X-pipe vs. H-pipe
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Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Akron Pa
X-pipe vs. H-pipe
I am going to get a new exhaust sytem in the next month for my 91. The ca is highly modifed is no longer using the computer for reference. The exhaust I am currenty running is hooker long tubes, 3" X-pipe (dont know the maker, it was on the car when i got it) 3" pipe and flowmaster 40 series out back.
My question is us Vette guys run X-pipes but the hot rod/street rod crowd is still running an H or crossover pipe instead. What is the gain of the X-pipe over the traditional crossover pipe?
An exhaust shop had told me that the H-pipe equalizes the pressure in the pipes and helps reduce some of the raspyness under WOT. I assume that an X-pipe does the same thing?
What if I just ran straight pipe with nothing connecting them?
what do you think?
My question is us Vette guys run X-pipes but the hot rod/street rod crowd is still running an H or crossover pipe instead. What is the gain of the X-pipe over the traditional crossover pipe?
An exhaust shop had told me that the H-pipe equalizes the pressure in the pipes and helps reduce some of the raspyness under WOT. I assume that an X-pipe does the same thing?
What if I just ran straight pipe with nothing connecting them?
what do you think?
Drifting
Joined: May 2005
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From: Chicago Executive Airport, formerly known as Palwaukee
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St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
The "x" pipe was the natural improvement over the "H" pipe. The connections are smoothed out. Exhaust scavenging occurs quicker. HP & torque up!
IMHO, I would not run just straight pipes.
IMHO, I would not run just straight pipes.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 914
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From: Redding Ca
At my dragstrip, the hot setup is an X-pipe, usually in carburated big blocks are the one's I have seen. I am told there is additional scavenging due to the shape. This is more than equilization of pressure. But I have not seen any difinitive testing data
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
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From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
Unlikely you would see an appreciable dyno difference until you go to extreme combinations. They accomplish the same thing, but the X-pipe is more of an evolution.
Alot of guys just run what fits under the car. X-pipes might not fit under everything.
Alot of guys just run what fits under the car. X-pipes might not fit under everything.
Large Impressive Member
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
Originally Posted by TorchRedlt4man
The "x" pipe was the natural improvement over the "H" pipe. The connections are smoothed out. Exhaust scavenging occurs quicker. HP & torque up!
IMHO, I would not run just straight pipes.
IMHO, I would not run just straight pipes.
On all counts. 
I added a crossover in the 'hotspot' of my Power Effects system when I was running it. The difference in sound (smoother), torque and low end response was without a doubt noticeably improved.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2005
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I run long tube headers 3"exhaust with a H pipe mainly because my exhaust is 5 yrs old. There was a big difference in resonence in the car, allso I can drop my complete exhaust system with 3 collector bolts each side & 1 muffler mount bolt each side. It gets the whole thing out of the way easily
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From: Akron Pa
Originally Posted by Corvette Kid
On all counts. I added a crossover in the 'hotspot' of my Power Effects system when I was running it. The difference in sound (smoother), torque and low end response was without a doubt noticeably improved.when you say it ran "smoother," does that mean less chop in the exhaust or did it change the tone of the exhaust?
were these differences compared to pipes with no connections? or was this a h-pipe to x-pipe conversion that created the noticible results?
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Thread Starter
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Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Akron Pa
part of the reason i am looking into other set-ups is that i am not happy with the current sound i have.
like i said, i am running long tubes, x-pipe, 3" pipe, hi-flo cats and flowmaster 40's
what i was thinking of doing was switching to 2 1/2" pipe, no cats, h-pipe and some sort of canister type muffler like the dynomax ultra flows or moroso tubes.
i know it will be super loud but the car sees very little street time and that is not really a concern for me anymore. i just want it to sound very mean!
like i said, i am running long tubes, x-pipe, 3" pipe, hi-flo cats and flowmaster 40's
what i was thinking of doing was switching to 2 1/2" pipe, no cats, h-pipe and some sort of canister type muffler like the dynomax ultra flows or moroso tubes.
i know it will be super loud but the car sees very little street time and that is not really a concern for me anymore. i just want it to sound very mean!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 952
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From: Cedar Rapids IA
The last NASCAR racer that I had the chance to peek underneath had an X pipe up ahead of the boom tube side exhaust tip. Those guys are after every HP available at just about any price except reliability. I would suspect if they are running them, there is a HP advantage, albeit maybe small. Perhaps some of the guys a bit closer to the racerbelt could comment as to what is under the racers this year.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,277
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From: Santa Maria CA
Originally Posted by cuisinartvette
I doubt youll "feel" any difference between the H or X. Just put on what fits your car and budget.
