Please Share Your Thoughts For the Perfect Exhaust
 

All,
I have a 1979 Corvette with an edelbrock top end and I want to put a new exhaust on it to include new headers. I want it to sound like a traditional muscle car and would like to be able to listen to my music while cruising at 80mph down the interstate. I also want the increase in performance! I really liked the sound I have heard on youtube of the (Allens) chambered exhaust, but after reading all the problems people have been having with the installation, I'm not sure. What do you think???

I honestly don't know how anyone can put one of those prebent systems on their Vettes. All Vettes are slightly different here and there and by the time you pay for it, are fed up with whacking and bending pipes that are supposed to fit and busting your knuckes as well as running out of swear words, you might as well have taken it to a shop and have them hang a custom exhaust system.

For our C3's IMHO the exhaust system should be build around the car not the other way around. I got a 3 inch stainless steel mandrel bent exhaust on mine with MagnaFlow mufflers and X pipe.

The whole rear sections unbolts removing the mufflers and rear pipes in about 5 minutes at the drag strip I have an open exhaust.

I am putting these one of a kind SS 1 7/8" primary small block headers on soon and hope to break 500RWHP.These are my thoughts on a perfect exhaust. :cheers:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v172/narod85/SS1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...5/Exhaust1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...5/Exhaust3.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...5/Exhaust2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1.../100_1462a.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1.../100_1457a.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1.../100_1460a.jpg

I just installed a chambered exhaust from Allen's today. Fits perfect and sounds great. The installation should be 1-1 1/2 hours, removal and installation, without any manifold stud issues. I bought it from Mid America for less than Allen's will sell it to you for.

If you state emissions testing will allow it, go with a Magnaflow system and dual cats. Here is the rubber bumper system: http://www.hottexhaust.com/detail.asp?product_id=16836

Ditto on what MotorHead said but I installed the Ultraflows instead of the Magnaflows. When my 383 was first built I was just around 498 hp at the fly. With the Ultraflows I can have a conversation with my wife or listen to music when cruising bit it sure sounds sweet when I get on it.

I am sending my Allen's system back and have ordered a Corvette Central 2.5" system and opted for the Magnaflow mufflers. I jack up the car and placed 4 jack stands under it to level it, and the Allen's system is not close to fitting. I gotta' believe that the CC system will fit after selling hundreds if not, thousands of their system over time and never hearing about an issue with them.:eek:

On my '81 I have Hedman headers with 1 7/8" primary and 2,5'' S.S.304 tube with "X" from Pypes and race pro muffler from Pypes too.

It's sound good and no "drone" in the cab.

Quiet at idle.

I didn't know Headman had 1 7/8" headers anymore. They used to but stopped making them some years back. They were called Husler or something like than. Do you have these header or have you measured you primary pipes. I didn't think anyone made them 1 7/8 in. primary off the shelf anymore :confused:

This is my header:

http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/9196/pict1504.jpg
I'm not relly sure of the brand,the P.O.have installed the headers,I switch the stock exhaust to Pypes ex.

Sorry for the rust on it.

Did you actually measure the primary pipes? They look like 1 3/4" to me.

I have measured right now 41.5 millimeters it is possible or I'm wrong?

That would be 1 5/8" headers, a common size.

I have long tube aluminized anti reversion headers and 2.5 inch custom bent all welded chambered exhaust with 18 inch chambers (true 2.5 in through) and 18 inch long welded on chrome tips straight out the back(no cats). My bud owned a shop and before he sold it he put the setup together for me, so I can't say what the cost would be, but I can say ALL of the things you said you wanted are there with this setup.:thumbs:

I had 2 different pre bent systems on my car. I did get them to fit OK with some work but then I went to a built 2 1/2 system. It fits very well and is much tighter, no rattles and is more secure than the other systems. As said above all cars are a little different so one size does not fit all. Spend the dollars to get a good system bent up. I had mine built so it can be removed easily. I have had it off countless times and it goes right back on.

1 7/8" primaries, notice you can't really go any bigger :thumbs:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v172/narod85/SS13.jpg

Where can you get the 1 7/8 SS headers and what is the cost?

I put Allen's pipes on some years back. Did the system with the car on jack stands in the garage. Everything went together with no hammering or bending or swearing. Maybe their quality standards have changed over the years as have many others. Seems many companies are only interested in the almighty dollar and not the customer, anymore. Shame! And my system is a standard 2" stainless with the original manifolds and Super Turbo mufflers on the other end. Nuttin' Fancy.

Correct, the exhaust systems companies like magnaflow these days are interested in the dollar rather then manufacturing something which the customers will be thankful for and remember them.

how noisy are those chambered exhausts they sell, inside the car. will i be able to drive 1000 miles and still be able to hear at the end of the trip? will i be able to hear my stereo with no amplifiers?