My dumb header question

I have a 59 Chevy truck that I have been building on the weakest budget that I have ever had. I have generic long tube headers for an F-body (77 camaro clip) and looking how it sits I don't really have clearance to run a proper exhaust system. My question is can I make baffles to slip into the collectors (3'') to help keep me from going deaf?? I know that I could get a full exhaust going but its going to be a pain and my budget is so small that its laughable.

 

Yes, you can, but is still probably going to be loud.

 

Years ago when I was teaching autoshop every so often I'd go by the Local Midas shop and scavenge the mistakes (new pipe that had been bent up wrong and thrown out) and take a batch back to the school sh aop for the kids to practice welding on. Quite often pieces got cut, fitted and welded up to repair an exhust system for one of their cars as many of those kids were pretty short on spendable funds. If you decide to do something like that tell them that you are looking for some to practice welding on and don't say that you are building an exhaust system on the cheap. It will be welding practice, won't it? Or go by the s****yard the muffler shops sell their junk to and buy what you want by the pound.
Some parts houses still carry lengths of straight exaust pipe that is pretty reasonable.

I would at least get it run back past the back of the cab and preferably out from under the truck.