Straight or X-pipe?

[pjpj1979]

Hey guys I'm debating on getting an x-pipe on my Cutlass but I'm really on a budget. I'm getting Magnaflows but was wondering if I went straight to the mufflers from my headers, would there be a difference than If a had a x-pipe instead? Please share your wisdom and thoughts on this for me.
Thanks!!!

 

[patmckinneyracing]

With the X-pipe, it will help even out pressure in both pipes and it will quite your ride down quite a bit from what I've been told. I'm running an H pipe which is a little cheaper and doesn't take away from the good sound of your exhaust, and it evens out the pressure in both pipes producing a good quality exhaust tone. Straight pipe works too, just depends on how much your willing to spend.

 

[78mali350]

I'm runnin straight pipes, no X or H out of full length headers into flowy 40's. Honestly on the road at 60 mph it's not that loud at all of exhaust. fairly quiet at slower speeds as well. no rattles and i have no sound deadening or anything either, just carpet.

 

[Oldsmoletick]

If you run straight to the muffler off the header with no equalizer pipe, (X or H), you will get the "pop pop pop" when you let off the gas. It's more annoying than anything else, I ran my car like that for quite a few years, got sick of the sound, and made a H-pipe for it. I didn't notice any gain or loss, but it does sound much nicer.

 

[pjpj1979]

So if I run straight pipe to the mufflers it will not affect my performance?

 

[joe_padavano]

So if I run straight pipe to the mufflers it will not affect my performance?

The X pipe allows each exhaust pulse to "see" both mufflers, effectively reducing backpressure. I've seen a couple of magazine tests where the car was marginally quicker in the quarter mile with an X pipe.

 

[megaladon6]

on a regular street car you probably won't notice the difference in power between straight and x-pipe. but the x is more powerful than the straights or h-pipes.

 

[shotgun]

Short version.

No x-over, loud , rougher idle, more sensative to tune at lower rpm.

H type x-over, quieter at low rpm, smoother idle, more forgiving to tune, small increase of torque at low rpm

X type x-over, quieter at all rpm (3 to 6 db) , smoother throughout rpm range, forgiving to tune , small torque gain throughout rpm range.

A side benefit of an x is you can run "less" muffler to attain the same sound, which may ro may not give a H.P. increase.

Never seen a car "hurt" by using one.