The Jeepster Commando

(NARRATOR)>> IT TOOK ALMOST 50 YEARS BUT THE JEEPSTER COMMANDO HAS BECOME A COVETED FOUNDATION FOR A CAPABLE TRAIL RIG. TODAY ON XTREME OFF ROAD WE TEST DRIVE A '68 COMMANDO AND MAKE PLANS FOR A VINTAGE DUAL PURPOSE MACHINE. PLUS IF A MAN WHO WORKED ON THE BATMOBILE WANTS TO BUILD A CUSTOM EXHAUST FOR OUR LAND ROVER WE'LL LET HIM.

(IAN)>> I'VE ALREADY SHARED WITH ALL OF YOU HOW I AM A FAN OF OLD IRON, SPECIFICALLY OLD JEEPS. NOW ROCK AUTO REACHED OUT TO ME RECENTLY AND ASKED THE XTREME CREW TO BUILD THEM ANOTHER GIVEAWAY JEEP. THIS TIME I DECIDED IT WAS TIME FOR ONE OF YOU TO APPRECIATE THE BEAUTY OF DRIVING A CLASSIC JEEP. SO I PICKED UP THIS 1968 JEEPSTER COMMANDO. NOW IT WAS REALLY A MODEL OF JEEP THAT, YOU KNOW, A FEW YEARS AGO NONE OF US EVEN THOUGHT ABOUT BUILDING. A FEW PEOPLE TOOK THEM ON AND BUILT SOME PRETTY COOL RIGS BUT IT NEVER REALLY GAINED POPULARITY. NOW THAT OLD IRON IS GETTING HARDER AND HARDER TO FIND, WELL THESE HAVE BECOME A REAL POPULAR BUILD. SO THIS IS ABOUT TO HEAD INTO THE SHOP AND GO UNDER THE KNIFE. THE JEEPSTER COMMANDO WAS ORIGINALLY BUILT BY THE KAISER JEEP CORPORATION. THE SAME COMPANY THAT BUILT THE 715 AND WILLYS SERIES JEEPS. THE COMMANDO WAS A CIVILIAN JEEP PLATFORM DESIGNED TO COMPETE WITH INTERNATIONAL SCOUTS AND FORD BRONCOS. IT WAS AVAILABLE AS A PICK UP, A CONVERTIBLE, ROADSTER, AND LIKE OURS, A WAGON. THE TWO WHEEL DRIVE VERSION HAD A SOLID BEAM TYPE FRONT AXLE ASSEMBLY. THE LEAF SPRING SUSPENSION WAS SIMILAR ON BOTH FOUR AND TWO WHEEL DRIVE MODELS, KIND OF LIKE THE MODERN JEEP CHEROKEES. WITH 101 INCH WHEEL BASE THE JEEPSTER COMMANDO WAS ORIGINALLY OFFERED WITH A FOUR CYLINDER HURRICANE FLATHEAD ENGINE OR AN OPTIONAL DAUNTLESS VSIX. JUST UNDER 68,000 JEEPSTER COMMANDOS WERE BUILT FROM 1966 TO 1971. THIS PARTICULAR JEEPSTER HAS A HAD A FEW QUESTIONABLE MODIFICATIONS. UNDER THE HOOD IS A VSIX ENGINE OUT OF MAZDA PICK UP TRUCK. THE SAME ENGINE FOUND IN A FORD RANGER, AND INSIDE THE INTERIOR HAS HAD THE DASH OUT OF THAT SAME TRUCK, AND WE'LL CALL IT GRAFTED INTO PLACE. A SET OF SEATS OUT OF SOMETHING, AND I AM UNSURE OF THE ORIGINAL HOME FOR THE REAR AXLE THAT IS NOW UNDER THIS RIG. MY PLAN, TURN THIS CLASSIC JEEP INTO A JEEP AGAIN. JEEP POWERTRAIN UNDER THE HOOD, HEAVY DUTY ONE TON AXLES, 40 INCH TIRES, AND A CUSTOM SUSPENSION SYSTEM THAT IS ALSO CLASSIC STYLE, AND OF COURSE A CUSTOM PAINT JOB THAT WILL BE MORE IN LINE WITH THIS OLD IRON JEEP. LAST YEAR FOR ROCK AUTO IT WAS A JEEP LJ CONVERTED TO A HALF CAB PICKUP, CUSTOM NINE INCH AXLES WITH HIGH DIFFERENTIALS AND AIR LOCKERS, A HEMI UNDER THE HOOD, 40 INCH TALL TIRES ALL RIDING ON A CUSTOM COIL OVER SUSPENSION SYSTEM. ONCE WE FINISHED IT WE LOADED UP OUR FRIEND TOM FROM ROCK AUTO DOT COM AND HIT THE ROAD WITH A GROUP OF WHEELERS FOR AN EPIC TRIP THROUGH THE BACK ROADS OF TENNESSEE, HITTING SOME OF MY FAVORITE OFF ROAD PARKS AND CELEBRATING THE ART OF TENNESSEE WHISKEY DISTILLING BY TOURING DISTILLERIES DURING OUR TRAVELS.

(TOM)>> IT WAS A LOT OF FUN. THE SENSE OF COMMUNITY WAS SO WONDERFUL, HOW ALL THE DRIVERS AND RIDERS PITCHED IN IF THERE WAS A PROBLEM, OR HELPED SOMEBODY UP OR DOWN A HILL.

(LUCAS)>> I THINK THE ATMOSPHERE IS COOL. THE COMMUNITY OF IT IS ALL COOL. I THINK LAUGHTER IS ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL TOOLS YOU CAN HAVE IN YOUR LIFE FOR HAPPINESS, AND I'VE GOT GREAT FRIENDS BECAUSE OF FOUR WHEELING ALL OVER THE WORLD.

(IAN)>> THIS YEAR WE'RE GONNA DO THE SAME ONLY ONE STATE NORTH. WE'RE GONNA DISCOVER THE HISTORY OF BOURBON MAKING, AND HIT SOME OF THE BEST TRAILS KENTUCKY HAS TO OFFER, AND WHEN WE'RE DONE THIS JEEP WILL BE ONE OF YOURS.

(NARRATOR)>> UP NEXT WE DITCH THE FORD VSIX FOR WHAT ELSE, THE CLASSIC FOUR LITER STRAIGHT SIX. PLUS PROJECT "XTREME XPEDITION" GETS MILITARY INSPIRED EXHAUST AND A BOMBPROOF TRANSFER CASE.

(IAN)>> NOW I'M GONNA BEGIN THE TEARDOWN ON THIS JEEP LIKE EVERY OTHER JEEP WE'VE EVER DONE, AND THAT MEANS I'M JUST GONNA PULL ALL THE SHEET METAL OFF THE FRONT OF THE RIG TO GET ACCESS TO THIS DRIVETRAIN. NOW THIS FOUR LITER VSIX SWAP, IT'S NOT BAD. THERE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT ARE A LITTLE QUESTIONABLE. THE MOTOR MOUNTS LOOK PRETTY SKETCHY, AND EVEN THOUGH THE A/C BOX HAS BEEN SWAPPED IN IT'S NOT BLOWING ANY COLD AIR, BUT WHAT'S REALLY INTERESTING IS IT LOOKS LIKE THEY MAY HAVE ACTUALLY GRAFTED THE MAZDA FIREWALL INTO THE BODY ON THIS TRUCK, AND THAT'S KIND OF A LOT OF WORK, AND IT'S PRETTY COOL THAT THEY DID THAT. IT'LL ACTUALLY GIVE ME A LITTLE BIT MORE SPACE IN HERE FOR THE MOTOR THAT I PLAN TO DROP IN, BUT EITHER WAY ALL OF THIS VSIX STUFF, THAT'S GOING IN THE TRASH. [ drill spinning ]

(IAN)>> WHENEVER YOU BUY A VEHICLE THAT'S BEEN MODIFIED LIKE OUR JEEPSTER, THERE COMES A POINT WHERE YOU HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION. NOW WE ALREADY KNOW THAT WE'RE REPLACING THIS FOUR LITER VSIX, BUT WHAT ABOUT THE WIRING? NOW THE PREVIOUS OWNER DID A PRETTY GOOD JOB OF INTEGRATING THE JEEPSTER BODY WIRING IN WITH THE WIRING THAT THEY'VE PULLED OUT OF THAT MAZDA PICK UP TRUCK AND BASICALLY STUFFED INTO THIS TRUCK BECAUSE EVERYTHING ON THE MAZDA DASH THAT IS INSIDE THIS JEEP CONTROLS THINGS LIKE HEAD LIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS, AND STOP LIGHT SWITCHES, AND ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF, BUT IT'S NOT WORTH TRYING TO UNINTEGRATE IT. THERE'S SO FEW BODY SYSTEMS WITH THIS CLASSIC JEEP. I THINK THE EASIEST WAY TO FIX THIS IS JUST GET RID OF ALL OF THIS WIRING AND REWIRE THE JEEP WITH A WHOLE NEW WIRING HARNESS. IT MAKES MY LIFE A LOT EASIER BECAUSE THAT MEANS I GET TO REMOVE ALL THIS WIRING JUNKYARD STYLE. WHERE'S MY BIG SNIPS?

THERE'S NO ROOM TO REMOVE THE MOTOR WITH THE MOUNTS JUST UNBOLTED. SO THESE MOUNTS ARE GONNA HAVE TO BE CUT OUT TO MAKE SOME SPACE. THERE WE GO.

NOW IT MAY SEEM LIKE A LOT OF WORK TO DITCH THE VSIX ENGINE THAT WAS UNDERNEATH THE HOOD OF THIS JEEPSTER JUST TO REPLACE IT WITH A STRAIGHT SIX ENGINE CONSIDERING THEY'RE BOTH FOUR LITER ENGINES, BUT THIS IS A JEEP FOUR LITER. IT'S ACTUALLY THE ENTIRE DRIVETRAIN THAT I TOOK OUT OF LAST YEAR'S WHISKEY AND WHEELING ROCK AUTO GIVEAWAY LJ. NOW THE REASON IT NEEDS TO BE A JEEP MOTOR IN THIS RIG IS CAUSE IT'S CLASSIC JEEP IRON. NOW IN A MODERN JEEP I MAY LET YOU GET AWAY WITH PUTTING AN LS UNDERNEATH THE HOOD, BUT IN OLD IRON LIKE THIS IT HAS TO HAVE A JEEP POWER PLANT. I MAY LET YOU GET AWAY WITH A HEMI, BUT NOT A MAZDA VSIX. THE REALLY COOL THING IS THIS IS THE PERFECT EXAMPLE OF TWO DIFFERENT WAYS TO REMOVE AN ENGINE FROM A PROJECT. THAT ONE WE REMOVED JUNKYARD STYLE, CUT EVERYTHING. THIS ONE I SURGICALLY TOOK IT OUT OF THAT JEEP. I SAVED EVERYTHING I COULD. I DISCONNECTED ALL THE ELECTRICAL, UNBOLTED ALL THE A/C, KEPT THE AIR BOX, KEPT THE CRUISE CONTROL MODULE, THE RADIATOR, ALL THE COMPUTERS, EVERYTHING INCLUDING THE MOTOR MOUNTS THAT I CUT OFF OF THAT JEEP'S FRAME BECAUSE I KNEW THAT SOME TIME IN THE FUTURE I'D BE REUSING THIS DRIVETRAIN. TO ME I JUST THINK IT'S KIND OF COOL THAT IT'S GONNA END UP UNDERNEATH THE HOOD OF THIS YEAR'S GIVEAWAY JEEP.

(NARRATOR)>> COMING UP, FOR RELIABILITY AND PERFORMANCE NOTHING BEATS THE ATLAS TWO.

(IAN)>> WE'RE GONNA FINISH THINGS OFF TODAY BY JUMPING BACK ONTO OUR "XTREME XPEDITION" PROJECT, A LAND ROVER D-90 THAT WE ARE FIXING ALL OF THE ISSUES THAT YOU FIND WITH THESE TRUCKS BY SIMPLY REPLACING MOST OF THE LAND ROVER WITH SOME HARDCORE AFTERMARKET PARTS. NOW THE PLAN TODAY IS TO GO AHEAD AND HAVE IT FINALLY SITTING ON ITS TIRES AND WHEELS FOR GOOD, AND THAT MEANS WE'VE GOT TO TACKLE A BUNCH OF STUFF UNDERNEATH. IT ALL STARTS WITH THE TRANSFER CASE. THE FINAL PIECE THAT WE NEED TO COMPLETE THE DRIVETRAIN FOR OUR D-90 IS A TRANSFER CASE. NOW FOR OVER 20 YEARS WHENEVER YOU'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR A HARDCORE AFTERMARKET TRANSFER CASE THE ATLAS TWO FROM ADVANCED ADAPTERS LANDS AT THE TOP OF YOUR LIST, AND FOR GOOD REASON. IT IS A HARDCORE OFF ROAD SPECIFIC TRANSFER CASE THAT HAS ALL THE RIGHT PARTS WHERE THEY COUNT, INSIDE. THE ATLAS TWO FROM ADVANCED ADAPTERS IS A HELICAL MULTIPLE RATIO GEAR SET THAT IS FULLY SYNCHRONIZED, ALL HOUSED IN A ONCE ALUMINUM ALLOY 356 TSIX HOUSING. ALTHOUGH IT WORKS LIKE A TYPICAL TRANSFER CASE, SPLITTING THE POWER COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION TO BOTH THE REAR AND FRONT AXLES WITH A HIGH RANGE OF ONE TO ONE AND DIFFERENT LOW RANGES FROM THREE TO ONE ALL THE WAY TO FIVE TO ONE, THE ATLAS TWO IS MORE THAN JUST A POWER SPLITTER. THE MASSIVE GEARS ARE SUPPORTED BY NEEDLE BEARINGS ROLLING ON BEEFY 86-20 STEEL SHAFTS WITH SYNCRHOS TO ALLOW FOR SHIFT ON THE FLY CAPABILITY. THE OUTPUT SHAFT ASSEMBLIES ARE DESIGNED WITH LARGE TAPER ROLLER BEARINGS, 32 SPLINE SHAFTS AVAILABLE FOR BOTH FRONT AND REAR OUTPUTS. ASIDE FROM THE ATLAS' BRUTE STRENGTH WHAT REALLY MAKES IT THE ULTIMATE OFF ROAD CASE ARE THE SEPARATE SHIFT RAILS FOR THE FRONT AND REAR AXLES. BY PLACING THE REAR OUTPUT IN NEUTRAL AND THE FRONT IN LOW POWER FROM THE ENGINE IS DIVERTED FROM THE REAR SENDING 100 PERCENT TO THE FRONT AXLE. THIS ALLOWS MANEUVERS KNOWN AS FRONT OR REAR DIGS TO OCCUR. ONCE FACING THE DIRECTION YOU WANT YOU CAN SIMPLY SHIFT THE REAR OUTPUT LEVER INTO LOW RANGE AND YOU'RE BACK ON YOUR WAY.

THE PREP THE TRANSFER CASE FOR INSTALL THE SIPE TUBE IS INSTALLED INTO THE BACK OF THE ATLAS, AND THE SHIFTER MOUNTS FOR THE TWIN STICKS ARE MOUNTED TO THE FRONT OF THE CASE.

THE ATLAS IS THEN RAISED INTO POSITION UNDERNEATH OUR D-90 TO DETERMINE THE CLOCKING OF THE CASE. WITH IT MARKED, IT IS THEN REMOVED TO INSTALL THE MOUNTING STUDS AND IT CAN GO BACK IN FOR GOOD.

HONESTLY THE EASIEST WAY TO DEAL WITH A FUEL TANK ON THIS D-90 WOULD BE JUST THROW AN AFTERMARKET FUEL CELL INTO THE BACK OF THE RIG BUT I DON'T WANT TO DO THAT. THIS IS AN EXPEDITION TRAVEL TRUCK. I DON'T WANT A BUNCH OF DIESEL FUEL FLOATING AROUND INSIDE THE TRUCK WITH ME. PLUS I NEED ALL THAT SPACE FOR CAMPING GEAR AND OTHER GOODIES. NOW SINCE THE BODY IS MOUNTED ON TOP OF A 2007 JEEP JK FRAME I THOUGH WHY NOT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT. I CALLED UP A LOCAL JUNKYARD AND I PICKED UP THIS STOCK REPLACEMENT FUEL TANK FOR A JEEP JK TWO DOOR. NOW THIS IS FOR A GASOLINE ENGINE AND IT'S FOR A MODERN JEEP. SO THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF ON HERE THAT I'M NOT GONNA NEED. THERE'S SOME EVAPORATIVE EMISSIONS SYSTEMS AT ONE END AND A LEAK DETECTION VALVE AT THE OTHER. I'M NOT GONNA USE ANY OF THAT. I'LL JUST SIMPLY MODIFY A FACTORY FUEL MODULE JUST SO I CAN PLUG IT INTO OUR LIFT PUMP THAT'S ON THE SIDE OF OUR ENGINE. THIS WILL JUST BASICALLY BE USED TO HOLD DIESEL FUEL, BUT I WANT TO GET IT UP INTO PLACE BEFORE WE START OUR NEXT PROJECT.

(NARRATOR)>> UP NEXT, WHEN CUTTING STAINLESS STEEL EXHAUST IT HELPS TO HAVE THE RIGHT TOOL FOR THE JOB.

(IAN)>> WE ARE BACK ON XTREME UNDER THE D-90 "XTREME XPEDITION" RIG, AND UNDER IT WITH ME IS RICHARD WAITAS FROM MAGNAFLOW. RICHARD IS HERE TO HELP CREATE A ONE OF A KIND CUSTOM EXHAUST FOR THIS RIG, A JOB HE IS NO STRANGER TO.

(RICHARD)>> THE WORLD OF EXHAUST HAS TAKEN ME THROUGH MOVIES, AND FUN BUILDS THAT PEOPLE HAVE DONE THAT HAVE GONE OUT AND BEEN IN VERY PRACTICAL VEHICLES TO SOME VERY HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES. I DEFINITELY HAVE TO SAY ONE OF THE ONES THAT FALLS IN THAT HIGH PROFILE CATEGORY, I'M SUPER FAN OF THE BATMOBILE. TO HAVE A CHANCE TO GO OUT THERE AND WORK ON A REAL BATMOBILE THAT WAS GONNA APPEAR IN THE MOVIE, I WAS PRETTY MUCH IN HEAVEN.

(IAN)>> CUTTING STAINLESS EXHAUST CAN BE TRICKY. YOU WANT A CLEAN, STRAIGHT CUT, AND A VICE THAT HOLDS THE PIPE IN PLACE BUT DOESN'T CRUSH IT. IF YOUR SAW USES CUTTING FLUID IT CAN CAUSE ISSUES WITH YOUR FINISHED WELD. SO TO BE HONEST THE BEST TOOL FOR THE JOB IS A GOOD OLE FASHIONED CHOP SAW, BUT YOU WANT A HIGH QUALITY STAINLESS STEEL BLADE. SAWBLADE DOT COM MAKES BLADES FOR ALL SIZES OF CHOP SAWS FOR MANY DIFFERENT APPLICATIONS THAT ARE LASER CUT TO PREVENT DISTORTION. THIS MAKES FOR A GOOD, STRAIGHT CUT. THEY HAVE INDUSTRIAL BRAZING TECHNOLOGY TO CREATE A DURABLE BOND BETWEEN THE TEETH AND BODY OF THE BLADE. IF YOU HAVE AN ABRASIVE CHOP SAW IN YOUR SHOP YOU NEED TO UPGRADE TO ONE OF THESE SAWBLADE DOT COM QSAW CIRCULAR SAW BLADES. THERE'S NO SPARKS, QUICK CLEAN CUTS, AND A LONG LIFE. RICHARD ARRIVED WITH A PLAN FOR THIS EXHAUST AND A PILE OF PARTS FROM MAGNAFLOW. SOME READILY AVAILABLE PIECES, LIKE A TWO AND A HALF INCH UNIVERSAL HOT ROD KIT AND A SMALL MAGNAFLOW MUFFLER, AND A COUPLE CUSTOM PIECES TO CREATE HIS OVERALL VISION FOR THIS EXHAUST. BECAUSE OF OUR JEEP FACTORY FUEL TANK, HE QUICKLY ROUTES THE EXHAUST UP AND OVER THE FRAME RAIL TO UNDER THE FLOOR ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THE TRUCK, CUTTING UP PIECES OF STAINLESS PIPE WITH TIGHT FITTING JOINTS FOR SOME HIGH QUALITY GOOD LOOKING TIG WELDS. ONCE THE MUFFLER IS POSITIONED UNDER THE TRUCK IT IS MOUNTED TO OUR FRAME WITH A UNIVERSAL HANGER ASSEMBLY TO ENSURE THAT IT STAYS IN PLACE.

[ welder crackling ]

(IAN)>> FOR THE TAIL PIPE RICHARD DREW HIS INSPIRATION FROM MILITARY VEHICLES. A LOT OF DIESEL POWERED MILITARY TRUCKS HAVE RAISED EXHAUST PIPES IN ORDER TO KEEP THE EXHAUST FROM BEING SUBMERGED WHEN FORDING WATER. PLUS IF YOU'VE GOT A CUMMINS UNDER THE HOOD OF YOUR D-90 YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE STACKS.

NEXT RICHARD ADDS A VBAND CLAMP TO THE BACK OF THE MUFFLER TO MAKE THE TAILPIPE REMOVABLE.

TO IMPROVE THE LOOKS OF THE EXHAUST AND TO ACT AS A HEAT SHIELD PERFORATED EXHAUST PIPE IS CUT AND WELDED TO FIT OVER THE PIPE AS A SLEEVE. TO FINISH IT ALL OFF A MAGNAFLOW BADGE AND A BILLET TIP, AND WE NOW HAVE A MILITARY INSPIRED CUSTOM MAGNAFLOW EXHAUST ON OUR D-90 "XTREME XPEDITION" RIG.

(RICHARD)>> WHEN YOU GO TO BUILD YOUR OWN CUSTOM EXHAUST USING THE PARTS THAT WE'VE PROVIDED YOU STILL KIND OF NEED SOME GUIDELINES AS FAR AS WHAT ARE BEST PRACTICES, AND THAT'S DEFINITELY RULE NUMBER ONE WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IS LAYING OUT A PLAN. YOU'VE GOTTA KNOW WHERE YOU'RE STARTING AND WHERE YOU'RE FINISHING, AND SEE IF YOU HAVE A REALLY VIABLE PATHWAY. YOU'VE GOT TO CONSIDER THAT THE EXHAUST SYSTEM IS GONNA GET HOT. WE'VE GOT TEMPERATURES. IF YOU HAVE A CATALYTIC CONVERTER BASED SYSTEM, RIGHT BEHIND THAT CAT YOU'VE GOT GASES THAT ARE IN EXCESS OF 1,000 DEGREES. SO WE'RE GONNA SEE TEMPERATURES ON THE SURFACE OF THAT PIPE THAT ARE GONNA BE ANYWHERE BETWEEN 600, 800 DEGREES WITHIN AN INCH OF THAT. SO THE ROUTING HAS TO BE IMPORTANT. WE DON'T WANT TO PUT IT NEXT TO FUEL LINES, BRAKE LINES, ANY KIND OF SOFT LINES THAT ARE PLASTICS OR RUBBERS WITHOUT CONSIDERATION THAT THAT HEAT'S GOING TO TRANSFER AND POTENTIALLY CAUSE DAMAGE. YOU CAN DEFINITELY GET CLOSER TO METAL FRAMES, DRILL HOLES THROUGH FRAMES, OR WHATEVER IS NECESSARY TO GET THROUGH THAT BUT BE CONSIDERATE OF WHAT YOU'RE MOVING AROUND. OBVIOUSLY IF YOU'VE GOT A BODY PANEL AND YOU'RE GETTING CLOSE TO THE FLOOR PAN REALIZE THAT HEAT'S GONNA TRANSFER TO THE BODY. IF YOU'VE GOT A METAL COMPONENT SUCH AS A CHASSIS OR FRAME RAIL THAT YOU'RE GONNA PASS THROUGH OR HAVE CLOSE PROXIMITY TAKE IN CONSIDERATION THAT THE MOTOR'S GONNA SHIFT AND ROCK. EVERY MOTOR HAS A DIFFERENT ROTATION DIRECTION. SO YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO LOOK AT THAT, AND AS THAT MOTOR TWISTS OR TORQUES IT'S GONNA DEFINITELY PUT THAT EXHAUST SYSTEM IN PROXIMITY OF METAL PARTS OR ANYTHING AND YOU DON'T WANT TO RATTLE. SO YOU'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE YOU LOOK AT THAT AS WELL, AND THAT REALLY BRINGS YOU TO ISOLATORS, OR YOUR HANGERS, AND THEY'RE REALLY AN IMPORTANT PART TOO BECAUSE AN EXHAUST SYSTEM THAT ISN'T SUSPENDED CORRECTLY IS DEFINITELY GONNA BE A PROBLEM IN A SENSE THAT NO MATTER HOW THE VEHICLE MOVES IT'S GONNA HAVE PIVOT POINTS BASED UPON THE HANGERS, AND IT MOVES IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION DEPENDING ON THE TYPE OF HANGER YOU'RE USING, WHICH IS GONNA TORQUE AND TWIST THE SYSTEM DIFFERENTLY. SO AGAIN IF YOU'VE GOT AN OUTLET AT THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE AND A HOLE YOU'RE TRYING TO REACH YOU'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU PROVIDE ENOUGH SUPPORT SO IT KEEPS IT INSIDE THAT, OR THAT THE MOVEMENT THAT YOU HAVE ALLOWED ISN'T GONNA CAUSE A CONTACT POINT ONCE THE EXHAUST SYSTEM HEATS UP, AND THEN ULTIMATELY THE BIGGEST PACKAGE PART YOU HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IS THE MUFFLER, AND THE SIZE OF THE MUFFLER IS DIRECTLY RELATIVE TO HOW MUCH SOUND DAMPENING YOU WANT TO DO. ONCE YOU'VE GOT THE DIAMETER CORRECT FOR YOUR HORSEPOWER WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT MUFFLER IS GONNA DO ITS JOB. SO IF YOU REALLY WANT SOMETHING THAT'S GONNA HAVE AN OUTSIDE SOUND AND NOT AN INSIDE AND YOU'RE GONNA REALLY PUT A LARGER MUFFLER IN PLACE, THAT'S ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS YOU'RE GONNA LOOK FOR MUFFLER SIZING. THEN IT'S, WELL IS THE OUTLET GONNA BE IN THE RIGHT POSITION? IF YOU'VE GOT A REAR END THAT'S CLOSE BY, OR IF YOU'VE GOT AN EXIT POINT THAT'S AT A DIFFERENT DIRECTION, YOU MAY HAVE A MUFFLER THAT'S GONNA REQUIRE YOU TO GO IN AND OUT THE SAME DIRECTION SO YOU CAN MOVE IT BACK TO THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. SO CONSIDER THE TYPE OF MUFFLER AND THE KIND OF ORIENTATION OF THE MUFFLER. BEYOND THAT THE TAILPIPE'S THE SAME AS THE INLET PIPE. JUST MAKE SURE YOU'RE AWAY FROM THINGS THAT CAN BE FLAMMABLE, THAT CAN BE BURNT, AND YOU SHOULD BE PRETTY GOOD OFF WITH THAT.