I'm being my usual self and cannot decide on what to do for my exhaust setup with my new AR 383 . . . The engine dynoed at 427 HP N/A. I'm planning to run another 100-200 shot of nitrous (haven't decided for sure yet, somewhere in that range) on top of that. . .

I was originally thinking of putting together a 3" exhaust system, but am now thinking that may be overkill.

My current thought is this:
Dynomax 1 5/8 ceramic coated headers (already have a set and another replacement set should be on the way to correct a warped flange (Dynomax rock, they are sending a replacement set no questions asked (not even purchase date or details!))... 2 1/2" pipe. Can't decide for sure on mufflers yet . . . Cost is definitely an issue, so I was thinking something fairly free flowing (inexpensive), but then again, maybe it will be a bit overly loud? I can pickup a set of Dynomax Race Magnum Bullet mufflers for pretty cheap from Summit . . . I would like to weld up the whole system myself and have very limited experience welding this sort of thing. . . Was thinking of buying straight pipe and prebent sections and cutting and welding. . .

Suggestions, comments?

 

Oh yeah, also forgot to ask, what sorts of bends should I buy to complete the system. It looks to me like I'm going to need to order the mandrel bends from Summit as my local option seems to be to have the bends custom made for me and they couldn't give me any price quotes ahead of ordering (????). . .

 

ttt - Anyone, or should I just go with a 1" single pipe into a couple of coffee cans?

 

Dath,
Good to see you're almost done with the engine. I would say unless you're getting a very good shop to do it for you then I'd stick with 2 1/2". You have to be very precise to get the 3" thru the crossmember and keep it from touching when the engine is running, etc. And it would require a bunch of custom bending. I'm not sure how you would do that with pre-bent pipes.

 

Yeah, I would go this route.

I will soon have a set of Flowmaster Delta 40's for sale. Just got them in September (thanks to an unseen speedbump that killed one of my old mufflers) but am going with a Hooker exhaust soon. I SHOULD have them for sale within a month. They are 2 1/2" in and out, and include nice chrome tips welded in place. I paid $115 each, and will sell them for much less.
They sound great, but I have always wanted side pipes and just decided to get them. I can probably even do a sound clip- although they would be louder on your setup (my exhaust is stock up to the cat (2 1/4" 2 -1-2) and from the cat back is 2 1/2".

Let me know if interested (and what time frame).

 

Yeah, I'm really glad to be almost done with this chapter . . . After spending most of last summer working on this only to have to pull the engine . . . Well, it is nice to have an engine that appears to work this time around How is your car running these days?

What I was planning on doing is buying prebent sections, cutting them and piecing together the parts (with a welder ) to make an exhaust system. This was suggested to me quite a while back by Norval I believe. Maybe I will just go the 2 1/2 route.

Evil: What is the difference between the normal and the Delta 40? Are the Deltas still a 2 chamber setup? I was thinking that the normal 40s may be too restrictive. Also, I'm in a very cheap mood at the moment (wife is quitting her job to go back to school) and want something that will both last and not break the bank (though I may end up breaking the bank anyhow)

 

Well I must be the only misguided individual in this group. I did exactly what everyone thought about but didn't do. Build my own system ! However I'm not going to tell you it was easy, between buying all the equipment ie: welder, cutting blades, pre-bent mandrel pipe from summit , fittings and time I spent at least two months of weekends getting the system completed. If your wondering I ran 2.5 inch pipes off the collectors did a cross over from the left bank and joined into a Flowmaster Y collector with two 2.5 inch inlets converging into a single 3 inch outlet. Connected to a 3 inch in/out dynomax super converter, a slight "S" bend into a magnaflow equal length Y pipe and exited into two 3 inch Stainless Works polished bullet mufflers with center outlets under the state tag area. The goal was to keep the system stock in design to aviod any legal trouble with state inspections (2-1-2) but be opened up for good breathing. The results have been nothing but positive BUT, I don't know if I would do it again. Go with simple and easy and enjoy driving instead of welding. Good luck, Marc

 

Dath - the car is running great! Thanks for asking. I've had it out cruising at night (weather has been great here at night) for the past few days. I also replaced my center guage bezel that was cracked and now it is so much smoother inside. No more squeeks, rattles, and noises.

 

dynomax bullets if there are no cops in your area. i think norval has them on his truck and likes em.

 

I bought the dual set up from MAD vette and afterburner mufflers from Summit. I will have to have local muffler shop(owner is a beer drinking buddy)bend a pipe to hook up the mufflers.put mufflers on pipe with bailing wire hangers just to hear them.has a good sound for the price of the mufflers.

 

Marc: Sounds like you built an awesome system. Being that my car is a '74, I don't have to worry about so many complications. It will be a true dual system and I think I found some 3" -> 2 1/2" flange connectors from Hedman that already have enough bend to get me through the cross member (not positive, but if not, I'll do some cutting and welding. Then I don't need to do much welding. I really hope that I can spend a good weekend on this and be done with it, but we'll see. I also already have an oxy-acet welder (want to get a wire feed, but that whole wife quitting her job bit) that I'm storing for a friend, so no extra expense there.

Travis: Good to hear your car is running well. I'm still heavily in the tuning stage with mine. . . I think it feels a bit weak to me, but maybe that is the fuel pump, small exhaust and my tiny air filter (yeah, it fits under the hood Mark, if I use the world's smallest filter!!! ).

munday: Well, there are cops around, but they didn't pull me over for having open headers when they drove by Noise is a concern of mine, but so is performance, so I think I'll go with inexpensive and noisy and if I hate it, I can always get something quieter I guess. I had been thinking of running straight pipe, no mufflers. . . Wasn't sure how it would sound, probably a bit quieter than open headers...

Commander: I was looking at those as well. . . Have any flow numbers for them? I really do want to weld up my own exhaust (will be a good feeling that I did it myself, plus, I have no exhaust shop buddies that I know of)

 

If possible I'd step up to a 1 3/4 header. The 1 5/8 is great for torque, but stroker motors need to breathe and the 1 3/4 would seve you well.