Exhaust Pipe Hangers/Brackets

[mike_l]

Aside from the part number in the TM, what is the difference between the front and rear hanger/bracket for the exhaust system (forward and aft of the muffler)? I took mine off and laid them side by side. Even though the front one is a little "distorted" from the removal process, I couldn't tell them apart. Unless one wasn't the correct part for that location, they looked the same.

Also, were the pipes and muffler painted when "factory new" trucks came off the assembly line or left bare?

Thanks.

[Lifer]

Aside from the part number in the TM, what is the difference between the front and rear hanger/bracket for the exhaust system (forward and aft of the muffler)? I took mine off and laid them side by side. Even though the front one is a little "distorted" from the removal process, I couldn't tell them apart. Unless one wasn't the correct part for that location, they looked the same.

Also, were the pipes and muffler painted when "factory new" trucks came off the assembly line or left bare?

Thanks.

[Lifer]

. . . were the pipes and muffler painted when "factory new" trucks came off the assembly line or left bare?

They were bare. Exhaust pipes and mufflers get hot and paint eventually burns off. When it does, it stinks to high heaven! Since the paint does burn off, there's no point in wasting money to paint them in the first place. There may be high-temp paints that will hold up for a while these days, but they weren't available "back in the day." Even the old baked-on enamels will burn off eventually. (For proof, look at the bottom of your old barbecue grill.)

[g741]

If you look real close, the exhaust pipe coming down from the manifold is a little larger in diameter than the tail pipe. Therefore, the two hangers are just a little bit different. I theorize that the exhaust pipe is a little larger because the hot exhaust gas has more volume than the cooler gas exiting the tail pipe. Therefore, the tail pipe can be a little smaller.

[knattrass]

My hangers were long gone and I looked into buying some NOS but they were $25 a piece. I cheated and used the $3 NAPA universals figuring they were up under the running board anyway.

[mike_l]

Thanks for pointing that out. At least that explains why they have different PNs in the book. I didn't look that close to notice that detail.

Unfortunately, I'm a purist of sorts in my restoration so I will be shelling out the bucks to put the $25 part back on.

[m-37Bruce]

Sid Beck(aka; G-741) has 'em, so does John @ Mid-West.
They are slightly different in diameter.

[knattrass]

Mike - we tried to hold the line on puriest....and had to make the tradeoff on what you can see versus what we could afford.

[mike_l]

Shhhh, I did take a few of those shortcuts already. I won't tell where I did them.

Seriously, I considered your solution initially but decided to go with the OE part on this one.

I've already sent an order out to John. The last list I got from Sid had the rear bracket listed but not the front. That is why I asked what the difference was.