Question about H pipe/ X pipe

[Blackbird66]

For those of you who run these............What do you do about dropping the transmission? I'm running a 3550 tremec 5 speed, and tend to drop the trans about once every six months or so for something. My mustang was my only experience with a H pipe and it was bolt in. All the pics I've seen have not been bolt in. So what do you do to drop the transmission?

[crazy longhorn]

My H pipe is bolted in(home brew).....crazyL

[67chevemall]

You may be able to run em, before or after the Tran.

[72swb_327stroker_?]

do you have one yet?
or are you asking to find out if it will be worth your while to install one?

either way, have it flanged with ball joints, and you can unbolt them, remove the section to get access to your trans and be done with it!
don't use flat flanges with gaskets as they tend to be prone to leaking...
the ball joints are awesome! no leaks, no gaskets, no headaches!!!!

[69halfton]

....if your dropin the tranny that often. i wouldn't bother even installing a cross over. they are only good for like 1-2 hp or something. and true duals are way easyer to deal with for tranny stuff.

[lilred67]

i had my h-pipe installed right in front of the cross member for the trailing arms.it gives me plenty of room to remove my sm465 that i don't plan on removing any more than i have to. i know it's a little too far back from where everybody says put but, i didn't install it for performance. i installed it for sound control.

[crazy longhorn]

Originally Posted by 69halfton

....if your dropin the tranny that often. i wouldn't bother even installing a cross over. they are only good for like 1-2 hp or something. and true duals are way easyer to deal with for tranny stuff.

Its not as much about the hp, but the tork generated in the low/mid range that makes the diff.....an H or X also has a much "sweeter" sound. I run flat flanges, but with aluminum (Percys gaskets). They seal, & are reuseable....crazyL

[Blackbird66]

cool, thanks for the info.
So where do you get ball joints? Any pics? I've never heard of such a thing.

[ChevyDude]

I went X.

[72swb_327stroker_?]

Originally Posted by Blackbird66

cool, thanks for the info.
So where do you get ball joints? Any pics? I've never heard of such a thing.

these things are awesome! here is the link:http://www.metexcorp.com/exhaust_decoupler.htm
but they are pricey, just go ball and socket if you don't want to pay the extra 100 bucks or so..get these @ jegshttp://www.jegs.com/p/Dynomax/753243/10002/-1/11527
this is a pic of a ball joint exhaust coupler

[suville]

Originally Posted by Blackbird66

cool, thanks for the info.
So where do you get ball joints? Any pics? I've never heard of such a thing.

Google "header buddies" not positive thats the name but as I recall a company made these to use in exhaust fabrication.

[mfishburn]

Try some of those total seal exhaust clamps or straps. I dont know how well they work but they claim it seals like a weld.

[Jim_PA]

The magnflow kit I got came with this style clap (similar to the band clamp above) but these clamps actually make the pipes tight, as opposed to just forming a seal around them:

http://www.mandrelbendingsolutions.c.../Detail?no=375

I highly recommend these... the pipes on the magnaflow system have 2 slits towards the end that allow these clamps to clamp the pipes together, yet they slip back apart when you loosen the clamps.

I think my x is far enough back that I wouldn't have to remove it to get my 4 speed out though... certainly would be easy enough to remove if I had to though.

[Blackbird66]

OK, so the ball joints look very much like what we use at the factory for some of the exhaust joints.
Again, Thanks guys, now on to the shopping list!