In this installment of our R/T retro build, we will be adding MBRP's 'Cuda-style exhaust system. This, and the already installed Shaker Hood from Keystone, is what got us going on the whole retro thing in the first place. The styling is a throwback to Mopar's heyday and one of its killer machines, the '71 'Cuda. The 'Cuda was stuffed full of 426 cubic inches of Hemi muscle, so we have a little bit of motor envy with our 360. But, if everything works out right, we will be every bit as fast.
The MBRP kit is a split-dual design made completely out of stainless steel mandrel-bent tubing. It comes with a proprietary muffler (single inlet, dual exit) that you can see right through, so you know it will flow. Also in the kit is a fiberglass roll pan, designed to house the polished stainless tips and all the necessary hardware needed for the installation. The new roll pan comes in a raw gelcoat finish, so expect to do some paintwork to complete the job.
Here's a reminder of what...
Here's a reminder of what a stock Dakota's rear looks like.
Here is the rear view of the...
Here is the rear view of the truck with the new 'Cuda-style exhaust. We think it cleans up the back of the truck and gives it a distinctive musclecar growl.
As with the other installs, we schlepped the truck over to Venable Kustoms in Huntington Beach, California, to have Marcel Venable bolt up the system. We even put Jeremy Cook from our sister publication, Classic Trucks, to work. If you want to know how the system sounds, go to MBRP's website, where sound clips are waiting for your listening pleasure.
This is everything MBRP sent...
This is everything MBRP sent out to muscle up our truck. The system is made completely out of stainless steel, with mandrel-bends and polished tips.
Marcel assembled the exhaust...
Marcel assembled the exhaust to ensure we had all the pieces and to figure out what tubes went where.
We took a picture down the...
We took a picture down the inlet of the muffler to show you the free-flowing design MBRP builds these mufflers with and because we think it looks cool.
1.Since we have a roll pan...
1.Since we have a roll pan to install, the bumper had to come off. Make sure you unhook the wire harness going to the license plate lights.
2.Marcel crawled under the...
2.Marcel crawled under the truck and ripped out the stock system. He made sure not to damage any of the factory hanger clamps, since these will be reused to hold up some of the new system.
3.A small extension piece...
3.A small extension piece that is provided with the kit was slid onto the factory pipe, and the muffler was slid onto that.
4.Next, Marcel grabbed one...
4.Next, Marcel grabbed one of the factory hangers and positioned it on the front of the muffler.
5.One of MBRP's clamps will...
5.One of MBRP's clamps will hold the extension pipe to the factory pipe.
6a.Moving rearward, the passenger-side...
6a.Moving rearward, the passenger-side tube is a single piece that was snaked over the rear end and secured to the muffler. Then, on the driver side, which consists of two parts followed right behind, you can see the end of it just before Marcel buttoned it up.
6b.
7.Jeremy Cook, of Classic...
7.Jeremy Cook, of Classic Trucks fame, helped Marcel install the roll pan.
8.Two bolts per side that...
8.Two bolts per side that fit into preexisting holes hold the pan on. The bolts weren't tightened just yet, since there was still some stuff to go in and be aligned beforehand.
9.The tips have a hanger welded...
9.The tips have a hanger welded to them that bolts directly into the old bumper bolt holes. There are extra washers in the kit that allow you to shim out the tip for position if you need it.
10.We figured out that we...
10.We figured out that we didn't need to do much, since ours went together very nicely and required only some minor adjustment that we got by moving the pipes around a bit.
11.With everything adjusted,...
11.With everything adjusted, Marcel went around and tightened all the hardware, including the roll pan bolts.
12.The top edge of the pan...
12.The top edge of the pan is held in with some self-tapping screws, but MBRP pre-drills the pan so there is no issue with spacing.
13a.The pan also has all the...
13a.The pan also has all the proper holes for the lights and for the license plate clips.
13b.
14.Now that we have it on,...
14.Now that we have it on, we fired the sucker up and checked for leaks. We found a small one at the front of the muffler that went away when we cranked down on the clamp a little more.