Who's got an X-pipe?

[454HO]

I put one on mine, but I'm not exactly thrilled with the implementation. My headers hang too low, then I have cutouts to extend the pipes back past the trans crossmember where the X-pipe sits under the driveshaft. I would really like to tuck everything up higher to get more ground clearance.

If you have one, especially on a lowered truck, post some pics so we can see how it fits.

Here's what I've got.

I am using this 3" kit from Summit.


cutouts are at the bottom of the frame rail


X-pipe tucked about as close to the trans xmember as I could get it


rear view


and a side shot showing how low it all hangs


I'm thinking of getting shorty headers and building a custom trans xmember so I can run the pipes on the top side of the xmember. Then maybe put the x-pipe above the driveshaft just aft of where it sits now. Think that would work?

[AceX]

Shorty headers + an H pipe will involve alot less work.

As it sits, it won't matter what you do because of the headers being so dam low.

Personally I'd just run a true dual system.

[gchemist]

Check my webshots pictures. I have an X-pipe installed. I use Chevelle 3/4 length headers. You can see the passenger side header below the frame rail. Not a lot, but about half of it. I also have a custom built tranny crossmember. Pictures on webshots too.

[454HO]

Originally Posted by gchemist

Check my webshots pictures. I have an X-pipe installed. I use Chevelle 3/4 length headers. You can see the passenger side header below the frame rail. Not a lot, but about half of it. I also have a custom built tranny crossmember. Pictures on webshots too.

gchemist, yours is under the driveshaft too, so I bet it hangs just as low as mine is.



So with the Chevelle 3/4 length headers, is there still not enough room to put a collector reducer and 45° bend and still be above the bottom of the frame rail?



What size pipe did you use?

[DubDubU]

I have a 4\5 drop and shorty headers. 3" exhaust
post #29
http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...83#post2819083

[softballnrd27]

Check out the post from yukon jack about his exhaust. It might be possible to run something similar to his set-up and you should have more clearance between the frame rails and tranny to not have to run the pipes so high. It is worth a look.
http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...d.php?t=308088

[asphaltburner]

Yo! AceX is correct!
I have shorties and an "H" pipe kit from Summit and the duals tuck up nicely. Great combination for truck exhausts.



Todd.

[73chevyman]

Originally Posted by asphaltburner

Yo! AceX is correct!
I have shorties and an "H" pipe kit from Summit and the duals tuck up nicely. Great combination for truck exhausts.



Todd.

what type of shorties did you use from summit

[joe231]

Originally Posted by 73chevyman

what type of shorties did you use from summit

I'd like to know this answer also...

[gchemist]

The chevelle header on the driverside is lower. Only part of the collector is below the frame rail. Less than 3/4 or so.
Here is a shot of the passengerside.


I can snap a side view picture if you want one. I used 2.5" all the way.

YouTube - ZZ4 with no traction

[454HO]

Well here's a little update. I had the day off yesterday and decided to do some work on the truck. I took all the clamps off (8 of them ) and did some tweaking on the pipe sections with a rubber mallot and a 2x4. I got the X about an inch higher than it was previously. Then I figured I could flip the cutouts so they dump towards the center instead of to the outside. This let me rotate them a little farther up without hitting the frame.

Everything looked like it was fitting pretty good, so I got the mig out and started tacking all the joints together. Then I unbolted the whole thing and drug it out from under the truck so I could finish the welding. Here's what it looks like now.





After I got it back under the truck and bolted up I cranked the engine and checked for leaks. I was suprised at how much quieter it was. It's still loud, but eliminating all the leaks from the clamped slip joints made a huge difference in the quality of the sound!

Sorry, no pics from under the truck. I was so excited by the way it sounded that I went for a 2 hour test drive. By the time I got back home it was getting dark.

[Pyrotechnic]

Nice work ! Fully welded is the only way to go. Bet it sounds mean with that X pipe.

What mufflers are those and how do they sound ?

[willett]

what kinda sound difference do X's make??

[jimfulco]

Less burbly. It puts the pulses from all 8 cylinders together, so it sounds smoother, but it still has that characteristic V-8 sound. It also makes it a little quieter, since each muffler is dealing with 8 pulses instead of 4.

[Tony_SS]

x-pipes are great for a scavaging effect... Wish I had one!

[454HO]

The mufflers are Hooker Aerochambers, part number 21513HKR. They are the 22" long case with 3" offset inlet and 3" center outlet. They are quite 'beefy'.

Yes, the X-pipe blends the exhaust pulses and makes it sounds smoother. The 454 in the truck right now has a really mild cam, like 204/209 duration at .050". So there is absolutely no lope at all. Right now it has a very deep mellow tone at idle, but gets a little louder when you mash the gas peddle.

I will try and get some installed pics and maybe a sound clip this weekend if the weather clears up.

[asphaltburner]

Yo! The shorties I got actually are intended for newer Chev trucks than mine. Unfortunately, they have A.I.R. pump "chimneys", one each side, mounted to the front tubes. I just plugged mine, a better appearance could be had by cutting off the chimneys and welding shut the air injection hole in the header tube. Also had to plug the O2 sensor hole at the collector, drivers side.
Couldn't find my old paperwork, and as I look on Summit's site, I find that the new SUM-G9015s have round ports! Interestingly, the 9015s I bought in early '08 didn't!
But I see the 9016s have the proper rectangular ports for the older 350s,...and the 9016s don't have the chimneys!
I painted mine with 2000 degree satin black.
Sorry for not responding sooner, 73chevyman. Hadn't been back here until now. Wish you'd PM'ed me!
Todd.

[joe231]

Thanks for the info Todd!!