Hey all, here's a question I'd like to throw out there. 
Now, first off, I'm normally a pretty conventional guy. But, in light off the trend in our cars being built lower to the ground these days and the fact that we're using larger diameter exhaust systems such as the 3" pipe and all...do the exhaust systems have to be made out of "round" material? Is there some reason that we could not have a free breathing exhaust system that was built oval or flatter shaped (or even rectangal shaped)?
Yeah, I know, making the tubing would cost more money, yada, yada, yada... :boring:
But just for discussion sake, what would be the pitfalls of an exhaust system that was oval shaped, rectangular shaped, etc, as a way to help with ground clearance problems? Would it affect exhaust perfromance i,e, breathing, "sound", etc?
I know there are some exhaust that are already manufactured in an oval shape, but my bringing this up is really just to provoke "thought and discussion" about unconventionalism as a way to approach the ground clearance issue.
I have had trouble with my '69 Nova for years with ground clearance problems because I choose to use a dual muffler system rather than the usual crossflow type as per factory design for the Nova. Also, I remember dragging off my brand new Turbo mufflers on a Chevelle I had while trying to carefully drive down my Father-in-laws "dirt" road so my wife could pay them a visit.
Don't the roundy-round boys use a flatter shaped exhaust system (of course, no mufflers)?
Is there something wrong with using an exhaust pipe shape other than round? Would it affect breathing characteristics, etc?
It could be flatter (oval/rectangular) under the body of the car and then convert back to round for conventional tailpipe tips if preferred.
How difficult could it be in this 21st century to manufacture an exhaust sytem that is oval or rectangular,square,etc?
Like I said, this subject is just to promote discussion. What do you all think? Couldn't exhaust be just as effective in some other shape than round? Or, are we really bound by traditionalism and round exhaust? What about some new thinking towards the shape of more "ground clearance freindly" exhaust/muffler shape...something more flatter shaped that would promote more ground clearance...
Just thought I'd provoke some discussion on the subject on this great forum. Anybody care to expound?
Just food for thought... Have a great day :thumbsup:
Dave
Now, first off, I'm normally a pretty conventional guy.
But, in light off the trend in our cars being built lower to the ground these days and the fact that we're using larger diameter exhaust systems such as the 3" pipe and all...do the exhaust systems have to be made out of "round" material? Is there some reason that we could not have a free breathing exhaust system that was built oval or flatter shaped (or even rectangal shaped)?Yeah, I know, making the tubing would cost more money, yada, yada, yada... :boring:
But just for discussion sake, what would be the pitfalls of an exhaust system that was oval shaped, rectangular shaped, etc, as a way to help with ground clearance problems? Would it affect exhaust perfromance i,e, breathing, "sound", etc?
I know there are some exhaust that are already manufactured in an oval shape, but my bringing this up is really just to provoke "thought and discussion" about unconventionalism as a way to approach the ground clearance issue.
I have had trouble with my '69 Nova for years with ground clearance problems because I choose to use a dual muffler system rather than the usual crossflow type as per factory design for the Nova. Also, I remember dragging off my brand new Turbo mufflers on a Chevelle I had while trying to carefully drive down my Father-in-laws "dirt" road so my wife could pay them a visit.
Don't the roundy-round boys use a flatter shaped exhaust system (of course, no mufflers)?
Is there something wrong with using an exhaust pipe shape other than round? Would it affect breathing characteristics, etc?
It could be flatter (oval/rectangular) under the body of the car and then convert back to round for conventional tailpipe tips if preferred.
How difficult could it be in this 21st century to manufacture an exhaust sytem that is oval or rectangular,square,etc?
Like I said, this subject is just to promote discussion. What do you all think? Couldn't exhaust be just as effective in some other shape than round? Or, are we really bound by traditionalism and round exhaust? What about some new thinking towards the shape of more "ground clearance freindly" exhaust/muffler shape...something more flatter shaped that would promote more ground clearance...
Just thought I'd provoke some discussion on the subject on this great forum. Anybody care to expound?
Just food for thought... Have a great day :thumbsup:
Dave
