18 inch truck stacks install

[SANDMAN5]

Is it as simple as drilling the holes in the stacks and changing out the tips?
Looking for a little more noise when I ride but changing back
to the I/S tips when the wife rides with me. (Piggies cut, baffles
drilled front and rear)

[Jess from VA]

Yes, but getting the holes in perfect alignment can be tricky..... use a paper or thin cardboard tube template, and measure thrice, drill once.  You are trying to get a complete flush mount to the existing cans.  Use a center punch to dimple your hole marks so your drill bit doesn't travel all over the nice new chrome.  First drill the holes with a tiny (new, sharp) 1/8" bit, then go back with the 1/4" (or whatever the size is).  Clean off underneath the old tips.  I had to pound my truck stacks on with a piece of 2 X 4 and a rubber mallet...... they would probably stay on with no bolts (but I bolted them anyway).  A little bar soap underneath will help them slide better, and will burn off quickly.

I do not believe the 18" truck stacks will make much more noise than the stock tips..... maybe a bit of a lower rumble, but not a lot more noise. The full piggie cut and baffle drill will be loud with any tips.  I'd never put the OE tips back on.... gave them away.  Get her some ear plugs.  

[SpidyJ]

I just beat them on till they were flush with a rubber mallet then put one screw in the top.
If you have saddle bags no one will see the scerws anyhow.

[Jess from VA]

Spidy, that is a good idea (in retrospect).  I wouldn't go with no screws, but a single would almost certainly work fine for the Air Flow stacks heavy stock, very tight fit.  The OE tips are cheap tin by comparison.

I have some drag marks on my 18" straight cuts (at 6 o'clock) and it is possible that one could come off with no screws.

[Davet261]

If you want a precise fit using the original holes you can go to a plumbing store and get a pipe wrap-around which is made of a heavy felt like paper.  It has both inches and centimeter rulers on it, just wrap it around your oem tips starting at zero to the left start of the first hole and measure over to the left side of the second hole, that wiill get your bolt hole centers.   With the wrap around still on your oem tips measure measure the distance from the end of your tips to the wrap around, that will give you your distance in on your new stack.  Transfer the measurements to the tips and drill your new holes.  On mine I took a straight edge and drew a line from the holes to the end of both the tips and existing exhaust.  Then all you have to do is line up the lines and pound them on.  There is only about an inch that you will be pounding on because the rear baffle is smaller at the end.  If you dont line up your lines when you start your holes will not match up to your exhaust nuts, they are tight and you cant twist the new tips.  I used 2 of the 3 oem holes, I done the ragnar cut and that eliminated the oem nut of the piggie.   Mine fit tight against the existing exhaust and the holes are perfect match......

[BF]

Blue painters tape.  Lay a piece over your oem tips and mark the holes.  Lift off and transfer to the Air Flow extensions.  Center punch and drill.....start with a small diameter bit like Jess said to do.   

[scoot]

Blue painters tape.  Lay a piece over your oem tips and mark the holes.  Lift off and transfer to the Air Flow extensions.  Center punch and drill.....start with a small diameter bit like Jess said to do.   

  the easiest way by far

[BradValk48237]

Thats how I did mine...... used original holes.........

Brad

[FPG52]

I just did the same this spring to my tourer... looks great... can't give you any more mechanical advice than already posted but I did add the exhaust tips from "Grumpy" (a website advertiser).  The tips really finished the look of... I ove the way it turned out.  I wish I could post pics but still have not been able to do it on this site.  Also wanted to change sound a bit... the 18"  stacks give a big more low end rumble but not too loud for passengar.  Looks and sounds great.   

http://www.grumpyscustomparts.com/

I am happy I made tyhe change... good luck... ride safe
FG

[dragon_slayer_129]

If you go with the truck stack exhaust I'll second the vote to get a set of grumpy's tips to finish off the look.

Mine before the tips:


After grumpy's tips:


Yeah they come right out of the box looking this good:


Dragon Slayer 129