I pulled my exhaust system today to inspect it. I noticed a crack in the flange of the exhaust pipe when we pulled the engine so plan to replace that, but wanted to see what was going on with the muffler too.
After some penetrating oil and heat I finally got it apart. Upon inspection I found two concentric metal tubes with holes drilled in opposite ends. I also found a lot of black soot or??? Are the tubes the only things in such a muffler or has something disappeared in the last 100+ years? The sheet metal is pretty heavy and although not pretty, probably has some life left in it.
In case you are wondering, the silver thing on the exhaust pipe is a cutout - I probably won't re-install it.
One other question - I assume the exhaust pipe is a press fit into the muffler casting - how tight is it supposed to be? It seems to me that matching the exhaust to the engine manifold on one end and the muffler on the other could present some challenges.
Ford owner's manual instructions
The exhaust pipe is a slip fit into the front plate of the muffler, allows for flexing of the Ford chassis without breaking apart things.
I think your muffler was only used until 1920. After that they went to the pressed steel ends, which work very well, if you have the correct exhaust pipe, which no one makes.
Your muffler is correct Tim, those three tube inside the sheet metal are it. The holes in the tubes go at opposite ends and muffle the sound. The exhaust bounces end to end and then exits.
Your muffler has the earlier cast iron ends with the open casting for the mounting lugs. I am not sure when the change was made to the later solid type which preceded the pressed steel ends. I have the later style on my 1917 shooting brake. My understanding was that that is correct for my car.
Anyone with changeover dates?
Allan from down under.
Allan,
From my memory (not completely reliable) the change in the cast brackets happened in 1917.
The earlier 1917s still had the short tailpipe
like the 1916. So Tim's rear bracket is likely
correct for his car. The cast ends changed in 1917 to the solid type and stayed the
same (solid casting--no pipe until the spring of
1919 (May-June?). Then the outlet on the rear
casting was moved up from the bottom to low on
the side so the exhaust didn't hit the spare
tire when the demountable wheels appeared in
1919.
Thanks Dennis, I thought I had done the research to make sure I had the correct on for my 17, but I could not recall the details.
Allan from down under.
My dad has July 1917 (last month of model year) touring that he bought unrestored from the original family in 1949.
I have an unrestored May 1917 roadster.
The unrestored 1917 Rip Van Winkle touring has a June 1917 serial number.
All three cars above have a tail pipe.
Your question about press fit of the exhaust pipe into muffler head. No it is not a press fit it is a little on the loose side. With the muffler bolted to the frame at both ends via the cast brackets, the pipe expands and contracts as it is heated and cooled so it has to slide back and forth some. If you get a current repo pipe from the suppliers expect to do some fitting and it will need to be trimmed at the muffler end.
The later muffler with pressed steel ends tail pipe assemble, original type, the tail pipe ran all the way to the end of the muffler(it replaced the loose inner core on the earlier mufflers). The muffler was held in place by a sheet metal hanger, this hanger allowed the whole assemble to move back and forth as it was heated and cooled.
My car was built in September 1916 and has a few other characteristics in common with the 1916 model year.
I assume the muffler was unpainted steel. Has anyone tried painting a muffler with high temp silver-ish paint to slow the rusting process?
Tim
Your correct muffler is what you show, that version did have 3 straps around the outer shell to contain asbestos wrap all around the shell. BTY, your muffler is nice shape and rare today to find in such good condition!
There is made a modern white wrapping but it is so thin and you can make it work with care. The straps are steel and very much like today's HVAC straps for tubing.
You can see the remains of the rear most strap and some of the white asbestos wrap.
Tim
Correction, your Sept '16 build "1917" T (model year for 1917 is Aug.1,'16-July 30, '17) would not have the asbestos wrapping, my mistake.
After May 1917 the long tail pipe on the muffler was gone too.
Maybe the factory washed the outer muffler shell with black paint, similar to the thin paint on manifolds, would think so, but not sure.
I use VHT high temp satin black on my mufflers. Looks good and lasts well.
Allan from down under.