2-1/2" 
Exhaust questions.... (size, routing??)
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 153
Likes: 0
From: Tecumseh, OK USA
Exhaust questions.... (size, routing??)
I just finished putting the rearend back in my 78 and was wondering about 3" exhaust.
1. Can it be bent and routed correctly? (under the rearend = tight curves)
2. Has anyone setup their exhast so it's removable? I was thinking about getting some collector flanges and placing them after the holes in the frame, bolted together so I could remove the exhuast as needed. I had to cut mine to remove the pipes for rearend work...
3. What mufflers produce the best sound for a 350?
Thanks in advance...
1. Can it be bent and routed correctly? (under the rearend = tight curves)
2. Has anyone setup their exhast so it's removable? I was thinking about getting some collector flanges and placing them after the holes in the frame, bolted together so I could remove the exhuast as needed. I had to cut mine to remove the pipes for rearend work...
3. What mufflers produce the best sound for a 350?
Thanks in advance...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,165
Likes: 950
From: Keizer Oregon
Unless you are running a hot big block stay with the 2 1/2" or you will lose all your bottom end torque-----I have a 440hp 383 and headers throught 2 1/2" w/ flowmaster 40's and it's definitely plenty........I don't know if 3" pipe will fit through the stock crossmember area???? 2.5 is pretty tight as is......although I am sure 3" would sound great.....good luck.. 
here is what mine sounds like:::::
http://home.comcast.net/~donjgraham/flowmastervette.wav
here is what mine sounds like:::::
http://home.comcast.net/~donjgraham/flowmastervette.wav
Pro
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 687
Likes: 0
From: Atascadero Ca
yea, the 3" i would think would scrape the ground alot. 2 1/2 is the proper size for just about any small block. Flowmaster 40's sound great if you can put up with the rumble all the time. The 50 is a little milder. I have dynomax super turbo's and love em. Check out http://exhaustsoundclips.com/
Racer
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 396
Likes: 1
From: Coventry CT
Originally Posted by oregonsharkman
Unless you are running a hot big block stay with the 2 1/2" or you will lose all your bottom end torque-----I have a 440hp 383 and headers throught 2 1/2" w/ flowmaster 40's and it's definitely plenty........I don't know if 3" pipe will fit through the stock crossmember area???? 2.5 is pretty tight as is......although I am sure 3" would sound great.....good luck..
here is what mine sounds like:::::
http://home.comcast.net/~donjgraham/flowmastervette.wav
here is what mine sounds like:::::
http://home.comcast.net/~donjgraham/flowmastervette.wav
do you have any pics of that exhaust?
Last edited by JRODDVETTE; Jan 21, 2005 at 09:56 AM.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,161
Likes: 0
From: pr, frederick md.
nice sounding vette! i dont wanna get in the way here but ive been thinking about using a flattened X or H pipe under the diff where the 2 pipes come together ang go up to the muffs. think this would be really trick. ( heh heh... he said muffs )
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,608
Likes: 3
From: Canberra AUSTRALIA
St. Jude Donor '05-'06
Originally Posted by c3vettelover
I just finished putting the rearend back in my 78 and was wondering about 3" exhaust.
1. Can it be bent and routed correctly? (under the rearend = tight curves)
2. Has anyone setup their exhast so it's removable? I was thinking about getting some collector flanges and placing them after the holes in the frame, bolted together so I could remove the exhuast as needed. I had to cut mine to remove the pipes for rearend work...
3. What mufflers produce the best sound for a 350?
Thanks in advance...
1. Can it be bent and routed correctly? (under the rearend = tight curves)
2. Has anyone setup their exhast so it's removable? I was thinking about getting some collector flanges and placing them after the holes in the frame, bolted together so I could remove the exhuast as needed. I had to cut mine to remove the pipes for rearend work...
3. What mufflers produce the best sound for a 350?
Thanks in advance...
I have a Stainlessworks 2&1/2 " Stainless mandrel bent. I am about to install an X-pipe under the rear diff. I will be putting ball/socket joints at the middle crossmember to make the rear removable. Most aftermarket systems never seem to squeeze together enough when they pass under the rear end (diff). The factory had this fairly close together and flattened the pipes also.
My idea of a perfect system would be headers then a fully mandrel bent system that transitioned into a OVAL pipe under the diff then back to round just before the mufflers. Mine won't be as ideal as I don't have headers but I will have an x-pipe fited pretty snug to the diff. I may have to use 45s like Gdaina suggestes so that I can get the angles right back there.
If I had to do mine again I would have taken my car to a shop with a mandrel bender and told them what I wanted and paid to get it done nice and snug.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 2,116
Likes: 156
From: Mid West
Cruise-In III Veteran
Here's a 3" exhaust system I'm currently building. After the X-pipe under the rearend it reduces to 2.5" .... I'm still working on this portion of the system. I'm using Borla mufflers and Car Chemistry inserts in the pipes at the transmission crossmember. The only place the pipes hang below the frame are right in front of the rear tires as they pass under the rear crossmember just infront of the rear end. This system actually fits tighter against the underneath of my car than my previous 2.5" system.
