Megaphones & Muffler Reducers?

[Viper]

I know this is a newbie question, but how exactly do i use muffler reducers?

I have a 78 special, and i purchased the megaphones from mikes.

The inner diameter of the muffler is approx 45 mm.
The outer diameter of the header is 44mm.

The mufflers have a 4.5 mm wide gap in them.

If i tighten the muffler clamp up so the gap closes, will that be enough?

I also have the Muffler reducers, do i need them?

Thanks

 

[gentlemanjim]

Yes and No

 

[Viper]

Thanks!

 

[Rev D]

If my experience with cars transfers here, that is probably not the ideal way to go. If you think you could bend them enough with the clamp then go for it, but the best way is to use a step up/reducer and add it to the pipe so that your muffler fits tight. I'm wary of bending new pipes, chrome is a fickle mistress.......

 

[cooltouch]

Sounds to me like the 1mm difference between OD and ID isn't enough for the regular reducers that I see for bike mufflers. One fix that if you are neat and tidy probably won't even show, would be to use a beer or soda can. Cut it up to whatever width you need and wrap pieces around your header pipe until you've closed the gap enough so you have a snug fit.

It also just occurred to me that you can use shim stock. You can usually buy brass shim stock in various thicknesses at hardware or hobby stores. Being brass, even thicker pieces are easy enough to cut if you have a pair of tin snips.