Northwest Custom modification

[46wdx]

Just got my mudflaps and I was wondering how people modified around the 2001 tailpipe. Any secrets or tips on clean installs?

 

[Archive]

I have gotten a few emails on this, so I will post here... I have the BD 4" exhaust, so I have not tried to mount these flaps on a stock system.



I would crawl under the truck and see what would be best... extend the pipe before it turns out, have a shop lessen the bend in the turnout, or something else.



You might also try watching signatures for someone with these flaps and stock exhaust to see how they did it. I can tell ya that I really like the looks and functionality of these flaps... an exhaust modification, if needed, is well worth it.

 

[John]

I had a local welder extend my Banks 4" diameter stainless steel exhaust system by TIG welding a 7" section of the same exhaust tubing material to clear my NW Custom mud flap. The 7" section was added prior to the last bend in the tailpipe. In retrospect, 5" would have cleared the mud flap although, I would probably go with 6" if I was doing it again thus, allowing the tip to be further away from the truck (since the section added was on the hypotenuse of the angle). You have to be careful where you extend the tailpipe as you still require adequate clearance between the exhaust system and the spare... I have a new 285 spare so clearance was a very exacting consideration.



If you heat the tailpipe and try bending it (whether it's on a bend or not), you WILL compromise (i. e. , reduce) the interior size of the pipe at that point, even if it's only a small amount. I tried this when I had the OE exhaust system and Mopar mud flaps.