A BirdMan Converted

About my car first:
96 LT4

Exhaust system to be installed in 2 weeks.
New Hooker 2151's - $383
Felpro Gaskets - $38
ARP SS header bolts - $32
O2 extensions - $50
O2 sims- $90
Headers Flange connectors - $50
3" true dual pipes - $200
Magnaflow 3" X pipe - $90
2x 3" Flowmuffler 40 series - $77

Total ~$1010 Installed


Question time.....


1.
If im already going with Long Tubes, no cats, 3" true duals, to 2 chambers. How much extra horse power will mandrel bends pick me up in this situation?- im thinking 2-4rwhp

2.
Is it worth another $150-200 to get mandrel bent pipes installed, The cat back(pipes, muffler, X, flange) will cost me about $425 with pressure bent pipes. so thats another 35-50% more $$$ just for a few ponies

Thanks
-Birdman

bogus

hm... willing to remove the cats to gain all 5 hp, but won't spend the coin on mandrel bent pipes.

A BirdMan Converted

I knew I'd hear from you Bogus.....

The [lack of] cats is all about a better sounding car--- vehicles with organ removed felines or vehicles with removed felines have the sound that is very old school and pleasing to my ear.
And the fact that its not worth $500 [that i dont really have to spend] to have them installed in a non emissions county car that is rarely driven. My budget is $1000, and if mandrel bends will make a noticeable difference then ill spend the money. That is why i asked

Corvette Kid

Assuming that you have a very close to stock set-up, you'd be much better off with a 2 1/2" mandrel bent system. And should you decide to go that way, Pete K has a great deal in the F/S section on some 2 1/2" mini-cats.

thirdtimevetteowner

Birdman, do you happen to know the part # of your Flomasters, and the size specs? I want to put Flomasters on my '89 L98, but don't like the 50 series, mostly because of the ugly 2 & 1/2" tailpipes they have. I read on here about a guy who put on 3" inlet and outlet mufflers, then had twin tailpipes (ZR1 style, I think) welded to them. Any help appreciated to resolve this issue for me. Thanks to anyone who can give me ideas for such a setup.

Rich K

rickneworleansla

CentralCoaster

You could also buy pre-made mandrel bend from Summit and have the exhaust shop cut and weld sections in as needed.

Then the exhaust shop won't have to bend any pipe at all, and it will probably be cheaper than both your choices.

A BirdMan Converted

I plan on putting a BIG cam in the future. like a 236/242 with stage 2 ported heads, ported intake, clutch, gears, u joints.


check www.summitracing.com
or ebay for 2 chamber "flowmufflers" 3"/3" O/C- they are similar to the 40 series flowmaster and shipped are about $35 cheaper each (they are $40 shipped)

Summit sells only 45* and 90* bends, nothing in between, so that means it'll require a little more work to get them to fit snugly.

the 8 bends i would need including tax are 199.79 plus figure $100 to install/weld in the pipes, mufflers, tips. so thats another 100 on top of the two originally, cheaper though.... i think ill go that route

bogus

I just love all the selfish people who would rather gut their cats than have clean air.

CentralCoaster

What I meant is, you buy maybe (2) wide radius 180 U-bends. If you need a 29 degree angle, you chop saw 29 degrees out of the J-bend, and weld it in.

Steve85

Because two cars with a total of four seats, 16 cylinders and 700 cubic inches for a family of 2 is really giving back to the environment.

We have a family of six with three cars/drivers using 14 cylinders 16 seats and 7.5 liters total with an average of over 30 mpg for the three. This includes a minivan at 24 and a TDI Jetta over 40.

Selfishness takes many forms, this thread now identifies two.

To the original poster:

I had 3" pipes pressure bent for my first exhaust upgrade and would not do it again. At the point where the pipes pass the rear diff and bend out to the mufflers I was lucky to have 2.5" and it was probably less. Same went for the converter to resonator pipes, smooshed is a better word than bent.

I now have dual 3" cats with a reducer to 2.5 and mandrel bends the rest of the way and it works very well. I certainly did not notice a power decrease from 3" smoosh bends to 2.5 mandrel. This is with a 400 cube motor.

I think you would do well to take the advice above and get some 2.5" mandrel bends from Summit.

rickneworleansla

Don't forget about me.

CentralCoaster

Family of one here, with 4 cars, 14 seats, 32 cylinders, 21.9 liters, and an average 13 mpg.

What do I win?

88BlackZ-51

86VX1

having a mandrel bent exhaust system is like eating a banana split with the mandrel bends being the cherry on top. a regular compression bend exhaust system like a lot of us have will do for the majority of the time, but if you want quality and kudos at your local hang out joint, and a little more power maybe 4 to 5 horsepower, then a mandrel exhaust is the one for you.

another point of view, if you happen to watch all those car make over shows, like overhaulin, or american hotrod, etc etc., how much less cool would those cars be if they used a conventional compression bend exhaust systems? it would be like going cheap on the last hurdle to get the car done. it just would not be as cool.

last point, if you really want a mandrel bent system and do not want to pay the outrages prices, contact "random technology" they have a mandrel bent stainless steel kit that starts from the headers and goes all the way back to the rear tires with or with out cats. the kit without the cats costs around 450, the one with cats cost about 750 yo 800. contact them directly, they don't list this part number on there website.

Steve85

As long as you're not preechin, I will send you a cookie!

Enjoy!

93 ragtop

I tell you what I did, I used the stock pipes, welded 3 in pipe from the headers to the stock 2&3/4 pipe. I then added magnaflow mufflers. I plan on eventually adding a magnaflow resonator with the x pipe built in. (12469) Then I will have a full 2&3/4 pipe all the way except where the 3in is of course. It isnt pretty, but who is under there looking anyways?

Oh, by the way Steve, I think you should park that car and ride a bicycle more often. It would save on pollution and you could use the exercise!! Just kiddin with ya, when you going to come to manassas on a wed. evening (5 to 8) for a little 1/8 mile fun? Its only $15.00 and this track has the most relaxed rules of any I have been to. Talk Dave into coming as well!!

A BirdMan Converted

Family of three here, with 7 cars, 31 seats, 34.6L, and an avg of 12.3 Mpg city

Steve85

CC has you beat in Liters per car, he gets to keep the cookie.

Hey Rich, I do ride the bike around campus, no good parking. Insane class this summer, vacation next week, so I will try and get out there in a couple weeks.

Rich & Lisa_84

Family of 2

5 vehicles
1554 cu. in.
14 seats

3 Vettes
1 full time 4x4 jeep
1 Sebring vert

I think we need a couple of big blocks.