Looking for the best fitting tried and tested 3" dual exhaust for a 69.

Try these guys:

www.pypesexhaust.com

In my experience & from what I've read....I really don't think that ANY of the pre bent kits are going to give you an exact fit.... I think they are all going to need to be adjusted, cut , & re welded to achieve a proper fit..

Here's an old thread I had going when I put my 3" system on(from Summit)... Since then I have swapped the clamps for band clamps & added stainless SS tips out the back.. http://www.chevelles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=134712

If I would have installed it the way it was out of the box, the head tubes & extension tubes would have been about 6-8" away from the drive shaft.. This would have made the entire system sit so low that you would have seen it from the side of the car, & the tailpipes wouldn't have been even close to coming straight out the back of the car..

I'm telling you, this install was truly an exercise in patients...

That's the kind of info I am looking for. Thanks

Try these guys:

www.pypesexhaust.com (http://www.pypesexhaust.com)

Chris,

I was just thinking of asking this anyways... When this came up previously you suggested an interesting combination of parts using the Pypes 3DGU12 3" downpipe extensions and Flowmaster 2.5" tails:

http://www.chevelles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=130349

Did you use the typical offset/offset muffler with your creative system?

And I presume you added in some straight 3" pipe to the downpipe extensions to make everything reach? (I did some measuring and while an El Camino is a bit longer it is not that much longer, and 44" is quite a bit short)

I'll jump in here since I think I did almost the same thing as Chris. I got the 3" Pypes "X" with removable cap dumps. It fit fine with 17" body Dynomax Ultraflows 3" offset/offset. I installed it with a reducer behind the muffler and ran it through the Flowmaster 2.5" tails. It fit so well that I didn't even have to unbolt the tails which were already on the car.

The trick to getting it to fit is in the cutting of each pipe going into and coming out of the "X". This may sound complicated, but it's not. You will cut one end of the pipe to adjust for width and then cut the other end to adjust for length. I used the Flowmaster header extensions from Jegs in a 15" length and so didn't need to buy the front extension pipes from Pypes, but it's available if you need one.

This job pretty much requires a metal chop saw to cut everything to the correct length. You can get a cheap one for under $100, or I'm sure you could rent one. I took measurements from the car for length & width then layed everything out on the floor to mock it up to those measurements. Worked like a charm. Bolting it up was easy with band clamps, (pricey but worth it). You'll need eight of the band clamps, (12 if you want to use them on the mufflers too). Band clamps are a good way to go if you want a system that can be removed or reworked in the future. If you don't anticipate ever needing to remove anything then just weld it all together.

http://www.torquetechexh.com/

That's who I've been looking to go with on my hopefully soon big block swap. I'll be getting their dual 3.5" system, mandrel bent, over the rear end, with x-pipe. They said it fits like a charm.

I have the Torquetech 3" and if fit perfectly.

Scotty are the tail pipes somewhat hidden from the side or do they hang down a lot.

Steve,I used offset/offset on the mufflers.
I bought the Summit 3" to 3" collectors and those took up the gap so to speak

What is the difference in a H pipe and X pipe and are they needed. If so what is the benefit to them.

h&x pipes are for eaquilizing out the exhaust pressures in the exhaust the x pipe is better for higher hp motors ! i put a (pypes) 3 in complete system on my 70 and fit awsome !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Way more to it than that...

The pressure in the exhaust system is not even but pulsates with the opening of the exhaust valve in each cylinder. A crossover allows these pressure pulses to also utilize flow capacity of the exhaust on the other side of the crossover. This can be especially important if the exhaust system beyond the crossover is slightly restrictive.

There is also a harmonic flow tuning affect from the crossover due to the potential change in sound wave flows. This can reflect pressure pulses back to the engine much like tuned headers do for a possible cylinder scavenging benefit (read: more power). This affect requires the crossover to placed the right distance from the exhaust port.

And finally there is an acoustic aspect to the crossover where it blends the exhaust pulses and thus noise from each bank of cylinders.

In general the H configuration will emphasize low end torque and a classic deep muscle car tone.

The X configuration will emphasize high end horsepower and provide a bit higher and/or raspier exhaust note.

Whether they are needed depends on your personal taste and your application. You may decide a crossover is required just because you like the sound better. Or you might decide a crossover is less important on a 3" system or that it is very important on a 2.5" system.

Scotty are the tail pipes somewhat hidden from the side or do they hang down a lot.


They are visible, but do not hang down at all, I really like the fit.:thumbsup:

I wonder if I will have an issue with my shock being moved inboard a little. The nine inch I bought has the mounts a little closer in.