Open header looks with all...
Open header looks with all the benefits of a mellow exhaust note--could a hot rodder ask for more? I don't think so! Car Chemistry's CC inserts kit is a great alternative to a full exhaust system in many cases.
Building pre-`40s hot rods is definitely an enjoyable experience, with assembly and fabrication of countless components being a form of therapy from the day to day drudgery we face in our quest to make a regular living.
Unfortunately their diminutive size makes planning a build an important aspect, especially when working on vehicles like Model Ts and As. For those of us that sometimes don't plan out a build as thoroughly as we might (a frequent shortfall of mine, by the way) building the aforementioned models is sometimes like stuffing ten pounds of parts into a five-pound bag--there's sometimes just too little space to fit it all in a cohesive manner. One portion of those components we try and fit between those narrow framerails is an exhaust system. We usually do get 'em in there and under there, but many times we have to reconfigure the initial placement of some parts and oftentimes live with the added heat-related problems created by stuffing those pipes and mufflers in such close proximity to floors, master cylinders, and fuel and trans cooler lines.
The CC Insert kit looks really...
The CC Insert kit looks really simple but it's the result of a ton of R&D and dyno testing too. They not only quiet down the exhaust note but do so without compromising performance. Car Chemistry actually specializes in muffling systems for race cars and motorcycles, where their technology not only cuts noise levels but enhances performance.
Well, after scratching my head trying to figure out how I was going to go about fashioning an exhaust system (or even running a full system at all) on a current '29 A project I just happened to run across an ad in the pages of a recent issue of this very magazine (SR April '09, page 199) by a company called Car Chemistry. The ad was for a muffler/baffle kit named CC Inserts designed for lakes-style headers--a perfect alternative to stuffing a full system under a small hot rod, and just the ticket for my situation I thought. Since the Flathead powering the A was equipped with a set of Speedway Motors lakes-style headers I immediately went to their Website and eyeballed the kit. I liked what I saw, and placed an order. A few days later it arrived and when I had the product in hand, I was actually more impressed than I thought I'd be--it's a well-made and easy-to-assemble system that I think will be a great alternative to a full system. Plus, I love the idea of my exhaust blasting out of the megaphones at the pickup's cowl while still being able to carry on a conversation with a passenger.
Assembling the CC Inserts kit was a snap and took less than two hours from start to finish, and with a retail price of around $155.00 I not only saved a bunch of time but a lotta cash, as well. So take a look at what I did last Saturday. You may well discover that the way I solved my exhaust system dilemma will work for you too!
Here's where I started out...
Here's where I started out - a pair of Speedway Motors lakes-style headers and no idea of how I wanted to go about retaining their good looks while not getting ticketed by the local highway patrol for excessive noise.
The CC Insert kit (for lakes-style...
The CC Insert kit (for lakes-style headers anyway) consists of a center core insert and a series of drilled rings who's graduated diameters fit tightly against the walls of the header cone. The design, size, and placement of the perforations are by no means random--they're the result of a ton of testing that ensures an acceptable note and impressive performance.
The instructions are clear...
The instructions are clear and the assembly is really straightforward, which is great if you're a wanna-be fabricator. Assembly begins by readying the smallest (in this case the 3-inch) ring for placement on the core. Car Chemistry marks the inlet and outlet sides of the core tube so pay attention and make sure you begin on the inlet side of the tube.
The first disc is pressed...
The first disc is pressed or driven onto the core tube (a section of 2-inch pipe works great) downward toward the bottom of the tube.
The instruction sheet noted...
The instruction sheet noted that the first disc should fall roughly between the second and third port of the header. On mine the spacing worked out perfectly at about 1 inches from the inlet end of the tube. At this point the first disc landed where suggested and the core tube ended up right at the end of the header bell.
With the first disc located,...
With the first disc located, I marked the core tube with a Sharpie just in case I moved it while installing the next disc. That way, if I did, I could move it back into the correct position. The next larger of the three discs came next, and I installed it the same way as I did the first. By the way, the discs do go on to the core tube relatively tightly, so they can be adjusted to make good contact with the header wall as you go along (this image shows the second disc only part way to its final position).