"X" or "H" pipe a good idea?

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Dec 10, 2014 | 09:21 AM

FOURSPEEDVETTE

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Safety Car

Joined: Oct 2007

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From: Pennsylvania

"X" or "H" pipe a good idea?

I just installed chambered muffler deletes on my 85 C4. I have straight pipes with no mufflers or catalytic converter. No emissions testing required on this registered antique. It sounds really good and looks great, but maybe just a slight bit louder than I want and a little popping on deceleration. The throttle response is so much quicker with them! Do I need an "H" pipe or an "X" pipe to tone it down a little. Is it worth installing? Stock size pipes all the way back. I can't remember if it's 2 1/4" or 2 1/2" stock size pipes. I imagine I'll need to get that right so I can get the right part.

Dec 10, 2014 | 11:15 AM

Orr89rocz

Burning Brakes

Joined: Jul 2006

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From: Pittsburgh PA

Depends what you really want to do with the sound. H or X have their own unique tuning properties to both sound and performance, and it depends where you place them. Generally h pipes are closer to header side while x pipes can be much further back. I prefer the sound of X piped systems, it cleans up the tone well

Dec 10, 2014 | 11:32 AM

Tom400CFI

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From: Park City Utah

Quote:

Originally Posted by FOURSPEEDVETTE

I just installed chambered muffler deletes on my 85 C4. I have straight pipes with no mufflers or catalytic converter.

Unless you changed your whole system, you have a single exhaust. Don't need an H or an X.

Dec 10, 2014 | 11:43 AM

FOURSPEEDVETTE

Thread Starter

Safety Car

Joined: Oct 2007

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From: Pennsylvania

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom400CFI

Unless you changed your whole system, you have a single exhaust. Don't need an H or an X.

I have two stock headers going into two replaced straight pipes (eliminating the cat) going into two chambered muffler deletes. Dual exhaust all the way.

Dec 10, 2014 | 09:12 PM

69427

Tech Contributor

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From: I tend to be leery of any guy who doesn't own a chainsaw or a handgun.

I put an H pipe right at the collector reducers on my '69. Made a noticeable difference (reduction) in the exhaust harshness. According to Vizard it's also generally worth a few free horsepower too.