The Ford Barn

Vern · 08-26-2016, 10:48 PM

so, it's been a quiet evening...I was looking at a 1929 Western Auto Supply catalog, marveling at the prices; Schrader dust caps for 4 cents, Fulton foot pedals for 79 cents, rubber floor mats for 85 cents & Motometers at $3.95.

Anyway, there is an entire page advertising mufflers & cut-outs, and I have no idea what these devices would do to your Model T or other car. Did one open and close the cut-out at certain times? For what purpose?

Is it similar to the glass packed mufflers we used to put on our Datsun trucks back in '72? Seems they only made the exhaust louder, I can't recall a boost in horse power, but that was long ago.

Barber31 · 08-26-2016, 11:01 PM

An exhaust cut out is a bypass for your exhaust pipe. A cut out is welded in after the manifold but before the muffler. With a cut out closed you would have a complete exhaust system that exits to the rear of vehicle. When it is opened and the fumes exit thru it I believe back pressure is relieved from the system and a better breathing engine creates more horsepower. Basically it like breathing thru a straw compared to breathing thru your nose. Less restricted air flow.

Russ/40 · 08-26-2016, 11:09 PM

Yea, we opened them up for more power and of course more noise. It may not have made us faster, but it sure sounded faster.

tbirdtbird · 08-26-2016, 11:21 PM

one purpose and one only....more noise

Mike V. Florida · 08-27-2016, 12:08 AM

Also could be used for a Aermore type horn.

hardtimes · 08-27-2016, 02:09 PM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike V. Florida

Also could be used for a Aermore type horn.

Hey Mike,
Yeah, that's TWO purposes.
And, #3, maybe most important...better breathing engine (if properly installed).
That's why universally , you will see race engines with headers and / or cut outs.
Hm, never have seen a guy add mufflers , if he was going to want more hp

Noise was just a 'unintended' collateral happening

Cool Hand Lurker · 08-27-2016, 04:16 PM

Duh.... if it's louder it must be going faster otherwise why would all the old folks turn and look?

Patrick L. · 08-27-2016, 04:24 PM

We used to install a cut-out the same size at the collector end of the headers and have the rest of the 'quiet ' system come out of the side of the collector.
These were cable operated to eliminate crawling under to uncap them and burning our little sensitive fingers.
If they didn't increase HP we wouldn't have used them. But, we're talking about Model As.

tbirdtbird · 08-27-2016, 04:39 PM

the younger set likes loud anything, and always has....loud cars, motorcycles, boats, anything. A few extra HP was a bonus, never a goal where I came from

Patrick L. · 08-27-2016, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tbirdtbird

the younger set likes loud anything, and always has....loud cars, motorcycles, boats, anything. A few extra HP was a bonus, never a goal where I came from

Well, I can't be considered part of the younger set today. But, decades ago we used to street race for some significant bucks.
Today, I'm a lot slower and quieter in most respects.

Special Coupe Frank · 08-27-2016, 06:01 PM

I'd love to have an exhaust cut-out on my Coupe`... would love to open that up just when pulling away from a traffic light, next to some little tuner-car with a f&rt-can exhaust.

captndan · 08-28-2016, 08:22 AM

A cutout is something from a dirty magazine you put on the garage wall.

08-26-2016, 10:48 PM	#1
Vern Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 572	What's a cut-out? so, it's been a quiet evening...I was looking at a 1929 Western Auto Supply catalog, marveling at the prices; Schrader dust caps for 4 cents, Fulton foot pedals for 79 cents, rubber floor mats for 85 cents & Motometers at $3.95. Anyway, there is an entire page advertising mufflers & cut-outs, and I have no idea what these devices would do to your Model T or other car. Did one open and close the cut-out at certain times? For what purpose? Is it similar to the glass packed mufflers we used to put on our Datsun trucks back in '72? Seems they only made the exhaust louder, I can't recall a boost in horse power, but that was long ago. Last edited by Vern; 05-30-2020 at 08:11 PM.

08-26-2016, 11:01 PM	#2
Barber31 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 687	Re: What's a cut-out? An exhaust cut out is a bypass for your exhaust pipe. A cut out is welded in after the manifold but before the muffler. With a cut out closed you would have a complete exhaust system that exits to the rear of vehicle. When it is opened and the fumes exit thru it I believe back pressure is relieved from the system and a better breathing engine creates more horsepower. Basically it like breathing thru a straw compared to breathing thru your nose. Less restricted air flow.

08-26-2016, 11:21 PM	#4
tbirdtbird BANNED Join Date: May 2012 Location: inside your RAM Posts: 3,134	Re: What's a cut-out? one purpose and one only....more noise __________________ '31 180A

08-27-2016, 12:08 AM	#5
Mike V. Florida Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: South Florida Posts: 14,054	Re: What's a cut-out? Also could be used for a Aermore type horn. __________________ What's right about America is that although we have a mess of problems, we have great capacity - intellect and resources - to do some thing about them. - Henry Ford II

08-27-2016, 04:16 PM	#7
Cool Hand Lurker Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: So Minn Posts: 1,565	Re: What's a cut-out? Duh.... if it's louder it must be going faster otherwise why would all the old folks turn and look?

08-26-2016, 11:09 PM	#3
Russ/40 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Santee, California Posts: 3,505	Re: What's a cut-out? Yea, we opened them up for more power and of course more noise. It may not have made us faster, but it sure sounded faster.

08-27-2016, 04:24 PM	#8
Patrick L. Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Largo Florida Posts: 7,225	Re: What's a cut-out? We used to install a cut-out the same size at the collector end of the headers and have the rest of the 'quiet ' system come out of the side of the collector. These were cable operated to eliminate crawling under to uncap them and burning our little sensitive fingers. If they didn't increase HP we wouldn't have used them. But, we're talking about Model As.

08-27-2016, 04:39 PM	#9
tbirdtbird BANNED Join Date: May 2012 Location: inside your RAM Posts: 3,134	Re: What's a cut-out? the younger set likes loud anything, and always has....loud cars, motorcycles, boats, anything. A few extra HP was a bonus, never a goal where I came from __________________ '31 180A

08-27-2016, 06:01 PM	#11
Special Coupe Frank Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Northeast Penna Posts: 2,108	Re: What's a cut-out? I'd love to have an exhaust cut-out on my Coupe`... would love to open that up just when pulling away from a traffic light, next to some little tuner-car with a f&rt-can exhaust.

08-28-2016, 08:22 AM	#12
captndan Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Tennessee Posts: 714	Re: What's a cut-out? A cutout is something from a dirty magazine you put on the garage wall.