C3 Tech/Performance V8 Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Basic Tech and Maintenance for the C3 Corvette
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Exhaust decison help

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jul 7, 2006 | 10:32 PM
  #1  
ctrain22's Avatar
ctrain22
Thread Starter
Pro
Supporting Lifetime
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 575
Likes: 0
From: Ventura California
Default Exhaust decison help

I am looking at purchasing an exhaust system for my 70/350. Choice is 2 or 2.5 inch pipes. Also choice of intermediate pipe weld to muffler or not. What do you all prefer? Any suggestions?
Reply
Old Jul 7, 2006 | 10:34 PM
  #2  
Kalway's Avatar
Kalway
Safety Car
 
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 4,071
Likes: 0
From: San Diego CA
Default

2"?!?!?! GOTTA have at least 2.5" AT LEAST.
Reply
Old Jul 7, 2006 | 11:22 PM
  #3  
694speed350's Avatar
694speed350
Race Director
Veteran: Air Force
20 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 18,640
Likes: 121
From: Farragut,TN
Default

go with the 2 1/2
Reply
Old Jul 8, 2006 | 07:45 AM
  #4  
harrin's Avatar
harrin
Burning Brakes
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 840
Likes: 19
From: Oshawa
Default

go 2 1/2 - weld is the way to go
Reply
Old Jul 8, 2006 | 01:11 PM
  #5  
ctrain22's Avatar
ctrain22
Thread Starter
Pro
Supporting Lifetime
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 575
Likes: 0
From: Ventura California
Default

Will the 2.5 inch system fit ok with the stock exhaust manifolds?
Reply
Old Jul 8, 2006 | 01:17 PM
  #6  
SpcCox's Avatar
SpcCox
Instructor
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 173
Likes: 0
Default

If you are still running on stock exhaust manifolds personally i would spend my money on headers to start. But do what makes you happy....Definately 2.5
Reply
Old Jul 8, 2006 | 02:22 PM
  #7  
CoolKars's Avatar
CoolKars
Advanced
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 89
Likes: 0
Default

2 1/2" system will work with stock manifolds, pipes start at 2" then increase to 2 1/2".

Recently installed 2 1/2" mandrel bent exhaust system on my 1970 L46 350/350HP 4 speed with 2 1/2" Rams horn manifolds. Also, went with Stainless Works 2 1/2" tips. I noticed that I have lost quite a bit of low end torque, but in the future I will be upgrading to a 383. I don't think I would of lost as much low end torque with stock 2" exhaust manifolds. Is yours a base 350/300HP, if planning on putting in a larger engine I would go 2 1/2" IMO, otherwise stay with 2" or maybe 2 1/4" with stock manifolds. Also is your car a 4 speed or auto, 4 speeds can afford some loss in low end torque vs auto. If you decide to go 2 1/2" I replaced my 2" exhaust hanger bracket for a 2 1/2" hanger that mounts under transmission.

Last edited by CoolKars; Jul 8, 2006 at 05:11 PM.
Reply
Old Jul 8, 2006 | 02:48 PM
  #8  
ctrain22's Avatar
ctrain22
Thread Starter
Pro
Supporting Lifetime
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 575
Likes: 0
From: Ventura California
Default

Mine is a base 350/300 with 4 speed. I do not plan on any other engine change. Sounds like there might not be any benefit to go 2.5 inch. Would the sound/tone be different? Now I am leaning towards staying with the stock 2 inch? I'm SOOOOO CONFUSED!!!!!
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-1

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-3

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

 Brett Foote
story-7

Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-8

10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

 Michael S. Palmer
Old Jul 8, 2006 | 04:27 PM
  #9  
CoolKars's Avatar
CoolKars
Advanced
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 89
Likes: 0
Default

No matter what size pipe you decide to use, put in a H-pipe to balance exhaust system. Make sure to use some type of flange or ball and socket to split h pipe. Do a search on H pipes.
Reply
Old Jul 8, 2006 | 04:42 PM
  #10  
CheezMoe's Avatar
CheezMoe
Melting Slicks
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,456
Likes: 102
From: Piedmont Va
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13,'19-'20
Default

I just changed from stock 2" to 2 1/2 and retained the 2" ramhorns. I installed Dr Gas X-Pip and Flowmaster Delta 50's. the low rpm tone got way lower...but at speed it is throaty and sounds awesome. I am still playing with the carb jetting, which was lean before, and way lean now, so I cannot comment on the power/torque just yet..but I will be way disappointed if it does not improve significantly

I noticed that I have lost quite a bit of low end torque,
Thats intersting...Did you measure this somehow?...EVERYBODY say's changing to free-flowing exhaust provide a power gain..why would this decrease low end torque? I'm confused..

Another note, i purchased a pre-bent pipe kit from Ecklers. The shop told me it would have been cleaner to just have them fabricate it from scratch..but they did a heck of a job..
pic's on my homepage if interested..
Reply
Old Jul 8, 2006 | 04:59 PM
  #11  
CoolKars's Avatar
CoolKars
Advanced
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 89
Likes: 0
Default

[QUOTE=dosoctaves]
Thats intersting...Did you measure this somehow?...EVERYBODY say's changing to free-flowing exhaust provide a power gain..why would this decrease low end torque? I'm confused..

Did not dyno, just seat of the pants feel. Probably picked up at higher RPM more HP. I believe the loss of low end torque is the result of reduced back pressure, maybe some other forum members with more knowledge can comment.
Reply
Old Jul 8, 2006 | 09:43 PM
  #12  
Nice Ride's Avatar
Nice Ride
Drifting
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,554
Likes: 158
Default

My 74 has stock 2" pipes that run to the rear of the car then 2.25 pipes an mufflers out the back. Need 2.25 or larger tail pipe to accomodate inlet/outlet available for super 40 flowmasters. Nice muffler with a deep rumble. They are louder than stock mufflers but not as aggressive as regular 40 flowmasters. Come in flat black and are smaller than stock mufflers so they fit very nicely up under the rear fenders. I want to hear the radio when I roll so I went with super 40 flowmasters. I do not have an X or H pipe and not sure I need it. Didn't want to pull off good pipes just to add H pipe. Besides, Chevy didn't put one on originally. Some say it helps balance the tone of the mufflers. Time to have that feature added is when you do a complete front to back pipes/muffler job so the H pipe can be welded into the new pipes when they are off the car. Find a muffler shop with an installer who knows what he is doing and will take time to get pipes,clamps, holders/mufflers etc. on straight. Good Luck!
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Exhaust decison help





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 05:40 AM.

story-0
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-2
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

Slideshow: Ranking the top 10 Corvette engines by torque output.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:58:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

Slideshow: A Corvette pace car nearly matching IndyCar speeds sounds exaggerated, until you look at the numbers.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-04 20:03:36


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

Among a rather large group of them.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:56:44


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

Slideshow: the top 10 things Corvette owners want in the C9 Corvette

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-30 12:41:15


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

Slideshow: 10 Important Corvette 'firsts' that every fan should know.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 17:02:16


VIEW MORE
story-9
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

Slideshow: Should you buy a 2020-2026 Corvette or wait for 2027?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-22 10:08:58


VIEW MORE