Bolt on dual exhaust?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 943
Likes: 73
Bolt on dual exhaust?
1980, Hedman headers, 4 speed - the original transmission crossmember was swapped out for a dual exhaust.
So, is there a header back, bolt on exhaust system for the setup? I know I can piece one together or flatbed it to the muffler shop, but is there a system that I can bolt in that actually comes close to fitting? The existing mufflers are in very good shape. Can I buy mid pipes from an earlier year to go from the headers to my existing mufflers? If so, what year mid pipes and will it require new muffles?
If I can get a system that bolts on, I can get this thing back on the road sooner than the forever later!
Thanks
So, is there a header back, bolt on exhaust system for the setup? I know I can piece one together or flatbed it to the muffler shop, but is there a system that I can bolt in that actually comes close to fitting? The existing mufflers are in very good shape. Can I buy mid pipes from an earlier year to go from the headers to my existing mufflers? If so, what year mid pipes and will it require new muffles?
If I can get a system that bolts on, I can get this thing back on the road sooner than the forever later!
Thanks
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 2,753
Likes: 119
From: Springfield Missouri
just drive it to the muffler shop like I did mine, just don't make a lot of noise. But, picking the correct muffler shop is the big question. Talk to them, then ask what is included in the price they give you, some won't price anything until they see the car, then they should be crossed off the list. Don't always take the lowest price either, ask them what material will used, what clamps, what size pipe etc.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 943
Likes: 73
just drive it to the muffler shop like I did mine, just don't make a lot of noise. But, picking the correct muffler shop is the big question. Talk to them, then ask what is included in the price they give you, some won't price anything until they see the car, then they should be crossed off the list. Don't always take the lowest price either, ask them what material will used, what clamps, what size pipe etc.
Just kidding, but if I do drive over and happen to get stopped, I am going to get a no inspection ticket for sure. I already spoke to a recommended shop, but I was really hoping I could take care of this with a bolt on in my garage. I still have to run the engine to break the cam in.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 3,233
Likes: 657
From: Thunder Bay
You can buy the dual exhaust system from Corvette Central. You will have to fab up the connection from the headers to the rest of the system, but it makes for a very nice system that fits just like the factory setup. There are a lot of little tweaks and bends in the factory system that are required to get the exhaust up tight under these cars that are so close to the ground. Very unlikely you will get the same kind of fit from a muffler shop.
If you can weld, my advice is to bolt on the dual exhaust and fab up your own connections to the headers from some mandrel bent tubing. If you can't do the welding then bolt up as much of the dual exhaust system as you can, and then take it to the muffler shop to have the final connections made.
Over the years I have driven a couple of vehicles to the muffler shop with open headers and never had a problem. If you're careful, the noise really isn't that bad.
If you can weld, my advice is to bolt on the dual exhaust and fab up your own connections to the headers from some mandrel bent tubing. If you can't do the welding then bolt up as much of the dual exhaust system as you can, and then take it to the muffler shop to have the final connections made.
Over the years I have driven a couple of vehicles to the muffler shop with open headers and never had a problem. If you're careful, the noise really isn't that bad.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,832
Likes: 38
From: Cedar,BC
Check with Corvette Central,I beleive they have front pipes for use with headers,should only need some slight tweaking to work with your mufflers and headers.However if you have a good hotrod/musclecar muffler shop nearby(they are getting hard to find in some areas),I would give them a visit.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 12,470
Likes: 1,548
From: Camp Verde AZ
C1 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
2017 C1 of Year Finalist
I have driven to the muffler shop maybe 3-4 times with open headers.
you really want to feather foot the throttle.
One time I had a cop start following me about a half block from the muffler shop, but he went away when he saw my car turn into the muffler shop. This was about 30 years ago, when i looked a lot younger, I doubt they would pay as much attention to an older guy.
Doug
you really want to feather foot the throttle.
One time I had a cop start following me about a half block from the muffler shop, but he went away when he saw my car turn into the muffler shop. This was about 30 years ago, when i looked a lot younger, I doubt they would pay as much attention to an older guy.
Doug
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Burning Brakes
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Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
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From: Camp Verde AZ
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I have one too.
It has dual exhausts, with an H pipe.
I trailered it to the muffler shop because it was under construction and had no wiring harness at the time. Next stop was the body and paint palce, then after it came home, it got wiring.
I used 2.25" pipes, for the 327 motor in there. I would have preferred 2.5", but connecting the larger pipes to the shorty headers would have been a problem.
Long tube headers were loud enough, shorties would have been real obnoxious, driving it to a muffler shop
It has dual exhausts, with an H pipe.
I trailered it to the muffler shop because it was under construction and had no wiring harness at the time. Next stop was the body and paint palce, then after it came home, it got wiring.
I used 2.25" pipes, for the 327 motor in there. I would have preferred 2.5", but connecting the larger pipes to the shorty headers would have been a problem.
Long tube headers were loud enough, shorties would have been real obnoxious, driving it to a muffler shop
Racer
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 464
Likes: 1
From: Austell Georgia
You can get a dual exhaust for the 80 from corvette central. Flex pipe will get you from your collector to the dual system. then drive to the muffler shop and have them replace the flex with solid pipe.
I just did this with my 78 but it had flex in the front and rear to start
I just did this with my 78 but it had flex in the front and rear to start
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 969
Likes: 1
From: NJ
Hedman sells extension pipes that connect the header collectors to the rest of the pipes. I have them on my setup, although they were about an inch short so I had to add more length. You will not find a plug and play system to go with headers, they are all different....
post #119:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-g...project-6.html
post #119:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-g...project-6.html
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 943
Likes: 73
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 943
Likes: 73
I found a solution to the headers back system. A local Vette restorer sells a system with the mufflers, mid pipes, and front pipes that go up through the crossmember. I can either fabricate/weld the last connection to the headers myself or take it to the muffler shop. He didn't have system in stock, I had to order it.