X-Pipe, why do you need it?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,020
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X-Pipe, why do you need it?
I am not sure why I need an x-pipe, from what I have read, it eliminates the iddle burble and exhaust popping when decelerating, Why would I want to eliminate this? Is there something I am missing here?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,020
Likes: 0
I think it makes the car sound more radical, I love that popping and burble, I guess I don't quite understand why you would put a louder exhaust on and then try to eliminate the pops and burble. $400 to get rid of some minor pops, please help me understand. 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 5,529
Likes: 1,943
From: Austin Texas
The LS1 V8 (all american V8s) have a 360 degree crank shaft* (AKA 90 degree cranks). This leads to a firing order of LRRLRLLR as seen by the banks. So the exhaust pulses coming down the headers are 'irregular'.
An H-pipe smooths these out over a restricted range of RPMs, while an X-pipe smoothes out over the entire rev band. The double pulses coming down the header get to use both sides of the "rest of" the exhaust so there is parity amongst the exhaust pulses--leading to smoother operation.
Overall, and X-pipe is simply a more efficient H-pipe. The reason the factory doesn't do X-pipes is that it takes a little more labor and a little more welding to make an X-pipe than an H-pipe.
[*] Some European V8s often use a 180 degree crank shaft to obtain perfect breathing symetry (LRLRLRLR) and can be made lighter and stiffer. The cost is that the engine produces about 4 times the vibrational energy as the 360d cranks used in American V8s. All real race engines (F1, IRL, CART, excepting NASCAR and Drag Racing) use 180d cranks for breathing efficiency and power production.
An H-pipe smooths these out over a restricted range of RPMs, while an X-pipe smoothes out over the entire rev band. The double pulses coming down the header get to use both sides of the "rest of" the exhaust so there is parity amongst the exhaust pulses--leading to smoother operation.
Overall, and X-pipe is simply a more efficient H-pipe. The reason the factory doesn't do X-pipes is that it takes a little more labor and a little more welding to make an X-pipe than an H-pipe.
[*] Some European V8s often use a 180 degree crank shaft to obtain perfect breathing symetry (LRLRLRLR) and can be made lighter and stiffer. The cost is that the engine produces about 4 times the vibrational energy as the 360d cranks used in American V8s. All real race engines (F1, IRL, CART, excepting NASCAR and Drag Racing) use 180d cranks for breathing efficiency and power production.
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Pro
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 510
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From: Pennsylvania
Does an x-pipe help out at all with drone? Been contemplating getting one to help reduce drone but will not be happy if I get one and it doesn't make a difference. Would rather just flush the $300 down the toilet and save myself the aggravation if it doesn't. My GHL's drone under load in the 1500-2000 range and drone in that range on the way down from a higher rpm range. GHL claims an x-pipe makes no difference on a C6 period.
