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[CosmicJive]

I have an '89 5th Ave. This is my daily driver, and only car. I rely on it. Now I'm not a mechanic or even a tinkerer really, so I'm not sure if it's dumb luck or if I just got a good one. But I don't even take super great care of the thing and it's been dutifully hauling my ass around for the past 8 years. It just keeps running. It's only left me stranded one time, and that was due to a fatigued leaf spring that shat out on me. She's a surprisingly reliable old goat. Just a really great car, even fun to drive (or maybe I'm just easily amused?)


Anyway, it needs a new exhaust system- like pretty badly. I want to keep this thing going and it's probably about time I give it a little tlc anyway. But I can't seem to find the parts online. I see this as an opportunity to upgrade to a better exhaust system than what it came with stock (y-pipe?). Anyone have advice on where I could procure this, or am I [Edited by Farley's] out of luck? I don't know any junkyards around here with older cars. Would anyone on this forum happen to have an exhaust system to sell me?


Thanks,
Jonathan

[Dippy.org]

[CosmicJive]

Oh, and I would also appreciate any suggestions for performance upgrades that wouldn't break the bank or cause my fuel economy to be any worse than it is. This car is such a tease. It rides like an old muscle car, with the solid rear axle, and the old 318 has just enough oomph to get you excited- then no more. I would love to do a "mild" hot-rodding on it. Sleeper style of course. I'm not doing anything too involved or expensive. I just want a solid old V8 sedan that I can kinda drive like I stole it, without having to baby it too much. I know I want some new shocks. I would actually rather upgrade the handling before making the thing go any faster. And I would really like to do a rear axle swap at some point too. Are these parts getting hard to find in recent years? -I really have no concept of such things.

[lsm360]

A good exhaust shop can bend you a larger exhaust. An A Body exhaust system from somewhere like Jegs can be used with some minor modification to add dual exhausts, after you shift the gas tank over to passenger side slightly. Easy job, many have done the shift, including myself. I don't know if you need CATS, but you can add those too. Your going to find that the suggestions for more performance will be centered around the crappy rear gears (2.2 probably), fuel (2 barrel carb), and exhaust (which you are looking) into now. Also, the Library has a bunch of good information. Here's one link you might find helpful

https://www.dippy.org/forum2/index.php?topic=247.0


Open this link;https://www.dippy.org/forum2/index.php?topic=16155.0 it's when I was going to sell my '89. Second pic down you'll see Jegs A Body dual exhausts on my M Body 

[CosmicJive]

Thank you for the advice. I didn't know about the A-body exhaust. I will look into that. And may I say, that's a gorgeous, badass Diplomat you have there.

[Ice Cold]

The Q is your emissions rule?

89 have 3 cats and assorted air pump lines .

[CosmicJive]

The Q is your emissions rule?

89 have 3 cats and assorted air pump lines .

I just checked and it looks like Massachusetts exempts my car from emissions testing. So I guess I can just go nuts with it? (Also, sorry to be nosy, but I just peeked at your profile. Do you actually live in that part of Canada? Talk about far-flung places! You must laugh when some old Yankee complains about having to put up with a picturesque New England winter. And they DO complain, too!)

[lsm360]

Ice lives in Russia and is known to be consorting with Putin.

Junk that stock exhaust. It's choking your engine and those cats are likely very clogged by now.


Thanks for the compliment on my car 

[CosmicJive]

https://www.jegs.com/i/JEGS/555/30500/10002/-1?CAWELAID=1710919506&CAGPSPN=pla&CAAGID=39714413703&CATCI=pla-457013474803&CATARGETID=230006180040357460&cadevice=c&jegspromo=nonbrand&gclid=CjwKCAjwh9_bBRA_EiwApObaOBRD0BU7JE3G1llQvGsom8Mc0rKVZYzd9QyJrXMIVFqGSq__M3h0jBoC5ggQAvD_BwE


So is that what I'd be looking for? I notice there's also one available with "chambered mufflers". Forgive my ignorance, but what is the significance of that? (Prepare for stupid questions. I'm not a true "car guy" at the end of the day. People often assume I am because of what I drive, just like how they assume I'm in a metal band because of the long hair and. But I digress...)

[lsm360]

That's the kit. I got the kit without mufflers. Idk if they still offer it, but they offered one without mufflers. Chambered mufflers don't have normal baffles and flow more, but will be louder. I did not want turbos. I went with Walker Quiet Flow mufflers because I wanted something pretty quiet. Just a little bit of modification is needed on driver's side around the driver's seat area.

[lsm360]

My first M body was a civilian Diplomat 318 two barrel, and I started doing performance upgrades, and it does start getting mind boggling after awhile. But this is a good place to come. I started with a four barrel intake and carb off Police car. Then exhaust, then rear end.

Wasn't the best order, I know now, but I was learning. I've bought nothing but 318-4 barrel Police cars since.

[CosmicJive]

"Mind boggling" is a good description. It seems there are so many options and ways to take it. I just took a gamble on some cheap deadstock Gabriel shocks. 48 bucks all together, free shipping. Seemed like a good deal. We'll see I guess. Assuming they aren't duds, you think I'll notice a big difference in driving? They gotta be better than the ancient beater shocks on there right now... I only noticed after buying these that the front ones are Hydraulic and the rears are gas charged. Kind of an impulse buy. Then again I have wanted to put new shocks on for like 4 years.


FRONT:   https://www.ebay.com/itm/1-PAIR-Gabriel-HYDRAULIC-Shocks-for-Plymouth-Fury-Gran-New-Yorker-42406-FRONT/142702438982?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649


REAR:     https://www.ebay.com/itm/1-PAIR-Gabriel-Gas-Shocks-for-Chrysler-Cordoba-5th-Avenue-81338-REAR/142893351464?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2648

[lsm360]

Ah, it's ok, they'll ride fine! I have hydraulic shocks all the way around on mine! I found a set of New Old Stock Police shocks for mine and bought them. They are larger and firmer because they are factory Police shocks from Chrysler, but old so they were not gas charged. Hey, car was engineered to ride on them, right? Like you wrote, it will be just fine having some new ones on there!

[lsm360]

You might want to start by seeing if you are lucky enough to have an old Police Dip or Gran Fury in a yard around your area. Or check Craigslist. Especially a later 80's (someone else will have to remind me of the years) that came with the 2.9 rear gears. If you can find one and pull the 8.25 rear out of it, with the rear anti sway bar and brackets, that's a great score! Solves some performance issues with the better gear set, it's a beefier rear end at 8.25 instead of 7.25, AND you add a rear anti-sway bar. Might sound daunting but not that bad. I eventually did that with my first civi and really was a nice upgrade. The rear anti sway bar really flattened the car in turns too.

[CosmicJive]

Ah yes, I was actually just researching the possibility of a rear anti-sway bar. Seems like kind of a crap shoot finding one but I'll keep at it. It would be nice to get some of that cop car handling, and from what I've gathered, the rear sway bar is the best quick fix, so long as you can source one.


And the 8.25 rear axle, of course- that would be nice. Though I'm not banking on finding one. I thought I heard somewhere that certain Jeeps had these axles. I can't recall if any modification was required to fit theirs in an M, though I would assume that's a "yes".


I'm sure you can still have a fun daily driver with the 7.25, as long as you realize the limitations. I honestly have fun driving the car as it is, so any improvement is just frosting on the cake. I know they supposedly sold some "performance" package of the Barracuda with the 7.25 back in the 60s. I'm sure it's not the same but if it's good enough for anyone, it's good enough for me. I ain't asking for much- just a little wind in the sails.

[lsm360]

Other 8.25 will work too, I just don't remember which are best fits. Others will have to chime in. I think Dakota because they are easy to find in yards, but I mentioned M body cop cars because of direct fit, and the rear anti sway bar. You would also get the huge brakes on the rear end too, so you'd have a built in upgrade there too.