The Chicken Wagon was totally missing a muffler, which wasn't as bad
as it sounds due to the presence of the turbo and the center muffler.
But it still bothered me. While cruising the local Pull-N-Save
(self-service junkyard), I found a very nice muffler lying loose in
the back of a Nissan 300ZX. No external rust or anything. It was the
big cannister type that was appropriate, and had nice double tips. It
cost me about $7, and I spent another $2.50 at a tire/muffler shop
(ripoff!) for an 8" length of exhaust pipe, and $0.71 for welding rod.
I welded the muffler and pipe onto the car, using some scrap steel (a
chunk of exhaust pipe and a couple of big nails) to make the hanger
assembly at the rear. I used my acetylene torch to do the welding.
This was not easy, as I've had no practice at it, but I'd seen it done
before so I knew it was possible. The hardest part was filling the
holes I accidentally burned in the pipe! It took me about 2.5 hours
to do the job, and this included starting the car four times to find
(and repair) the leaks.
The hanger part can use some more work, but it might be awhile
before that happens. I also need some more rubber donuts, because I
moved the two from the middle of the system to the end.
I think it looks pretty good, for under $10.
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