Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Stacks...

[Nate]

OK, I got the wild idea the other day that I want to put stacks on my truck.



I'm just wondering about a few things.



I was thinking 4" from the turbo to the bed and then 5" stacks. I want to put straight ones, with a miter cut. I was thinking of just building this all myself from tubing and getting the stacks powdercoated black (I hate chrome)



Now, is there a way to have the stacks self drain?



Do I need to have that "box" in the bed... I'd like to put as little as possible in the bed... possible to put that under the bed instead?



Also I was thinking to make the stacks right about cab height so I can still get in a normal garage the cab is just a couple inches under 7')



I'm going to probably build a toolbox that will fit around the stacks, since I like to have a toolbox to put my chains, power service, etc in.



I searched on here, but I didn't come up with too much on the actual installs.



I've done a few exhaust jobs, so nothing new there, just looking for tips, do's/don'ts on this.

 

[bmoeller]

Check out catoiler's rig. His plumbing is uder the bed.



For a drain, all I did, was drill a smal hole in the bottom of the elbow that is under the bed.

 

[Nate]

I was thinking of doing that, just drilling a small hole.



Now it a 5" stack a decent size? I'm not sure what most people are running? I don't want them to be too big and look weird, so I was thinking 4 or 5"

 

[LOtero]

wow, sounds like the same exact thing i want! glad to see this post! im thinkin the toolbox thing will be the hardest. .

 

[bmoeller]

5" is probably the most common (mine are), but I've seen 3" up to 8" stacks on a Ram. 4" looks to small to me.

 

[bbodammer]

5 or 6" mitres look awesome on these trucks. I have turnouts, but love the look of miters. I was woried it would be tooooo loud with them. I have a normal garage and a 2"lift as well and my stacks are about 5"above the cab. I barley make it in. Running the piping under the truck can be done, but is tricky getting next to the fuel tank and such. I have built a box to enclose mine and had it rhino lined to match the truck bed. i will try to post some pics if you'd like . . although I believe your going for the tool box deal. I would like to see some pics of it when you're done

 

[Nate]

Yeah I just don't like having the box in the bed because it get's rid of valuable bed space which is important with a short box.



It might be a while until I do this. I'm just planning right now really. There's a couple other things, such as a turbo timer, vulcun line kit, etc that take priority.

 

[Nate]

Does anyone know of a place that would sell black stacks with a miter cut? I don't like chrome (just my thing) and I think black would look pretty cool.



Otherwise, I thought about just making the stacks myself and getting them powdercoated. Wonder if that would hold up to the heat? Or how about the black finish they put on stove pipes, anyone know what that is?

 

[LOtero]

most auto parts stores sell high temp header paint, or a hardware store probly has stove paint or something that will work...

 

[bmoeller]

www.the-co.com



Call these guys up. I know at one time, they carried black stacks. Still may. IIRC, they were straigh tops and turn outs. Easy to turn into miters, though.



If not, buy some aluminized stacks, and have the powder coated, or use high temp paint.