81 exhaust pictures

[quickjagg]

I recently had a shop make a dual exhaust system for my vette, but he did it in a way that took away a LOT of ground clearence. He flattened the drivers side pipe so that it would fit under the transmission brace, and he put the clamps on upside down so that I lost even more ground clearence. My dad called them up and they are going to fix it free of cost.

Now for the point of the post, I was wondering if any of you had pictures of an installed MAD kit, or a custom dual exhaust set up on an 81 (or any other year that needs to be mounted the same) so I can show them exactly how it needs to be done.

Thanks for the help guys!

-Chris

 

[78SilvAnniv]

I had a chambered dual system installed. I lost a lot of ground clearance because the pipes are so large in diameter. I also had clearance issues with the clamp bolt ends hanging down...we turned them or ground the ends off. My lowest point of clearance is 3.25 inches on the passenger side, towards the rear of the tranny. I don't scrape as long as I am able to brake before road dips and I've always crawled over unknown train tracks.

However, I think my cross member has two holes in it for exhaust pipes, does the 1981 only have one?
If you like, I could take photos and email them to you. If you are interested, send me a PM w/ email addy or an email through CAC.

I don't like the "flattened the driver side pipe so it would fit"...sounds restrictive to me, and defeats the purpose of free-flowing dual exhaust.
Heidi

 

[Bob Chadwick]

Heidi is right. At some point you lost the two holes through the tranmission cross member. Here are Pictures of mine going through the dual holes.

You might be able to replace the existing crossmember with one fromn an earlier car. I did a quick search and this is the only one I came up with. A more indepth search will probably find more. Email wichitacorvette and see what he ended up doing.

Bob

 

[Dave L.]

I have that system (stainless MAD) but before I go to the trouble of raising the car on jackstands and take digital photos are you using headers or not? My car does not have headers and the pipes would be configured differently than yours. Mine hug the undersides very nicely. I'll be glad to help if I can.

Dave

 

[KANE]

You can replace the 80-81 crossmember with a 68-79.

I think the rationale from GM was that the 1 hole crossmember lined up better than the 2 hole crossmember for the factory exhaust wth the Y pipes and catalytic converter.

Consequently, if you run true duals with an H pipe and cats.... you will need a new crossmember.

I had long tube headers, dual cats, and an H pipe for years on my 78. I had the dual hole crossmember. When I switched to side pipes, I noticed a difference. The true duals with heades were better.

You'll like the true duals. Be advised- the headers will scrape if you have the flange nuts located at the very bottom on the collector cans. You can have the headers adjusted in terms of how they angle (under the car) by a good shop- heated by a torch.

 

[quickjagg]

I don't really have the money to buy a new trans. crossmember. I have dynomax headers on. This last week saw a car at the weekly cruise-in place that had headers and had the exhaust run about the same as the MAD kit, I couldn't find the owner and didn't have a camara to take pictures either =(

thanks for info everyone,

-Chris

 

[KANE]

Do you want the crossmember for $50 plus shipping? When I changed over to a 700R4, I picked up a new tubular one. So, I don't need the stock one laying around my house.

Err- my wife doesn't need it laying around the house!

 

[Twin_Turbo]

You can replace the 80-81 crossmember with a 68-79.

It's not bolt in, the ears on the crossmember need to be elongated. The pin that goes through those ears does not line up / these ears. It's dangerous to just mount the crossmember w/ only the 4 bolts under the frame rail.

 

[quickjagg]

wish I could buy that trans brace off of you, but I have no money at all, I have like 900 bucks charged on my credit card from this project. besides, the appointment to fix the exhaust is monday.

Thanks guys,

-Chris

 

[81LT4]

PIPES

Hey jagg, send me a PM with your email, I will scan and send you my set up. I have 2 1/2 out back. There is plenty of room with no drag. I do not have the spare on the rear, or the cover, so all this depends on how you are setup in the rear. You must remember
that most muffler shops dont care how they set up your pipes
as long as there getting paid. Always do a walk through when the car is on the lift, and point out any concern you may have,
so they understand that they just cant go throw pipes on there
and say there done. PS you dont need a different crossmember.

 

[AUSSIEVETTEMAN]

Exhaust System on my 81 Coupe

Gday all!

I have just had some issues with the local law inforcement here in Australia regarding my baby only being 75mm (3 inches) off the ground. Australian Design Rules state 100mm (4 inches) should be the lowest point on the vehicle.

Having my brush with the law, I was asked to fix the problem and my local exhaust shop was only too happy to help.
In Australia, where a vehicle was fitted with a catalytic converter in 1985, the vehicle must be refitted with a new converter.
Knowing this and my baby being an 81 Coupe, the exhaust bloke grabbed the "gas axe" (OXY) and went to work. The catalytic converter never made it's way back into my new system.

He ran all pipes in line and at the same height as the oil sump (oil pan) and under the cross member on the Passegers side of the car (Drivers Side in OZ), without going through the cross member.
He gently tucked all pipe work under the centre of the differential and around the spare tyre housing and into the muffler at the back.

The result is a true twin system and without a crossover equaliser and catalytic converter, the sound is enough where you do not need viagra!
The new pipe work seems to have added a new life to the power as well.

Email me if you would like some pics, I am only too happy to take some snap shots.

Cheers from OZ

Tony

 

[81LT4]

Re: Exhaust System on my 81 Coupe

Gday all
The catalytic converter never made it's way back into my new system.

OMD! Are you saying that the guy who put your mufflers on forgot to put a cat back on. Thats horrible.
That's about the same setup I have, just no spare, so it v's out the center. It looks totally trick, and glad to see you pulled out some extra ponies.

 

[KANE]

Ears don't line up?

Is that based upon your experience with 82s? I know they would have issues because of the 700R4. I have seen more than a few 80/81s with the earlier crossmember. I guess like snything else... there is a certain amount of fussing with it thats required.

Me personally, if I had an 80/81 I would hold out for the 700R4 conversion or Tremec T6. If I had already committed to doing a mod like true duals.... I'd most likely do a big tranny mod too. So, it would be in the interest of the big picture to have the tubular crossmember.

 

[kunneman]

Heidi is right. At some point you lost the two holes through the tranmission cross member. Here are pictures of mine going through the dual holes.

You might be able to replace the existing crossmember with one fromn an earlier car. I did a quick search and this is the only one I came up with. A more indepth search will probably find more. Email wichitacorvette and see what he ended up doing.

I know this is an old thread, but it was referenced after I started the post asking for pictures and opinions about L81 sidepipes. I'll add this for the record!

I'm running true duals with a bolt-together kit from Mid-America Motorworks (www.mamotorworks.com) right now. When I was looking into how to convert, though, I continued to get advice about changing the transmission crossmember, and of course I looked into getting one. While that's a solution, it isn't the only one or even the best one. A jig-assembled kit like I've got (or pipes bent in a custom shop) permits both exhaust tubes to pass through the concave "hump" in an '81's crossmember. I had to be careful with exhaust hangers, but it works.

 

[1971vert]

iformation

I know this is a old thread also but it may help out someone else. this is how I ran 2 1/2 inch pipes on the 81 I had with power drivers seat. there is really no way to go down the drivers side because the floor pan is lower on the driver side due to the power seat.

 

[LannyL81]

Sure must be nice to be able to remove the cat and put true dual exhaust on an '81. I am not able to do that due to emission laws. I have to have all the emissions stuff....AIR pump, plumbing, no headers(unless they have AIR tubes), cat....

Heavy sigh.....

LannyL81

 

[1971vert]

after 25 years most states exempt cars from smog testing, we never had it in the first place

 

[Art Jett]

I have a '77 that I'm going back in with a 700R-4, so I bought a crossmember from an '82. It will bolt right in but I'm concerned about whether or not I will be able to run a 2 1/2" chambered exhaust system. I don't know if I will have enough clearance under the driver's side without putting the pipe in danger of scraping the road. Anyone have any input that might help?

 

[Art Jett]

I forgot to add that I'm a fabricator and have a welder in my shop. I have played with the idea of cutting the driver's side of the crossmember and welding in a semi-circle of pipe or something to give me clearance. I think I could do this without damaging the integrity of the crossmember. What do you think?

 

[C3L81]

Just a quick Note. If you are going to the vette show in Carlisle this year, they are going to have 3 companies including Borla install Custom exhausts from what I hear for very little more then the price of the exhaust itself.