OK, what is all the noise I've been hearing about an X-pipe? What is it, what does it cost, where do I get one, is it worth it, what are the disadvantages, will it fit under a 70 Chevelle without having to use a sawzall? I currently have a 454, Blackjack headers, 2.5 inch pipes, flowmasters and there is a driveshaft loop under there as well.
Jim R

Jim,

Go check out this web site www.drgas.com (http://www.drgas.com) , this will explain the principles of the system, as well as the cost. It does increase performance and alter the sound as indicated.

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Joe Giniel"My 72 SS" (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/JoeG.jpg-1)
TC #143 Gold
ACES #3056

Jim, I swapped out the whole exhaust when I put the X in , so I can't do a real single variable comparison. I think Joe G, just put the X in and he was very impressed. And he owns an undercar care shop, he should know.

I love the high pitched sound and the new exhaust really woke up my 427. Big time. They claim it'll quiet things down, but with 3.5" headpipes, ain't nothing going to be quiet I suppose.

Wish I could have done a back to back comparison. All I know is that I love the sound ( 3500 sounds like 5000 rpm), and even with HUGE heapipes low end torque was bolstered and the increase in pull runs all the way to 7000.

Your system would be the 3" ( assume you have 3" collectors on the headers) to 2.5". It'll splice right in. I had the installer put flanges in front of the mufflers so I could drop the whole X center section in case of tranny problems, etc.

I think its about $200 plus the installing, if you have it done professionally.

Keep in mind that at high rpms, a balance tube does squat. Velocity is just too high. Not so with the x. It sings. More at the upper R's.

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



[This message has been edited by Gene Chas (edited 06-14-2000).]

Gene could you post a picture someday? Thanks.

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Dale P.
Team Chevelle Member# 423
65 El Camino
72 Monte Carlo
"..you did you take the washer off, right?"

Dale, I'll try. Its a real PITA to post pics since I have no dg cam or scanner. The local photo guy charges me 2.50 a scan and if you look at my sig, you'll see they suck.

I'll have the car ready to show in about 3 weeks. I hope to shoot a few rolls then, including the underside. I'll figure out a way to digitize some.

Its really srtaightforward though, the two 3.5" tubes come off the headers, and then bend inboard to meet with the Xpipe, the X is like a curved X, and then there are two 3" pipes coming out of the X, bend outboard and then become straight to the muffs. The forward part of the configuration is longer then the aft part, so the X itself is located nearly midway bewteen the crossmember and rear axle.

I know a pic is worth a thousand words!

So Epistuff, you;d end up using the 3" X 2.5" Xpipe. They recommend you match the collector size on your headers. If you weld, its a snap. There are no pipes to bend with their kit. And again, the headpipes are longer, so if your loop is in the right place, clearance should be no prob.

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G. Chaas
Gold #62/ACES
67 SS396/(427L88) (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/chaas1.jpg)

[This message has been edited by Gene Chas (edited 06-14-2000).]

Gene, have the pics done on photo paper for your album, and on a 3.5 floppy, instant computerized. Doesn't cost much more.

Most modem CD install roms have some sort of photo program in them, should already be on your computer.

Just a thought.

Hey Gene,

If you want to spend 33 cents for the price of a stamp, snail mail me some pics and i'll scan them for you, no charge.

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JeffK ACES #01510
Team Chevelle Gold #72
496 EFI/Richmond 6-Speed
JeffK@chevelles.com
Jeff's Chevelle Page (http://www.72chevelle.com)

This is an x-pipe system on a 66 Fairlane with a stock smallblock, we did it a couple of weeks ago. Notice how it had too be tucked up in the driveshaft hump, not a lot of room like a Chevelle. This is a 2.25" system that we made, but it sounded just as good through the 40 series Flowmasters.
http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/JoeGxpipe.jpg

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Joe Giniel"My 72 SS" (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/JoeG.jpg-1)
TC #143 Gold
ACES #3056

Nice job Joe. My guy didn't paint mine. I did the welds though.

[This message has been edited by Gene Chas (edited 06-15-2000).]

I heard or read that all x pipes and cross pipes were to be as close to the headers as possible??

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Rod Jamieson
1970 Chevelle
Team Chevelle Gold #22
rodjam@chevelles.com

Joe G,
Great picture !! Thanks, that really shows it good.

JR

Rod, not according to the poop sheet I got with my kit from Dr. Gas. Essentially the headpipe is an extension of the header, so I have very long collectors. It may be the case with a balance tube, but remember, the function of the two is somewhat different.

the inlet to the X-pipe is exactly 2' fom the collector flange. this gives 3' 3.5" collectors. Not a bad thing it seems.

Jeff, thank you for the offer. Frankly in a month or so, I hope to send Al a bunch of pics in consideration of car of the month. I'll ask him to scan a few "tech" shots as well.

[This message has been edited by Gene Chas (edited 06-15-2000).]

My exhaust guy put a 3" system with 3"x3" Dr. Gas X pipe and 2 chamber flowmasters on my 454 El Camino, it sounds great and a noticible power increase, definitly recomend it. The exhaust guy didn't have any problems with it.

Would you get a performance gain with the
X-Pipe and stock exhaust manifolds? Figured I would use 2.5 inch pipe front to rear. Trying to keep engine compartment stock looking! It's bone stock 71SS LS5.

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Doug
1971 LS5 Chevelle SS

Doug, I should think some BUT, my question would be whether the lack of individual runners would partially negate the "negative wave" effect the X is supposed to produce. Better call the experts.

I mean 150-200 bills ain't cheap. But the SOUND is almost worth it. Not to mention that I feel alot more guts between 3000-5000 than I had before. ( Could be tire change as well).

I found this page out on the web.
http://www.wauknet.com/douthitt/exhaust.htm

I found it pretty interesting. What does everyone think about their conclusions?

TC

To those that know them, the Hand family, Floyd, Tom and Jim Hand are the foremost experts on Pontiac engines and performance anywhere. Thier articles are right on target.

Eric Douthitt is another Pontiac person who knows his stuff, and it shows in his writings and tech help on other Pontiac BBs. Their cars aren't slow, either.

Many find these people to be very helpful, and have a straight-shooter, no bull type attitude twords helping others.

These people aren't bad at all on other engine setups, either. Definately hands-on, in-the-know people, good guys.

RandarCole, excellent link, just about sums it up doesn't it. An edited version appears in the Dr. Gas kit.

I guess the Dynomax muffs as the cats ass. I used Magnaflows. Loud.

The only thing I would add is the tailpipe issue. One thing Dr. Gas mentioned to me was, with the X creating a much smoother flow would mitigate the need for large tails. Believe it or not, I did not want huge pipes sticking out of the car, I wanted the stock look. So I used 2.5" tails ( TT) painted flat black, as Skip recommended.Looks real stock.

Unfortuntely, when I fire the ol L88 up, it sounds anything but! My goal has always been, like the article says, the achieve the performance level of open headers in a street configuration. Heard too many folks, over the years say, " Yeah but they got that 560 HP ( out of an L88 ) on 110 octane and open headers." Well the open headers part I got beat. But anytime you try and make 500+ ponies of screaming rat run through muffs and achieve the performance of open headers, you;re gonna make a little noise. Limits of physics I suppose.

But the performance goal has been achieved. Low resitrcion ( I'd say 3" heapipes minimum for any performance application, and I'd stay 3" if you're well over the 500 hp mark) exhaust, combined with a flow enhancement device, like an X, will run as good as opens through the muffs and tails.

QED


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G. Chaas
Gold #62/ACES
67 SS396/(427L88) (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/chaas1.jpg)

[This message has been edited by Gene Chas (edited 06-17-2000).]

Gene, I'm tellin' ya', that L-88 still sounds great here in So. Cal when you fire it up there in Buffalo. NICE.

Damn an I thought it was just the freight line behind my house... could never understand why they would be runing that much freight on sturday afternoons. http://www.chevelles.com/forum/biggrin.gif

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Francis Taracido Gold# 201
sniper0666@aol.com
History shows again and again how nature points out the folly of man.
Oh No! You Know She's Got To Go!
Go Go Quadzilla! <oo=+=oo>
http://members.aol.com/sniper0666/page/intro.html