dreno73

I need advice for a header/exhaust combination for 383 stroker (435 hp) in my 74. I’m looking for some noise but not too loud. 1-10? I want to be in the 6 range as far as how loud I want it to be. I’ve been told to use a 1 5/8” header long tube if possible. Your thoughts and/or advice?

Shark Racer

I'd probably go to a 1 3/4" primary. Maybe bigger if you think you'll get taken with the idea of more power someday.

Mufflers? I'm fond of the straight through baffled types, such as Dynomax Ultra Flo, Magnaflows, Borla Pro XS.

I also very much like the sound and resonance characteristics of Corsa pipes, but costlier and potentially some fab required to make it work.

Jebbysan

Check out the Pypes Street Flow exhaust for C3's.......and either Hooker or Hedman 1 5/8" on the headers......ceramic coated.
The Pypes system has an X-pipe.......for less than $600, hard to beat it out there for a system of that caliber.
Watch out as almost all prefab Vette systems have mufflers with a 2" outlet.......even though the system is 2 1/2"..........

Jebby

mbb9674

I went with the pypes kit jebby is referring to buy went with the violator mufflers and don’t think they are that load. I would recommend it as it was fairly easy to install. The only thing I didn’t like is that the provided s pipes were not square by any means but a quick pie cut and reweld took care of that. It end pretty much right at the trans crossmember so you’ll need to make connection to the headers which I am running hooker comp 1 5/8” on my 350. Here’s what I did for quick reference:

Street Rat

Sorry Jebby. I've got to go against you on this one.

I hope your Pypes system fits better than mine. The crossover pipe fit well enough but I had issues with the tailpipes. I ended up going to a muffler shop to have the pipes fabricated. Pypes kept sending the wrong right tailpipe. I have washed my hands of Pypes.

Craig

mbb9674

Now that you mention it I actually didn’t have the greatest customer experience with them either. Based on reviews here and elsewhere about the kit I expected some modification needed going in but worked at a tier 1 exhaust supplier so that was no big deal. I ordered my system and didn’t receive it until April iirc. The delay was due to a “redesign” and awaiting new parts and verification. Once I received it all the major components fit great on my 79. Maybe the redesign helped but receiving multiple incorrect parts is not acceptable. Here’s how my rear pipes and mufflers fit before everything was buttoned up.

Kacyc3

I tried to put the pypes kit on my car and they pissed me off when I called them about the front of the xpipe not lining up with the headers. They explained due to all the different manufactures of headers there is no way they could make a kit to connect to headers, to which I responded with if you know you cant make them line up why would make the pipes on the front of the xpipe fixed and not adjustable for easy of install...they had no response. I returned their kit and custom built my system with individual pieces. I used to be a promoter of the violator mufflers as I had a set on my stock tbi truck, then I swapped it to vortec heads and k1103 cam and the mufflers were now much louder.