Looking at a possible new exhaust system for my 59 182B. Muffler was replaced about 5 years ago, but most joints are loose. Clamps tightened all the way over the years, vibration/heat cycling takes it's toll. I first looked at replacing clamps, but for the price that is definitely not an option. I was told about $2900 Can. for a complete new Acorn exhaust. Any experiences to share?

The acorn exhausts are great. We've had really good luck with them. You can get them without baffles from them as well.

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Better performance without baffles? or just one less thing to fail?

Mark Y. wrote:Better performance without baffles? or just one less thing to fail?

Maybe slightly better performance. Mostly one less thing to fail.

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Second Acorn. Especially that they're just down the road from you. Good product, no cones to fail, not always the cheapest.

Consider sending your whole exhaust system to them. Ask them their advice. They may not rebuild it all, only the eroded parts.

i Installed leading edge on my 59 182 its a life time exhaust

Absolutely ACORN, worth every dime. I won't use anything else. So much better quality wise than anything else. Knisley is ok for repairs, but for a new system ACORN.

Acorn will be it, not often the best option is just down the road. The leading edge exhaust was pretty interesting looking and had potential, but the company seems to be defunct. You must have one of the few prototypes?

Well finally bit the bullet and replaced my old rotten original exhaust with a new Sea planes west (Acorn) system. Over the phone the sales guy was very limited on knowledge, I finally found all the answers to my questions on their sea planes west site, their acorn welding site is useless and doesn't even reference going to the other site.

Nice system, but has a few stupid issues. Fits a stock engine mount a little strange - More room on the left side, but a little tighter than stock on the right. Why they would change the muffler shroud from the stock layout makes zero sense. To remove the shroud for inspection you have to fight on the carb side instead of easy out the front screw removal. The original shroud had the heat air in/out ports 180 deg from each other, now they are angled and as you can see leaves you very limited room between the heat shroud flange and oil pan. Granted once the shroud is cranked tight there is more space, but still, once the muffler exit and ram air intake are aligned as best as possible there is only about 3/8" space between the shroud flange and oil pan. If the muffler rotation pins broke - flange would drive right into the oil pan. They also have a new carb heat shroud I never took pics of. I had to remove the left side heat reflector and the new system bolts to the engine mount with the LH header "floating" inside the new carb heat shroud. I still had the carb heat run through the muffler still on my old system.

We always put the screws in from the front. Still a bit of a PIA, but doable with a long screwdriver. Better then fighting between the carb and exhaust from the back.

I have a modified dual exhaust for my early 180. Knisley Welding from Loomis CA built it and I have had very good luck so far. I think they build 182's without all the joints too.

I just don't see how they got that certified that if the muffler rotated in flight, the flange drives right into the pan. Very limited material to drill for the rotation pins also. I am tempted to just pay them to build me a proper fitting shroud. Flange on the front of pan and inlet/outlet 180 deg apart. Very nice workmanship, but this shroud design is just dumb.

I have a kinsley system in my 182. Really like the setup.

180Marty wrote:I have a modified dual exhaust for my early 180. Knisley Welding from Loomis CA built it and I have had very good luck so far. I think they build 182's without all the joints too.

^^^^^ This

Power Flow apparently owns the tooling and STC for the leading edge exhaust. It looks cool and their horsepower claims were good but it’s not cheap.

Moss farmer wrote:I have a kinsley system in my 182. Really like the setup.

+1