X Pipe + Long Tubes Issue

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Mar 28, 2025 | 12:06 PM

slinky55

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X Pipe + Long Tubes Issue

Hi all,

I have an issue regarding installing long tubes. I currently have the stock Y pipe and exhaust manifolds, but would like to install long tubes. No shop around will do it for me, but I believe it would easy enough to do myself. I've soaked my manifold bolts in pen oil, and was able to break them. My issue is, I would either need to drop the downpipes and retro fit my stock y pipe to accept the long tubes, or somehow drive to the exhaust shop with only headers on the car to get them to make an x pipe for me. How hard would it be to modify my stock Y pipe to accept the headers while I figure out what I want to do for a dual exhaust?

1985 Corvette w/ Z51 package

Mar 28, 2025 | 12:33 PM

Phobos84

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From: Sligo PA

You saying about driving the car with just long tubes is what I did years ago. My neighbor's hated me lol.

For an X pipe I bought a premade one from eBay. Then I had the exhaust shop just put it all together. He cut the Y pipe off the mufflers and made it dual exhaust with the X pipe and no cat.

Mar 28, 2025 | 12:45 PM

slinky55

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Phobos84

So you just drove to the exhaust shop with only headers? I may get pulled over for that

Mar 28, 2025 | 02:27 PM

Phobos84

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From: Sligo PA

Quote:

Originally Posted by slinky55

So you just drove to the exhaust shop with only headers? I may get pulled over for that

That's exactly what I did. Make the appointment at the exhaust shop. Then if you get pulled over tell the cop that your exhaust fell off and you are taking it to the shop for repair. Just don't do it late at night. You won't get a ticket.

Mar 28, 2025 | 03:13 PM

AZSP33D

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From: Stay dangerous my friends

Another option to consider is to learn how to weld and fabricate, or have some friends that can. Most exhaust shops are sloppy and inadequate, or very expensive.

Mar 28, 2025 | 03:52 PM

Phobos84

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From: Sligo PA

Quote:

Originally Posted by AZSP33D

Another option to consider is to learn how to weld and fabricate, or have some friends that can. Most exhaust shops are sloppy and inadequate, or very expensive.

Yes absolutely. Harbor freight sells a $150 welder that's amazing for exhaust work. Also you can buy a mandrel exhaust tubing kit from eBay or Amazon fairly cheap. That $150 welder is flux core so no shielding gas and you can reverse the polarity for stainless flux core wire if you want a stainless exhaust. This is how I did the exhaust that's on my car now after the LS swap and the new long tubes.

Best part of this is you would learn a new skill. You don't even have to lay a bead for exhaust work. You can stitch weld the whole thing which is just tack weld on top of tack weld. A stitch welded exhaust will still look better than what most exhaust shops do.

Mar 28, 2025 | 04:45 PM

jmalez

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i doubt you can get that fabricated al tho there are kits out there, big issue is if you want to keep your stock emissions, equipment intact

Apr 1, 2025 | 07:10 PM

96 lt-4

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From: Angier nc

If you or a friend have a trailer tow it to the exhaust shop and avoid all the potential illegal issues. Speaking of those , Does your car have to pass emissions?

Find a shop that is willing to do what you are asking and make sure they have experience modifying and not just stock replacement.