Custom Bed Side Exhaust Pipes - (Not So) Exhausting - Tech

Everything checks out so I marked and drilled holes in the stake pockets and marked the pipes for the mounting hardware. A stainless 5/16x2-inch low-profile socket cap bolt is TIG welded to the pipe to act as a mounting stud, fore and aft. The 1/4-inch head will act as a natural spacer between the pipe and the stake pocket.

Now the pipe can be bolted up for the first time. Note how long it is still, due to the fact that the long section of tubing is 8-feet long.

Trimming the excess tubing is absolutely the last thing to be done as you don't want to take too much off.

Here's a shot of the stainless stud that was welded to the pipe and attaches to each stake pocket.

I opted to leave the ends 1/2-inch longer than the end of the bedrails so as to break up the backside a little bit. Plus, if I decide to trim them later, it leaves me the option.

The finished product looks pretty good and continues on with the '50s custom truck vibe. Can't wait to see everything once the truck's been painted and the pipes polished!

Harvey and Gay Lynn Bagshaw's '55 Chevy and Andy and Patty Heintzelman's '55 Ford both sport a varying style of bed side pipes.