So what can I do to make it sound better/gain HP ???

test pipe?
Flowmaster mufflers?

Headers?


:confused: :confused: :confused:

 

Why not? Smog law? Just have them cut and a set of high flow cats popped in.

 

You need to find a way around all this bureaucracy...even Kalifornia has a 30-year and older exemption. In Texas, there's a 25-year-old cutoff point for smog checks.

Does VA have antique vehicle plates? In Texas you can get them if your car is used only for shows 'n stuff like that -- no annual inspections required!

 

I dont have to pass smog....the problem is the "visual inpection." Even with cats put in, it would flunk the visual inspection unless I could find someone to look the other way....the problem with that is they are cracking down on inspection centers here (State Police controls them).

We do have antique plates, but my vette will be a daily driver for a little while....

 

OK - so you don't want to take your chances ....

So, get the inspection sticker with the 212 system.
Put the true duals on for the remainder of the year.
Don't buy the high flow cats, since you don't have a working
air pump anyway.
Save the 212 exhaust for next years inspection.

You might consider (brainstorming):
Having two front pipes made to replace your front Ypipe, cat, and rear
Ypipe. Have the straight sections of the rear pipe flanged for easy replacement. Has anyone done this ??


Instead of flanges welded on (too much trouble perhaps) -
I saw in my car parts store flyer - exhaust pieces with a rotatable
ball/socket flange in the middle of two short pipes. They are made to
replace broken/rusted flanges by cutting the old ones out and clamping
or welding these in place. With a couple of the repair flanges, a new
front Ypipe, and a couple pieces of straight pipe - you could make a
convertible exhaust. I'll try to find a picture of the repair flanges and post them soon.



[Modified by Daves_rusty_75, 4:39 PM 8/8/2002]

 

LOOK the easiest cheapest thing you can do is put a nice high flow cat in place of the original, something by like Random tech....wire the damn thing in place if necessary, drive to the exhaust shop, tell them the original cat was missing or some such story...when youbought the car...and you need it welded/fitted up, and mated to the rest of the system...IF it's too loud at that point you can add mufflers later on...first thing is get it through inspection...then worry about the sound later on...when no one is looking...
cats typially muffle sound pretty well, sorta loud still, but well do your own listening...

it's the easiest cheapest way around all the BS....

GENE

 

I'm in VA too and I decided that I didn't want to chance failing inspection or getting a ticket by a State Trooper, so I went the 2-1-2 route.

The muffler shop I worked with was pretty helpful. I told them I wanted the best flowing 2-1-2 system they could legally provide. Here's what I ended up with:

1. Short (maybe 3") sections of pipe coming off of each 2" manifold outlet.
2. Each pipe is then expanded into 2-1/2".
3. Those two pipes are merged into a singe 3" pipe with a header collecter flange at the end.
4. That feeds into a single 3" in -- dual 2-1/2" out Catalytic Converter. The shop felt that as long as it was a single cat it wouldn't matter that it was a 1in-2out or even a 2in-2out cat versus a 1in-1out cat. They just couldn't figure out how to make a 2in-2out fit.
5. Then the two 2-1/2" pipes go back to MagnaFlow mufflers. I listened to some FlowMasters and decided that they were too loud, but if I had it to do over again, I think I would go with the FlowMasters.

Here's some pics:

http://users.erols.com/jerryp58/corvette/exhaust4.jpg
http://users.erols.com/jerryp58/corvette/exhaust3.jpg
http://users.erols.com/jerryp58/corvette/exhaust2.jpg
http://users.erols.com/jerryp58/corvette/exhaust1.jpg

FWIW, I asked around and even wrote a couple of magazines (including Corvette Fever) and was told that a good flowing 2-1-2 system could easily handle up to 400 HP. I'm not sure if mine is "good flowing" without headers, but I think it made a big difference in the car's performance.

Sorry for being so long winded. Guess this is my $0.20 cents worth! I hope some of this is helpful.

Good Luck.

 

thanks alot....if you dont mind me asking, what did that run you.

 

Heres an idea if your thinkin about the Hooker sidepips...

 

$750

I had already removed the old system so I'm not sure how much extra that might have cost.

BTW, the system is welded except for two connections on either side of the cross member so that I can take the whole system off if needed.

Jerry