Pre bent exhaust for our trucks?

[bayer20]

Mandrel bent has a lot less restriction. The local shop uses the hydraulic bender which slightly smashes and crimps the pipe, thus restricting exhaust flow. Gain or lose 10-20 hp it's up to you.

I hear ya and I know what you mean however I believe thats more a myth than anything. Maybe a 850hp Winston cup engine at 9000 rpm it might matter but I hardly dought that an average sbc will know the difference. A set of long tube headers only add an average 20hp So a few compressed bends around the axles will not make a difference. If anything than maybe a 2.5in vs 3in no matter how its bend.

[Chevy454]

A set of long tube headers only add an average 20hp So a few compressed bends around the axles will not make a difference. If anything than maybe a 2.5in vs 3in no matter how its bend.

That's not true...I watched a stock 14+ second Nova gain 4+ mph in the 1/4 from a simple swap to a mandrel bent system...the bends at the axles aren't the ones that kill you, it's the very first ones at the head pipes, further upstream...

[c10crazy]

Originally Posted by Jcentsr6

www.mandrelbend.com is doing mine this week.
Thank god I live about 10 mins away from this place. Not to many Mandrel benders around

How much do they charge for a mandrel bent system if you don't mind me asking?. Please post pics.

[JameslovesJammie]

Originally Posted by bayer20

im confused why people want to spent double the amount on pre-bend exhaust systems, just so they can say I have a borla or magnaflow systems.

Why spend more money on one of these prebent systems? Well, they are completely stainless steel pipes, with stainless steel mufflers, and an X-Pipe, and are mandrel bent. Magnaflow gives them a lifetime warranty if they ever leak.

Originally Posted by bayer20

Whats the difference? Does the local muffler shop use pliers to bend em?

No, but they typically use what is called a "crush bend." How it works is the pipe, say a 3" is put in a bender that "crushes" the inside of the pipe to make the angle. This will reduce the inside diameter of the pipe, so your 3" pipe is now 2.5". Mandrel bends are smooth on both sides and have significantly more distortion in the pipe diameter.

This is a crush bend



This is a mandrel bend



Both are the same diameter pipe, but you can see in the crush bend how much more restriction is made at the angle. Not just in the diameter change, but also the ripples will reduce flow and efficiency of passing exhaust.

Originally Posted by bayer20

Galvanized steel which will certainly get the job done. In my opinion, unless you have an at least $25k or more classic car, a stainless system is overkill especially for a daily driver. also if you habits are like me, change your cars often, you be wasting your money with anything more that galvanized.

While galvanized steel is certainly an acceptable material for making exhaust, stainless steel with a lifetime warranty is the way to go. I would say a typical exhaust system up here lasts about 3 years on average before it gets a leak SOMEWHERE. I'm not saying completely rusted out, but it usually tends to get a leak.

Originally Posted by bayer20

In my opinion, unless you have an at least $25k or more classic car, a stainless system is overkill especially for a daily driver. also if you habits are like me, change your cars often, you be wasting your money with anything more that galvanized.

I respectfully disagree with you on this point. A daily driver is exactly who SHOULD have a system like this. I have about $2,000 into my truck, and when I do exhaust, I want to do it one time and be done with it, not do it all over in a couple of years. But I will not sell my truck. I will not get a different one when I get bored of this one. I will keep it and go to work on my other '72 or my '65 GMC.

Originally Posted by bayer20

I hear ya and I know what you mean however I believe thats more a myth than anything. Maybe a 850hp Winston cup engine at 9000 rpm it might matter but I hardly dought that an average sbc will know the difference. A set of long tube headers only add an average 20hp So a few compressed bends around the axles will not make a difference. If anything than maybe a 2.5in vs 3in no matter how its bend.

An 850 hp Winston Cup engine is the only thing you need a 3" dual exhaust setup on. Anything more than 2.5" will rob you of the torque needed by a street truck. A 3" system will be louder, but will not help your performance...it may hurt it on a street truck.

Note that this is all my opinion gathered through much observation by reading as much as I can on the subject and also drag strip observations of my buddy's race cars. Your Mileage May Vary, but this is my opinion on the subject.

[Jcentsr6]

I bought my own flowmasters (super 44's) and just dropped off my truck to the exhaust shop about 1hr ago...The price is high...but Im am getting what I want, How I want, Where I want, everything the way I want. I am willing to pay for custom items ifit comes down to it. If the quality is worth it. I am running 2.5 in stainless 409 pipes into the flowmasters then piping out the sides into dual slash cut 3"tips. I dont know if its going to look as I want...its a slight gamble but I think it will come out right. I am paying over $500.00 for this. Maybe im stupid..but its what I want...and no one else is going to have it on their C10 truck. So it will be worth every $ when it comes down to it. Just my 2cents.

[Jim_PA]

Originally Posted by bayer20

You are comparing Ebay to Oranges? That is best case scenerio and you still need to eighter a pay someone to install it or b lay underneath your vehicle and try to bolt/weld it up! Im talking buying a system at a retail store at retail price not Ebay. My last system I had installed was custom fit to my headers with one chambers, 3in, H pipe, and cut out to one each out of the side of my body panel and I paid a total of $250 and it sounds so mean it will em-barres every Mustang. It also helps to know that the guys at TBI Fabricate anything from custom headers to rolling chassis 5sec drag cars. You just cant get this kinda stuff out of a cookie cutter exhaust system.

Ebay is the first place to go when shopping for anything, and yes, I work on my stuff myself. Last galvanized flowmaster kit I had lasted less than 3 years before it rusted through at the output of the muffler.

I'm sure for 250, it's not half the system the stainless magnaflow kit is.

[chevydog66]

Jcentsr6, I agree with ya brother!

[wheels67]

Originally Posted by chevydog66

Mandrel bent has a lot less restriction. The local shop uses the hydraulic bender which slightly smashes and crimps the pipe, thus restricting exhaust flow. Gain or lose 10-20 hp it's up to you.

Yep. better flow = better numbers.

[Jcentsr6]

Here are some pics of the new pipes...I didnt have much time to get any good pics. I will shoot some underside pics at work on thursday and make a new post with details. You should here it. Flowmaster 44's Mandrel stainless tubing.

[cory321]

Pypes exhaust makes a kit and the board vendor 73-87chevytrucks.com sells the pypes brand system for 299 plus 50 for your choice of pypes mufflers.This is what i plan on buying http://www.pypesexhaust.com/

[chevydog66]

I didn't see it on their site. Got a link?

[WorkinLonghorn]

James... wrote

would say a typical exhaust system up here lasts about 3 years on average

Wow,what a difference location makes. I've had this truck for 9 years and am still using the dual exhaust system the previous (original) owner put on in the '80s.It did spring a big leak under the driver-side door,but I just cut open a coffee can and wired it on. That was 6 years ago and no leak since.

[jfalesi]

Originally Posted by Sport/Truck

WWDJD!
s/t

WWDJD for a Klondike bar? That's what I want to know.

[chevydog66]

I had an aluminized cat back system put on my 96 Chevy Z71, it rusted and fell off within 5 years.

[LUV2XCLR8]

This picture says it all, JMHO, about the Quality of the Magnaflow set-up.

"GQ" Has 2.5" pipes, bender bent, not Mandrel, SS Magnaflows, No X, it's
harder to make a pretty X on a 4wd, dumps in front of the tires, has no
tips on it, and premium hangers. I got mine done for $500 and "Merlot" is
getting this kit instead of the custom done one. I Luv my Magnaflows

*Disclaimer - This vid was shot outside, but the rig was in the garage so
it has that tunnel sound to it. It is alot deeper in person, ignore the Dog.

Linky to "GQ" Video with Stainless Steel Magnaflows exhaust

[cory321]

http://www.pysales.com/iwwida.pvx?;P...20%20&COMP=ppe
http://store.73-87chevytrucks.com/me...ode=67-72UHood

[jaros44sr]

Hey Luv, you just gave me a ton of inspiration. Thanks, cool vid. and I didn't see the dog... gotta luv a cool sounding exhaust note!!!! Every time I feel down, all I have to do is listen to that video. J.

[LUV2XCLR8]

Listen & you can here him barking in the back ground, he was out of view
from the video in his containment area (I have wireless fencing for him)
and thanks for the props, it sounds killer going down the road at high rpm.

["67"StepSide]

Ok here's my 2 cents. The company is called pypes I saw the exb trailer at a car show. Wow really nice stuff complete pre bent system, with x pipe. Depending on price for mufflers they have I think 3 to choose from. It's a little under $500. Sounds great I heard It on a pickup and a camaro.
Here's the link http://www.pypesexhaust.com/

[1LoC10]

The guy above you already linked the Pypes one

[jaros44sr]

Originally Posted by LUV2XCLR8

Listen & you can here him barking in the back ground, he was out of view
from the video in his containment area (I have wireless fencing for him)
and thanks for the props, it sounds killer going down the road at high rpm.

All I think I could see of him was a reflection in that shiny bumper, good work...L8R J.

[chevydog66]

Thanks for the Pypes link. It shows the Pypes system with the tails routed out the rear corners of the truck at an angle. How does the Magnaflow system tails route? Oh ya, and the Magnaflow system sounds awesome. Thanks for the exhaust note!! Is that a big block or a small block making that sound? Looks great too!!

[LUV2XCLR8]

The pic I posted was from the article linked in post reply #11, I just
right clicked it and saved it, might be a rear dump pic on there also.

As for my rig it's a 1970 LT1 Camaro SB and was built mostly by the
PO and machine shops out in Cali, he claims it to be right at 425HP.

[WorkinLonghorn]

J.C.Whitney has mandrel bent aluminized kits for stock manifold or long tube headers with choice of muffler for $150 and $160 for our trucks and later.

[chevydog66]

Do all of the pre bent systems that are out there for sale come as a rear corner exit of the truck? Anyone have pics of what the tails/tips look like exiting the truck?