When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
To the OP's original question, here's what the SuperChevy article has to say:
Virtually all V-8 exhaust systems can be refined by the addition of a balance or X-pipe. These have two potential attributes: increased power and reduced noise. Extensive dyno testing on both of these factors has indicated balance and X-pipes are 100 percent successful at reducing noise. The reductions amount to a minimum of 1 dB to a maximum of 3 dB with 2 dB being common. As far as power is concerned, things are a little less certain. With engines between about 325 to 550 hp, experience indicates that in about 60 percent of the cases (mostly with balance pipes), the engine can deliver as much as 12 additional hp, with 5-8 being the most common. The other remaining 40 percent tested showed virtually no change in output either up or down. Based on such results, we can conclude that a balance or X-pipe is always a positive asset and never a negative.
TWith engines between about 325 to 550 hp, experience indicates that in about 60 percent of the cases (mostly with balance pipes), the engine can deliver as much as 12 additional hp, with 5-8 being the most common. The other remaining 40 percent tested showed virtually no change in output either up or down. Based on such results, we can conclude that a balance or X-pipe is always a positive asset and never a negative.
It is more often than not a positive and not always since 60% have power gains. I wouldn't say "always" a gain when you are having 60% success.
Wish that article would tell me if there are any gains over the Y system. All I see are the 2 schools of bigger single pipe or 2 smaller pipes and not a case for either other than insignificant things like how it sounds and how it looks.
In the following image (from Tom's post), the resonator is cut open and turned out 180°...
Yep, you're right. I forgot about that pic/thread. IDK what good the thing does w/regard to the topic at hand though; the cats are upstream of the resonator and would act as your "termination box". My guess is that the stock exhaust is so far from "tuned" that none of it matters...which is why I stated in my first post that most put in x pipes for sound or because "other people do it". On a stock exhaust, I doubt that it does much of anything.
I have cat-back Allen Stainless chambered exhaust on my '96 LT1. There are no mufflers and the sound is akin to C2 side pipes. However, after installation the pure duals had an uneven feel and uneven sound at idle. So I added an H-Pipe (crossover pipe) right past the cats. The sound and feel evened out and, to my ears, the system makes the best (kinda' legal) exhaust sound I've heard on any LT1. Hell of a system for around $600.00 delivered!
This is looking back from the crossover pipe (during installation)...
Could be. Kinda why they say "Win a race on Sunday, sell a car on Monday" or "Monkey see, monkey do". Might be the right thing or might be the wrong thing but if the race cars do it, I want to do it. Never mind that the motor and circumstances might not be what I am doing. Kinda like the sound you are talking about. Old muscle cars sounded like this, I got to make my car sound like it. Might be because they had no choice due to the technology hasn't caught up but I want to make it sound like the old muscle cars so others think I am powerful.
my c4 is a race car. i have designed it to compete/beat the newer c5/c6/7 models and their z0-whatever equivalents.
eventually my car will beat literbikes
i run an x pipe as part of my plan for my ultimate goals
:
