Dual Exhaust

[steves1980]

Dual Exhaulst

Anyone ever install this on there 1980 , i got it and looks to me i may have to shorten the 2 straight pipes to make it fit right ? also the hangers they give you suck,iam thinking iam going to have to make my own, if anyone has put this on there vette, let me know what it took ty
http://www.madvet.com/shop?frame=4.36.1303

 

[JCVette]

Many Headaches

I have an ’81 and was also looking for a solution for true duals… I ordered this product and was really excited when it finally arrived. It was backordered for almost a month… UGH. I removed my original pipes and the rear “Y” was unusable for reinstallation so I was stuck between a rock and a hard spot. I spent more hours on a creeper under my car in the garage than I would care to admit.

My result was a real butcher job and a system that leaked. In total frustration, I took my car to a muffler shop where in a matter of about a hour and 20 minutes my pipes were solid; all joints welded, pipes level and straight!! The owner of the shop said to me it would have been cheaper and easier for all parties to have just come to the shop and let them hand craft the new pipes instead of having to refit, bend and weld my Mid America pipes.

I don’t mean to bad mouth Mid-America in the least bit but this product did not work so well for me.

P.S. My shop ordered an X-pipe for me and it should arrive this week. To my understanding the X-pipe is better than the H bar according to the shop??

I am running a stroker any opinions on the X-pipe??

 

[80convertible]

After installing Dynomx ceramic headers, I took my vette to a muffler shop and let them make a dual exhaust system from my headers to my mufflers...I reused my existing mufflers. Took them about 1.5 hrs and cost about $175.00. The only thing I regret is not installing an X or H pipe which I'll install later on.

 

[JCVette]

RE: X-Pipe

Sounds like it would have been cheaper just to go to the muffler shop instead of spending $230 bones on the pipes and headaches + $75.00 to get them straightened out + $75.00 for the X-pipe.

Sounds like you agree with the X-pipe deal.

Stroker .30 over
Comp Cam 270 Mag
Dart II Sportsman heads
1.6 roller rockers
Holley 3310 with rear metering block (Jetting = 69 front, 72 rear)
EBrock RPM Performer Intake
Hooker Comp Headers with NEW 2.5 inch pipes and Flow Masters

Dyno Info unknown

 

[silver 80]

yep I thought it was just me.
The hangers they provide are way to big, I had to cut to fit.
pipes... yea just take a little at a time until it fits. What mufflers do you have? Hope it's not the ulta flows, will have to do some mods there too.
leave evrything loose until your done adjusting then tighten the crap out of it. The clamps are crap too go to Napa and get some good clamps.

Bolt in my A$$
good luck

 

[JCVette]

Flow Master P/N 42551

I really like the sound of them. I thought about the new 40's or 50's but the mechanic at the muffler shop said they were much louder and thought mine were worth reusing again!

JC

 

[SMKN97GP]

i just had exhaust work done and I'm real happy with it. i wanted true duals but it was soo expensive. i got no-cat, 2 3/4 inch piping into two cherry bomb vortex mufflers. sounds real good . now i just need to replace my cracked flexplate that is making a rackett!

 

[Wolverine]

How do you find muffler shops willing to alter the configuration of an exhaust system. I have been told that it is a violation of federal law and the muffler shop would be subject to a $10K fine. Is this not true???

I REALLY want to install true duals on my '76 but can't find someone to do it professionally.

 

[Evolution1980]

Steve,

I'm running true dual on my 80, and it's super easy. You don't need custom pipes entirely. Take a look at the pics of my installation at http://photos.yahoo.com/EvolutionCAC
I also have mine ending in Cherry Bombs. They were "ok" loud at first. Now after a couple of years, the packing is gone and they are LOUD.
Note though, it's not loud at idle. It just sounds like a good 350. But once you step on it...heheheh...Over 2700rpm, it's niiiiiiice..... past 3500, people start looking around with the "whoa...day-um..." expression. Most of the CAC crew that was at SharkFest '02 seemed to like the sound.
If you make it to CruiseFest, you'll hear for yourself...

If you are looking to go to an H- or X-pipe, you need to decide if you are going for HP or Torque. (Do a search of the CAC threads. You'll find out all about X & H setups...)

 

[Evolution1980]

How do you find muffler shops willing to alter the configuration of an exhaust system. I have been told that it is a violation of federal law and the muffler shop would be subject to a $10K fine. Is this not true???

That's either specific to MI law (not federal) or you simply came across a shop that didn't want the job.
The only federal law I'm aware of pertains to brake jobs, since EVERYONE needs brakes. Exhaust, I would think, should only be particular to certain areas, which is why some counties and not others have e-checks and what not. But I don't know...I'm not an expert on that topic.

...If it is MI specific...The Ohio border is only a stone's throw from Ann Arbor...

 

[80convertible]

I do believe it is a federal law that prohibits the alternation of any pollution control device such as a catalytic converter. That is what the shop is referring to. Can you apply for antique or classic tags due to the age of the car? That could be a start. What about dual exhaust with dual catalytic converters?

 

[Wolverine]

From what I have been told, the system is supposed to remain as originally designed. Even if you have dual cats, it is technically not a legal system. (Thanks, EPA!)

 

[Evolution1980]

I do believe it is a federal law that prohibits the alternation of any pollution control device such as a catalytic converter. That is what the shop is referring to. Can you apply for antique or classic tags due to the age of the car? That could be a start. What about dual exhaust with dual catalytic converters?

That does sound somewhat familiar. I think that pertains to the shop doing that and not disclosing that they've done the mods. I believe as long as there is a written statement that it is what the customer requested, they are able to be held harmless for their work.
I know it's like that for brakes. I took one of my cars to a mechanic and told him DON'T fix the e-brake. He said it couldn't leave his shop not working unless I specifically signed off on it that I said not to fix it and to hold him harmless in case of an accident.

 

[bossvette]

How do you find muffler shops willing to alter the configuration of an exhaust system. I have been told that it is a violation of federal law and the muffler shop would be subject to a $10K fine. Is this not true???

I REALLY want to install true duals on my '76 but can't find someone to do it professionally.

Hooker headers sidepipes they sound like this:

http://home.ripway.com/2003-9/23891/Corvette/vette2.wav

 

[80convertible]

How do you find muffler shops willing to alter the configuration of an exhaust system. I have been told that it is a violation of federal law and the muffler shop would be subject to a $10K fine. Is this not true???

I REALLY want to install true duals on my '76 but can't find someone to do it professionally.

I just had a thought...what about finding a shop that will fabricate the dual exhaust system but not install it. In other words, they make the exhaust system on the car, then remove it and sell it to you. You leave the shop with your original legal system on the car. When you get home you simply install the new exhaust system that the shop made. Could not hurt to ask the shop.

 

[Evolution1980]

How do you find muffler shops willing to alter the configuration of an exhaust system. I have been told that it is a violation of federal law and the muffler shop would be subject to a $10K fine. Is this not true???

I was incorrect. This is from my mechanic who knows the insides and out of everything:

[font=arial,helvetica]It is not legal for a mechanic to remove emission or pollution controls, $10,000.00 fine, and up to five years in jail, and they take your license. However, the owner of the car can remove it.

[/font]
So it looks like it would be a "This is what I'm thinking about doing to my car, can it be done? Because if "yes", then I'll do it at home myself" <wink wink nudge nudge>

 

[AUSSIEVETTEMAN]

I agree

....The owner of the shop said to me it would have been cheaper and easier for all parties to have just come to the shop and let them hand craft the new pipes instead of having to refit, bend and weld my Mid America pipes. ??

No dicking around with parts that don't fit!
My local exhaust shop did the work very well, even cut out the cat cause we do not have to have therm in pre 85 cars here in Australia.
Made a difference to HP and sound!

Cheers

Tony

 

[steves1980]

well got my dual exhaust on it fit pretty good, the right side is longer then the left side, iam going to take it to a muffler shop, it didnt tighten up like it should, going to have them shorten the right side and weld all pipes, sounds good , not to loud, i got the true duals, witht the stainless polished mufflers, man what a diff a tune up and no cat makes.
steve

 

[steves1980]

called mid american, they said they have had some pipes that are off, they offered to send me a new set, i use what i need then send them whats left back, i just got back from muffler shop sat. they lined it up pretty good, but its not 100% like i wish it was, but i guess i can live with it, would have been easyer to have them bend it for me, being i dont drive it rain or snow,now iam asking myself why i needed the stainles, guess it was i want thing, not a need, always think first, before you jump and order something, like i did,lol, listen learned.

 

[81 Corvette]

here in Ohio, the shop must set up your car like it was when it left the factory. In the case of the late sharks, two mufflers and a cat.

I needed to have a fuel line run. The first shop i took it too refused to do teh work, as i had added a demon and rpm air gap. The local Vette shop didn't have a problem and did it. Moral of the post, depends on the shop.

I'm putting on headers last week of april and will be going with 2.5in piping thru a 3in high flow cat with flowmaster 40's "muffling" the sound. It'll still be legal and flow well. I once heard that a 3in pipe flows as much as two 2.5in pipes????