Toms Custom Shop

Hi guys as youve seen on the Austin boot lid, as a hobby I run with the name Toms Custom Shop Its Not a business just a hobby and I do the odd bit to gain some skills etc.

I don?t mind a challenge but luckily I can pick and choose what I do.

Over the last 2 years i havent done much as have been concentrating on trying to do the best on the Austin a few bits slipped through to help people out.

I may post some pics of that stuff another time.

I am going to use this thread to post up anything that could be interesting or a challange, classic or modern!

First thing, what is with the question marks instead of a inverted comma

Forums knackered ...technically ... it's passed it's use by date :(

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The thread title looks like I?m looking for myself lol

never mind.

First in after the completion of the Austin is a Led Sled Kustom, it has air ride all round. 4 bar rear, and a healthy power plant.

The initial job was to check out the header set up and work out how to get a bend short enough and high enough to get the system through the chassis.
Unfortunately this was not going to happen with out modifying the headers.
With Off the shelf headers I would always try and keep them in stock form so they can be replaced if needed.
I shortened and modified the headers and added a 3 bolt flange. Positioning the bolts in easy to reach area.
With that then carried out i moved on to a slight reduction in to 2.5 inch stainless with some Flexy joints.
I have added an 02 bung in to both banks even though we only use one on this engine in stock formation, it?ll give room for aftermarket management if required one day.

As you?ll see I am trying to use the original chassis holes some do have some mods already.

Nice!

I dont think I've seen flexible bits like that before (I've led a sheltered life!). I'm used to the ones with a heavy braided outer and long tails each end. Those have a light mesh outer and the shaping of the transition to the pipe looks good. Is there a particular source for those or should I just get out more?

Chris

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Hiya,
They are called Super Soft Flexys. They are nice to used I have used both these and the stiffer outer webbing. I avoid using the ones with the tails on I find them a bit poor quality.
There is a nack to welding these on but they don’t have tails!

Now Welded up and tucked through the chassis, ready for some boxes.

Thanks for that info!

Chris

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Ruddy neat work.
G

Thankyou :)

Very tidy and learned about an alternative exhaust flexis into the bargain . this is what Forums used t be about .. keep the posts comming , looking forward to whats comming next :)

Very tidy work, nice.. and impressive

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Thanks!

I have added some large exhaust boxes in now. Surprising for a big car how little room there was for boxes working around other peoples work. With out running a bit of a silly wiggly route this was the most logical way.
They are an offset silencer so the exit is not in the same place as the exit. I do try to use these to get a bit more noise out of the system as this is a cruiser.

So with the boxes added in, the pipe exiting the box made aswell with a couple more bends it pointed towards the next hole in the chassis then added some 2.5 inch V bands to join the next section up once the mounts were made.

The holes in the chassis had to be opened up slightly at this point as the v bands didn?t want to play ball and slip through unfortunately.

Next was on to mounting the mid pipe section once all welded. With it being solid at the headers now, not your usual domed flexy joint, the flexy pipes take out some stiffness so then I started making a mount to hold the system firm after the box.

You will see in the pics I didn?t quite get off the pedal quick enough but it will be ok just nipped the edge of the mount with the welder

I try to use poly Cotton reels when possible, always in compression, they are a really nice way to mount and if used correctly will last ages.

ignore the melted poly mount that?s my mock up mount!

note, This system is in 316 stainless, the boxes are not as seem to struggle getting hold of 316 boxes.

I used another hole in the chassis to access the mount nut, no point drilling what you don?t need to.
I also welded a small tab to the inside of the chassis for the cotton reel to sit on.

Tom, have you tried the exhaust grommets yet for hanging tube and mufflers?
i find them to be better and simpler to use than cotton reels,
just a 5/8” hole in flat plate for the outer bush and a 3/8” hole for the bolt to pass through the other bracket,
link below,
theres cheaper ones on ebay us that work just aswell.
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/sum-610320-4

Hi Gary! I haven’t! I remember you using them before and thought I may use them at the rear of this where access is a bit limited! Thanks for the link!

Today I got the other side mount made up for the centre pipe.
We are now in the dangerous zone.
4 link on air where people haven’t thought about the room needed for an exhaust.
The next part will be cutting some flooring out that was put in else where to allow me to get up and over the rear cross member as there is room above it’s gunna be fun I think.
Also I am going to raise up the cross member that links across the 4 link, and alter the prop loop, Over all of you were to build this car again I think the 4 link would be put higher in the car, we can work around that and see how it goes.

Out with the grinder this evening for a quick cut of the cross member that?s right in the way.
The 4 link is not as high in the car as I would have put it but it will work, the 4 link joints in to the chassis right where the stock K member sits so nice and strong the cross member probably isn?t needed but I am going to re install it a little higher in a way it will still hold strength and give room for the exhaust. Not only that, it was pretty rough, hammered flat at the top of the prop loom rather than just raising it up a tad

To get over the rear bag cross member I?m having to raise the exhaust in to the floor as I said before so I have cut some floor out, we were going to use 2 tunnels, but figured it would be easier and better to raise a section of floor up and the prop tunnel may have to be altered anyway. So this will be last on the list to re make.

Progressing on with the exhaust system.
Trying to keep it as less intrusive as possible means for a bit of a wobbly route.
I?m really not a fan but to get to the rear of the car it?s absolutely mental. So up and over the chassis, then down pack past the air bag and shock then in to the rear 1/4 area to dump in the bumper.

you may not be a fan but you do it so well :thumbs_up_smiley:
neil.

Really nice work there Tom.