Which is better, X pipe or H pipe?

[fleming442]

BAND CLAMPS!

 

[Plain Jane]

I don't understand how you plan on doing this cat back. Now if you plan on true duals w/o cat you will be spending some money. The single exhaust is enough for that engine and a dual system might even hurt performance cause you won't have any exhaust velocity for savaging. If your setting up for a later engine change go for it.

I don't foresee this engine getting any major power upgrades or a complete swap in the near future. It's a single exhaust now, but I do like the look and sound of a dual. If it means I'll lose power, perhaps a Y-pipe out by the very back might work better (just to split at the end leading to two tail pipes)?

 

[pontiacgp]

You can always get a more aggressive sounding 1 in and 2 out muffler

 

[bracketchev1221]

The previous owner had custom exhaust done from the headers back on my wagon. It has an X pipe. It was all brand new when I got it. This is the only car I've owned with either an X or an H pipe and it has been a ROYAL PAIN IN THE *ss!!!!!! And is super unnecessary for the stock 350 that feeds it.

In the 18 months I've had the car, I've had to drop the TH 400 transmission twice. I didn't want to have to take loose the exhaust because I know I would only be dealing with leaks later on. I just barely had enough room to slide the G-Force crossmember back far enough to get the trans out and back in.

Getting the driveshaft in and out is almost as tricky. It's a crapshoot between raising and lowering the rear end to make room to slide the driveshaft out the back.

When this exhaust system rots away, and I know it will due to the harsh winters we have here on the Northcoast, and this is a daily/winter beater... it will get stock manifolds back on with true duals and no X or H pipe.

This is why I will never have a car with an H or X pipe. The small gain in any power isn't worth the headache and it seems to tame the sound of the camshaft by tying the sides together.

 

[pontiacgp]

X gives higher tone, H gives lower tone, neither gives any more power than without the X or H.

 

[Plain Jane]

You can always get a more aggressive sounding 1 in and 2 out muffler

Very true

 

[motorheadmike]

The previous owner had custom exhaust done from the headers back on my wagon. It has an X pipe. It was all brand new when I got it. This is the only car I've owned with either an X or an H pipe and it has been a ROYAL PAIN IN THE *ss!!!!!! And is super unnecessary for the stock 350 that feeds it.

In the 18 months I've had the car, I've had to drop the TH 400 transmission twice. I didn't want to have to take loose the exhaust because I know I would only be dealing with leaks later on. I just barely had enough room to slide the G-Force crossmember back far enough to get the trans out and back in.

Getting the driveshaft in and out is almost as tricky. It's a crapshoot between raising and lowering the rear end to make room to slide the driveshaft out the back.

When this exhaust system rots away, and I know it will due to the harsh winters we have here on the Northcoast, and this is a daily/winter beater... it will get stock manifolds back on with true duals and no X or H pipe.

The x-pipe on my wagon has to come out to get the transmission out. Thankfully I planned for it by adding v-bands. Still a PITA.

 

[pagrunt]

Very true

Don't forget the early years of our cars there was a 1 in/2 out muffler with side exits (same right tail as the single set up.) Look up El Camino SS, 442, Hurst/Olds, IIRC.

 

[MrSony]

I like an h pipe with an offset flange so each side is still removable separately. I don't think ill ever have a car with fully welded/one piece exhaust.

 

[Wraith]

On one build I had Edelbrock headers into a Y to 3" pipe, Flowmaster 3" single in, 2.5" dual out and out behind the wheels, loved the sound of it, always got compliments.