x-pipe question seeking experience, advice, opinion

[Highway Man]

I'm getting ready to install the magnaflow axle-back muffler system on my 92 LT1 and I'm a little concerned about interior resonance. I have read where the installation of an x-pipe can not only reduce/eliminate resonance but also increase the flow of exhaust gasses thereby improving performance while reducing/eliminating interior resonance. I would appreciate all input on this and also if anyone has had experience with the flowmonster x-pipe I would like to hear about this also. Happy Vetting!

 

[warren s]

There are lots of different theories about X pipes and smoothing out exhaust flow..When I had C4s, I found that the x pipe made NO difference at all by itself. It was the total system and the type of mufflers that contributed to interior resonance. Having an automatic or a manual was also a factor. The X pipe did reduce some of the burble on deceleration.

Most good brand name aftermarket systems today seem to have the problem resolved to a large extent. Straight pipes on the other hand.....

 

[John Mekisich]

X Pipe

I have run a Dr Gas X pipe on my 70 GTO for several years. This car runs headers and full 3 inch exhaust. The major differences were a reduction in loudness of a couple db plus it changes the pitch of the exhaust smoothing it out somewhat. I rather like it. On a stock LT1, I would not expect much of an increase in performance. I could see where it might help in reducing resonance but like any other modification until it is on the car it is hard to know.

I'm getting ready to install the magnaflow axle-back muffler system on my 92 LT1 and I'm a little concerned about interior resonance. I have read where the installation of an x-pipe can not only reduce/eliminate resonance but also increase the flow of exhaust gasses thereby improving performance while reducing/eliminating interior resonance. I would appreciate all input on this and also if anyone has had experience with the flowmonster x-pipe I would like to hear about this also. Happy Vetting!

 

[Highway Man]

Additional thoughts

Never having had one apart I am unsure of how the factory resonator is designed/constructed. I know there are two pipes in and two pipes out but as far as the interior I am guessing that it is two pipes with perforations surrounded by packing. If that is the case then isn't it already serving somewhat as an exhaust balancer? If so why couldn't a person just cut the resonator in half, remove the packing, and then reweld the resonator case thus producing an exhaust balancer at less money? Any thoughts-feedback?

 

[warren s]

Thats actually all it is. Its just an open hallow "X" shaped chamber in the center.

Here is what the Corsa X pipe (more like an "H" pipe) looks like and why i will never buy another Corsa product.

 

[warren s]

C5 X-pipe

 

[warren s]

70 GTO !!!! click >>>> Cruzin99 -1

couldnt resist!!

 

[John Robinson]

The resonator

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll72/John-68/Resonator012.jpg
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll72/John-68/Resonator002.jpg

The reason I have these pictures is because I removed the resonator and replaced it with straight pipe. $80.00 bucks at local muffler shop. I have been running it this way for about 6 years now. The sound is deeper but not intruding while cruising at 70 plus. I receive a lot of compliments on the sound of the car. If I use the automatic trans. to slow down the car it will pop and bark from the exhaust. I can't say what might be to loud for you but for this 70+old guy it is just right.

As for more performance any gain you might get from changing out the stock system would be at some much too high a level for street use. Keep in mind that sometimes putting larger pipes on a car will reduce the torque at low end and so you lose performance for light to light driving.

When it's all said and done you pays your money and you take your chances on what you get.

 

[Highway Man]

I totally agree

Thats actually all it is. Its just an open hallow "X" shaped chamber in the center.

Here is what the Corsa X pipe (more like an "H" pipe) looks like and why i will never buy another Corsa product.

I totally agree. For nine hundred dollars it should have slid right on with NO modifications. ad It must have been frustrating/disappointing to have spent your money and then had to deal with this. I am glad you were able to get it to work. Did you contact the vendor and let them know about it? :bash I sure would have.

 

[Highway Man]

I agree with you to

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll72/John-68/Resonator012.jpg
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll72/John-68/Resonator002.jpg

The reason I have these pictures is because I removed the resonator and replaced it with straight pipe. $80.00 bucks at local muffler shop. I have been running it this way for about 6 years now. The sound is deeper but not intruding while cruising at 70 plus. I receive a lot of compliments on the sound of the car. If I use the automatic trans. to slow down the car it will pop and bark from the exhaust. I can't say what might be to loud for you but for this 70+old guy it is just right.

As for more performance any gain you might get from changing out the stock system would be at some much too high a level for street use. Keep in mind that sometimes putting larger pipes on a car will reduce the torque at low end and so you lose performance for light to light driving.

When it's all said and done you pays your money and you take your chances on what you get.

Yeah, I'm not looking to go to a larger diameter pipe for the reason you stated. I want to keep my low end torque but I am after a little more sound and improved breathing. I think you have made another valid point also and that is that the sound of any vehicle is subject to the likes/dislikes of whoever hears it. What sounds good to me may not sound good at all to someone else and vice versa. I guess a persons ability to try different ideas is dependent on the depth of their pockets.

 

[93Rubie]

Advanced Automotive of Cape Coral

This is the one I have on my car and I installed muffler eliminators as well. Note the x-pipe is fun to install by yourself. I recommend you find a good muffler shop, easy for them.

As for noise...
YouTube - C4 Corvette Muffler Eliminators
YouTube - C4 Corvette Acceleration

As for added HP, IDK??? for sure, but my best (with crappy 2.28 60 foot) is in my signature below, note trap speed.

 

[Hib Halverson]

First of all, it's important to note that some of the chronic problem C4s have with exhaust "resonance" in the interior relates not to the exhaust system but to the car's underbody structure. Thus, it is impossible to eliminate or even greatly reduce exhaust resonance with a solution that is entirely-exhaust based.

As an aside, this "resonance" we're talking about is not a result of the exhaust system per se but is a result of the combination of a V8 engine's firing impulses and rpm. This resonance seems to be most annoying at both 1700 rpm and 3400 rpm. You really notice the 1700 rpm resonance because, with C4s, that's an rpm at which the engine is often running during a normal duty cycle. You also can really notice it at 3400, but most people seldom drive the car such that rpm dwells at that speed for very long unless 1) they drive in 4th or 5th on the highway rather than 6th. Lastly, while the resonance is caused by the engine's firing impulses and rpm, it can be somewhat affected by exhaust system design. That is, some exhaust systems are better at mitigating resonance than are others, but no exhaust system can completely eliminate resonance unless the user is willing to accept a significant power decrease.

I am going to guess that replacing the stock late C4 resonator with an X-pipe is not going to reduce exhaust "resonance" in the interior that much.

Typically, an x-pipe added to an otherwise stock exhaust, will change the sound of the exhaust somewhat and at higher engine speeds, might be responsible for a slight increase in performance.

 

[boomdriver]

I totally agree. For nine hundred dollars it should have slid right on with NO modifications. ad It must have been frustrating/disappointing to have spent your money and then had to deal with this. I am glad you were able to get it to work. Did you contact the vendor and let them know about it? :bash I sure would have.

I had a similar incident with a "catalog" sales exhaust system that I bought for the '87.

We had to cut off the old system, and the new pieces in hand were fitted to the car. The front Y was only about 6" from mating to the next section.....so here comes the torch to make adjustments. There was no choice since the old stuff had to be cut off.

After battling that POS and having to cut and fit everything, I was very annoyed with the place where I bought it. I called them and was told that if it did not fit properly, I should have returned it. Once it had been welded or cut there was nothing that they could do....or would do.

I'm not gonna sit here and use this as an opportunity to thump boogers on a well known Corvette parts and aftermarket store, but I do not do business with them anymore after being a very MAD VET owner that spent a wad of money on an exhaust system that UPS had to deliver...never again.

 

[Curious George]

I am going to guess that replacing the stock late C4 resonator with an X-pipe is not going to reduce exhaust "resonance" in the interior that much.

If you retain the stock C4 mufflers, which are fairly free flowing for an OE part, and simply "eliminate" the resonator with two straight pipes or an X / H pipe, the factory exhaust sound is retained, but it is slightly louder with NO resonance. I did this on my '92 and it sounds great.

I previously had the Corsa system, and did not care for the sound of it and sold it to a buddy with a '96 GS.

CG

 

[Enuzio]

Exhaust resonance...

I'm getting ready to install the magnaflow axle-back muffler system on my 92 LT1 and I'm a little concerned about interior resonance. I have read where the installation of an x-pipe can not only reduce/eliminate resonance but also increase the flow of exhaust gasses thereby improving performance while reducing/eliminating interior resonance. I would appreciate all input on this and also if anyone has had experience with the flowmonster x-pipe I would like to hear about this also. Happy Vetting!

Hi Highwayman...I had the Flowmasters on my 86 convert and changed them to the Corsa system to get rid of the resonance. My exhaust system consists of Bassani Tri Y headers, full dual exhaust with with dual high flow Random cats, a parallel "X" pipe from Bassani and running 2 1/2 inch stainless pipes all the way back. With 2.73 gears and a 770R4, it will run 13.8 and put out 235 rwhp on a chassis dyno.

 

[Highway Man]

Good stuff

I bought the magnaflow's but I think my sweetie is gonna make me wait till Christmas seeing she gave me the money and this is a Christmas present. Anyway when I get them on I'll put up a post and let anyone interested know how it turned out and whether I think it was money well spent or a bust. I had a 66 Dodge Coronet with a 383 Magnum and the mufflers were straight pipes with some packing around them. You could hear me a half-mile away I loved it! Now its 37 years later and I still haven't grown up!:cool

 

[jonszr1]

if you havent put your new mufflers on yet, you might consider what i found out on my zr1 . i had some pretty awful noise in the interior of the car . a buddy who owns a muffler shop saw where the tipps were (even with the openings and said i will bet if we extend them 3-4 in past the valance it will knock down the excederin noise in the car at cruizing . so he changed them and lowered them 1 in also now the car is very livable and i dont need to buy a bottle of exedrin every time i go on a road trip .:W

 

[Highway Man]

my plan

Thanks for the input. My plan is to extend them past the lower facia not just for the noise factor but I think they look better that way.

 

[Remo]

Kooks Long Tube Headers w/ Monster X-Pipe

X-Pipe does smooth out popping on deceleration. However, the long tubes flow out to Borla Stingers.....and this is a very loud system overall.

 

[warren s]

Took a gamble to save $1000

XSpower headers, high flow cats. Car came with Corsa Pace Car mufflers.