it being too loud, and also being legal for inspection. It came pretty close I think.

Dingers Ghost, Champion Jockey > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
04/22/2015 at 09:48

I think I am? I don’t know.

Mine’s an 01 with the four door extended cab.

Dingers Ghost, Champion Jockey > Makoyouidiot
04/22/2015 at 09:49

You have all the BRAAAAPS

MonkeePuzzle > Dingers Ghost, Champion Jockey
04/22/2015 at 12:31

this post is useless without a before/after video

Dingers Ghost, Champion Jockey > MonkeePuzzle
04/22/2015 at 13:15

I am aware, and neglected to take a before video. I’ll probably neglect to do an after video too.

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > lonestranger
04/22/2015 at 14:18

Mechanically speaking, I have your truck but mines a 93. Truly a joy to drive

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > Dingers Ghost, Champion Jockey
04/22/2015 at 14:34

If you are, look me up. I commented in the sticky post so I shouldnt be hard to find. So did you get a standard cab cat back to make up for the extra length with the glasspack?

Makoyouidiot > Dingers Ghost, Champion Jockey
04/22/2015 at 17:18

ALL OF THEM. And the blubblubblubs too

Dingers Ghost, Champion Jockey > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
04/22/2015 at 17:54

Yes I did. With that, the 25” Glasspack (other brands have shorter mufflers) and the elbow, once/if I put a tip on, it will fall about six inches from the back tire. I will probably never end up putting a tip on it though, because I know myself.

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > Dingers Ghost, Champion Jockey
04/22/2015 at 17:59

If I cant find one cheap at a junkyard I may just hack up my exhaust. I have a very old jigsaw with a few metal blades. That’ll do. I may grab one of those cheapo tips that are in “The Forbidden Isle” at vatozone.

Dingers Ghost, Champion Jockey > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
04/22/2015 at 18:00

Also I added you on Fb.

Dingers Ghost, Champion Jockey > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
04/22/2015 at 18:03

That’s probably the route I’ll go for a tip too, although they’re all chrome and I am not a fan of chrome. I really don’t feel like buying a can of header paint just for a tip.

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > Dingers Ghost, Champion Jockey
04/22/2015 at 18:04

I dont mind the chrome, I just want something a bit bigger (but not too big) and that doesnt have surface rust. And I confirmed your friend request

Dingers Ghost, Champion Jockey > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
04/22/2015 at 18:07

Found you one.

Kinja'd!!!

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > Dingers Ghost, Champion Jockey
04/22/2015 at 18:09

Oh dear lord. My stock one is barely more than an inch in diameter. Its not trucky enough. But that..... That is just dumb

Dingers Ghost, Champion Jockey > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
04/22/2015 at 18:21

I could park my Ranger IN that tip.

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > Dingers Ghost, Champion Jockey
04/22/2015 at 18:26

We both could, maybe even at the same time