Pete 378 / 379 Above Frame Exhaust retrofit?

Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by Caterpillar Cowboy, Mar 23, 2014.

  1. Caterpillar Cowboy

    Caterpillar Cowboy Heavy Load Member

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    Planning in the next year or two of kitting together a truck out of parts and due to some 'specing' issues I was wondering about the Peterbilts that run the high mount / above frame exhaust.

    To keep the rig short for maneuverability, wanting to run a drop axle, and still be able to have a fuel tank hung under the passenger door that is larger than 90 gallons, I can't see any way around having to run a above the frame exhaust, like is pretty standard on KW's.

    The truck is going to be a 379, or 378 Peterbilt, I've seen a couple that have the high mount exhaust, but they're all single stack's. Aesthetically I'd prefer a dual stack setup.

    Also beings I'll be kitting this truck from parts, is there a difference in cabs? I'd imagine there may be some heat shielding that I could add on, but as rare as it seems this setup is from the factory, It would be pretty hard to find a used cab like this, and the 'low mount' setups are dime a dozen.

    To give a reference the truck will be a shorter wheelbase tandem drive axle, with a steerable drop axle, wanting to keep the battery box under the drivers door, and have a fairly long single split fuel/hydraulic tank under the passenger door continuing behind the cab as space allows with the drop axle.

    Truck is going to be used to pull a lowboy, but I'll more than likely end up with a belly dump pretty soon after it gets built. So basically a construction truck, in addition to facilitating the long single fuel tank it would probably be a good idea to keep as much up and out of harm's way knowing I'll eventually be jumping up on windrows to dump a future belly.

    I know this one is kinda far out there, thanks to anyone with some insight!
     
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  3. SL3406

    SL3406 Medium Load Member

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    I have a 378 with the exhaust under the cab. It doesn't have any exhaust shields or anything unusual. I think you will have to build a 378 if you want the exhaust above the frame because the cabs set higher than 379's. I've never seen a 379 with the exhaust ran above, but they may exist.
     
  4. kwforage

    kwforage Road Train Member

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    I have a 378 with above frame dual exhausts. The Y-pipe and elbows for mine are ridiculously expensive through Peterbilt.
     
  5. Flightline

    Flightline Road Train Member

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    Please post some pictures.
     
  6. Caterpillar Cowboy

    Caterpillar Cowboy Heavy Load Member

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    I can belive that about ridiculously priced simple exhaust components. An exhaust elbow to fit 'around' my 90 gallon 23" diameter fuel tank I think ran $450 3 years ago when I re-built my 96 Pete, and it's not even chromed! That wraparound style works for my current setup on a dump truck, but for a transport truck knowing fuel consumption is going to go up significantly, and I'd like to have a toolbox/step mounted where a 2nd fuel tank would be it just won't work on my future transport truck.

    Here's a schematic from one of the online parts vendors of the above frame rail setup I'm after Flightline:
    high exhaust.jpg
     
    Flightline Thanks this.
  7. Flightline

    Flightline Road Train Member

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    Nice schematic. Now that looks like a pricey exhaust but what pete is not.
    What's with all the flat spots? Possibly tight interference problems.
     
  8. SL3406

    SL3406 Medium Load Member

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    The flat spots are to allow clearance for the braces on the bottom of the cab that support the floor.
     
  9. Flightline

    Flightline Road Train Member

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    Would those flat spots cause restriction on exhaust flow like the ford powerstroke had problems with?
     
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