MTFCA Forum

As some of you know I had Muffler troubles on my way to OCF. Dallas helped with a temporary repair, but I decided to go with a different tractor muffler. I purchased the Stanley muffler FO-11 and a tail pipe and a new hanger. Dallas and I modified the hanger but cutting off part of the rubber material, since it was too long, and cutting off some of the metal from the piece that attaches to the muffler. Hopefully that is clear in picture #4. Next step is to find out where to hand the muffler from. Remember that the muffler is not clamped on to the exhaust pipe, so the hanger is the only place of attachment.

If looking up from below you can see a couple holes in the frame and another hole in the triangular piece above the frame. I chose to use the hole in the frame. The holes are at the very top of the picture. The software cropped the picture a bit much. This hole is too far to the left so I needed a piece of metal to hold the hanger. I cut off a piece of steel 4.5 inches long and 1.5 inches wide. This I had to drill two holes in. I placed the muffler on the exhaust pipe so I could note how far the muffler goes on. I marked it with a sharpie. This is where the muffler and exhaust pipe flex. Next I attached the hanger to the metal piece, and then attached that to the frame. I put the exhast pipe in place and attached that to the exhaust manifold with the nut. This was put on loosely. I also used a floor jack to hold the exhaust pipe in place, because it will bounce off the floor if you do not. Now I could line everything up and put the muffler on the exhaust pipe. It fit perfectly and the hanger was in the right place. You do not need a tail pipe, but I have a spare tire in back so I added a tail pipe. It was $9 at NAPA for item #41733. It was longer than I needed so I cut it off where the item number tag started, so about 4 inches. Looks better that way too.

Now everything was lined up and I could tighten the clamps. First I tightened the nut on the manifold. It is worth spending the money to purchase this tool. I have needed it more than once. And even though I get it nice and tight I have had the nut loosen. I strongly recommend the clamp with the tag to hold your exhaust nut in place. Then I made sure the muffler was all the way on the exhaust pipe, added the tail pipe, and tightened up the clamp on the hanger and muffler. Now the muffler flexes on the exhaust pipe like it should and there is a little flexibility with the hanger. Just enough so that it should hold up well.
This next picture shows the entire assembly put together and held up with the jack stand. The last picture shows it when I went inside for a beer. I hope this helps at least one person who needs to update their exhaust system. If you want to add a whistle, you are on your own. That requires cutting the exhaust pipe into a couple of pieces, but if you want a whistle go for it. They do have a nice sound.

Nice clean installation Dave.
I installed an F0-11 muffler on my ’26 runabout the same way as you did. Short tailpipe as well to keep the exhaust off the spare. I am pleased with the sound.

Very nice job. Great ideas there

I have done this as well on my T.
The only thing I can add as Bob suggested, is to not use any pipe extension on the muffler outlet if you have a good almost new spare tire with a good old inner tube mounted at the rear of your T.
It leaves a hole in them!

I too have put this same muffler on my car. I love the sound! I've been wanting to put a tailpipe on it for the same reasons you mention. Great tips! Thanks for sharing.

Ok, so I’m putting the FO11 muffler on. No clamp going on between the exhaust pipe and muffler inlet (for flex). The exhaust pipe slides all the way into the muffler with ease.
Tailpipe is on order, should have it tomorrow. Then I’ll clamp that part up.

Bob

If you could turn that bracket around so it attaches closer to the engine it will support the muffler better.
Supporting on the very end allows the muffler and exhaust pipe to flex too much where they come together. A bit floppy if you understand what I am trying to explain.

Yes I see what you mean - Sounds like a good idea. I wasn’t sure which way it should face. Since I don’t have the tailpipe yet, I wasn’t sure how far it slides onto the muffler outlet.

I should invest in one of those pack nut things too….

I came up with an exhaust pipe that keeps the exhaust fumes totally away from the spare. Reader’s Digest version here: I bought a ten foot long piece of inch and a half exhaust pipe for about $15. I cut off a piece about three feet long and had a muffler shop put two 45º bends in it. By trial and error I arrived at a tail pipe as pictured. Respective measurements are: from one end to middle of bend is ~ 8.5”; from the other end to the middle of bend is ~ 10.5”; center section is ~ 8” long. Once the dimensions were worked out I got the muffler shop to make up several more, keeping one in reserve for a future pattern. Our ’22 touring, ’24 roadster, and ’27 coupé all now sport one. Prior to installing I wiped them down with some brake clean and applied a couple of coats of high temp paint which has held up surprisingly well. You might consider mocking the exhaust pipe up out of inch and a half PVC and I’ll leave the mounting engineering up to the individual. Should there be any questions I’ll do my best to answer.

Have a day. Tom in Taylor Mill, KY 41015

Got it all hooked up this morning. Not visible but I turned the bracket around as advised
Quite a bit louder than the other muffler I had but it is quite a bit smaller. Not an unpleasant sound at all.

Thank you for taking the time to make such a detailed description. It helped a lot!

Bob

Better view

Bob,
Is there any support of the tailpipe/muffler assembly between the manifold packnut and the bracket attached to the rear spring?
Your vehicle, but I sure am apprehensive about the longevity of your installation....attaching a bracket to a spring.
Dave

Dave

I do not see it attached to the spring, but it does look that way. Just the way the photo is. Looks like it is attached to a cross bracket.

Yes, sorry for the poor photo. The hanger is bolted to the cross bracket. I followed DHort’s suggestions to the letter

I didn’t take the sticker off the tailpipe though Too impatient. I figured it would burn off with time….

I just finished my version of this conversion. Tractor supply had the FO11 listed as the IH-1 (at least, that's what they told me). But it had the properly sized in/out. It works pretty well; a little louder than a stock muffler but sounds pretty nice. Used the same mounting method as Dave H. but had to shorten the pipes on both sides of the muffler and add a 90 degree bend to direct the exhaust. There wasn't a simple way to have the exhaust come out the back without having to add 3 different bends to get around the axle, shock absorbers, and keep the exhaust off the new spare tire; bending down seemed the best way. Will see how long this holds up compared to the stock mufflers.

I like the sound of the original style mufflers, so always use one of them. On my 1924 Tarrant special tourer, the fuel tank is mounted under the spare tyre carrier, so a tailpipe is needed to keep exhaust emissions off the spare and the fuel tank. My tailpipe is like the last one Eric posted. It goes straight down in front of the axle, a bit longer than Eric's. Someone once commented that it looks something like that you see dangling under a stallion!

Allan from down under.

Allan

If your exhaust pipe is that long you are allowed to shorten it a bit. Dont want it hanging too far below the axle.

Pointing the tail pipe straight down Is rather miserable for those behind you on a dirt road & in dirt parking lots.

John,

How so? Is that specific to all roads or only dirt ones? I'm afraid the rear setup of my speedster doesn't leave me with many options for the exhaust to come out the back (which is what I originally wanted) without putting too many bends into the exhaust pipe.

erkbrn wrote: ↑

Fri Oct 13, 2023 1:03 pm

John,

How so? Is that specific to all roads or only dirt ones? I'm afraid the rear setup of my speedster doesn't leave me with many options for the exhaust to come out the back (which is what I originally wanted) without putting too many bends into the exhaust pipe.

Pointing down creates a huge dirt cloud on a dirt road. The guy directly behind is in a dust cloud. In a parking lot everyone near your T gets it.
Directing to the side would be more considerate. Straight back would be best. FWIW.

John, my tailpipe does point straight down, but the end is bent and the pipe cut off so that the opening is in the back of the pipe. This deflects the flow to the rear. I have never had any complaints about huge dust clouds, but then I am not usually in a hurry to stay in front of everybody.

Allan from down under.