If one were to go with a straight-pipe exhaust set up, no mufflers but still had cats, would the use of a x-pipe be need anymore? The purpose of the x-pipe is to balance the flow of exhaust gases in an exhaust system with mufflers. So, if I had no mufflers, would I need an x-pipe? So, could I cut out the "H" portion of the stock intermediate pipe and be fine? Thanks.

 

The x-pipe is to help out with the scavenging of the exhaust. I read several years ago when I owned a mustang that by blending the exhaust you are effectively thrusting the exhaust at a greater velocity out of the system. In theory this is suppose to help pull in a greater intake charge into the system thus you have more power.

Think about it for a sec. By have a blended system, when one side fires you are effectively pulling any lingering idle gases out the other side as the blast come down the tube from the firing side.


[Modified by Mystery Fan, 1:34 PM 9/7/2001]

 

Mystery Fan, thanks. Makes a lot of sense that way . I appreciate it :cheers:

 

I think you would be wasting your money if you are running straight exhaust, there is no back pressure and your H pipe should balance out anything that matters. :cool:

 

Straight pipes cannot make up for the inherent imbalance in the firing order--LRLLRLRR

In every 2 cycle interval, there are 4 exhaust pulses on the right and 4 exhaust pulses on the left. But these 4 pulses are not evenly spread accross the interval in time. The X-pipe allows the sum of 8 pulses to be presented to the dual exhaust pipes in a balanced manner.
So instead of one pipe going -R--R-RR and the other going L-LL-L-- you get a pair of 1/2 sized pulses down each exhaust pipe.
This is where the burble of the American V8 (or any V8 with a 360 degree crank) comes from.

 

I have never been a fan of those X or H pipes.

The right way is to use a cross-over, and it's placed where it does some good.

Even with using a stright pipe, it's not the whole distance for you stil have bends and it's those bends that cause restriction and hot spots.

You use a cross-over at the place that has the most restriction and to balance exhaust sound.
The easy way to find that spot is to use some cheap spray paint onto pipes close to bends.
Fire up engine and watch where the paints burns first ( hot spot tell tales gases being trapped)
That is the place to weld in the cross-over that also will balance the sound and prevent loss of low end torque.

Vendors sell those H/X beacuse they are an easy install, thus high sales count but they are being installed not where the problem really exists.

Due to the lousy placement of C5 exhaust, cross over would be best placed right before heading over rear end or if using straights, right before cats.

 

This week I installed Corsa Indys with their Crossover Pipe(X-pipe). Although, they didn't tell me, I assumed(lack of better word) they took the time to find the kink in the system. I understand that different mods change the exact point in the system, so you can never get it just right off the shelf. Maybe someone already knows if Corsa tested their and can share the results with us.

 

All as I can state is what my dyno numbers were with the stock H Pipe and straight through exhaust. There were some upset faces at the Sacto dyno day, all these guys with their special air cleaners, mafs, throttle body's, x pipes, cat back exhaust, power ducts, and my stock C5 with just straight pipes ended up with 313 RWHP and 340 RWTQ. I have ARE Stage II Heads & Cam on the way, along with a donaldson, LS6 intake, TPIS Headers, SPEC clutch, and Pullies. It should be interesting. My point is, if you look at your motor as a big air box, the better it breathes in and out will determine performance. However, doing a bunch a stuff (tb,catback,bolts ons etc.) to your car without doing the Heads and Cam might not yield you the results you are looking for. I have to agree with John here, and that is that sometimes parts are easy to sell becuase of there marketability, when really the significant gains are when they are used as an entire package. Look at some Motorola Cup cars, the exhaust comes straight out the side. I run mine straight out the back, less back pressure, less heat is being trapped above my transmission where the tubing runs up over the axles. I was going to just make some turn down tips, but after running the car with the rear section of the exhaust disconnected it would have been to much. :cool:

 

Biggest reason to me to go with a straight system is to reduce the amount of heat being dumped on the drivetrain.
Better yet would be of someone came out with a side exhaust sytem so the pipes would no longer be dumping heat onto the lousy designed MN6.

Are you using any mufflers at all and where does the exhaust end, out the back or before the rear end ?

John

 

You are fortunate to have such good horsepower numbers. Some cars respond differently to different mods. I seem to recall that many of the Nascar guys have crossovers, too. But, then again they have the complete package. :confused:


[Modified by Mystery Fan, 7:16 PM 9/7/2001]