Exhaust Suggestions?

[Russell]

Hey guys!

I'm almost to the point where it is time to get the exhaust done on my truck (I finally got the thing running properly after about 3 years of fiddling ) I am planning on going from the headers into a Y-pipe and down the driver's side with a single pipe, exiting at 45 degrees behind the driver's side rear wheel. However, I need suggestions on the pipe diameter, and the muffler choice.

My truck has a fairly mildly built 350 in it (XE262-H cam, TBI swirlport heads, stock intake and carb, reasonably high compression) with a set of flow tech headers. It is built entirely for torque0, not for horsepower (it will never see more than 4500 - 5000 rpm, ever) so I was thinking that 3.5" of pipe should be plenty for my engine. What muffler would you guys choose? I want to stick away from the traditional flowmaster or magnaflow, I don't really like the sound of either. I had flo pros on the truck prior to taking it apart, but they were too loud.

I want something that idles fairly quietly, and cruises quietly, but has a nice rumble to it when I hammer the skinny pedal. I don't want a brappy or tinny sounding exhaust, I want it deep and reasonably mellow.

[N2TRUX]

I love the sound of my 77. It has 3" ram horns in to a custom 3" y-pipe. It goes through a hi-flow cat then a Si/So Flowmaster. It's has a slight rumble but nothing that you notice in the cab. Once you hit the loud pedal, it comes to life with a nice raspy sound.

[70 Suburban]

for the cost and the fact that you want single then 3 in and if you want it realy nice u can get mandrel bends at stewert and stevenson and build a realy high flow single

[Ivan D.]

Agreed on the 3" suggestion, however it may be easier to run 2.5" downpipes from the headers to the Y-connector - that's what I was planning on for my truck, until I realizes I have Chevelle headers so they don't hand low enough to clear the tranny.

[Pyrotechnic]

I would do 2.5 pipe from the headers, then merged into a single 3 inch. Single 3 inch should be perfect for your engine.

A Flowmaster 50 series Delta Flow muffler sounds like what you want. The delta flow series is supposed to have minimal interior resonance and increased performance. Thats my experience with them anyway.

[Russell]

Ken, are you running the 50 series Delta Flow as well?

Am I correct in assuming that Si/So is Single in / Single out?

[N2TRUX]

Originally Posted by Russell

Ken, are you running the 50 series Delta Flow as well? Am I correct in assuming that Si/So is Single in / Single out?

Si/So is correct. I'll have to look at what mine is. I don't remember what series it is.

Here's some pics-

[N2TRUX]

More pics-

[70 Suburban]

that sir is wonderful work

[chevymotocross]

I have true dual 2.25'' on my 87 305. I am running dynomax mufflers. These are not the loud ultra flows, they are the quieter turbo mufflers. They are very quiet at idle and cruise. If I stomp on it, it's deep but no where near obnoxious, like every flowmaster I've ever had.

[moneyeater]

Originally Posted by N2TRUX

I love the sound of my 77. It has 3" ram horns in to a custom 3" y-pipe. It goes through a hi-flow cat then a Si/So Flowmaster. It's has a slight rumble but nothing that you notice in the cab. Once you hit the loud pedal, it comes to life with a nice raspy sound.

Are those ramhorns from some other vehicle or are they some custom parts?
I like the look very much and they seem to fit nice and tight!
Along with your beautyfull exhaustsystem they look perfect!
How is the difference from single to dual exhaust?

[Russell]

Those are stock manifolds off an older Corvette if I recall correctly... Not really that easy to find in the bigger / higher flow version. The older 67-72ish trucks had a smaller version of those manifolds as well. They are called Ram Horns

[Roper]

Russel if your going with a single exhuast then try to route it to the passenger side.
Example winter time you get all that exhuast steam coming out. If your parked or backing up your going to have all that smoke in your way. Its worse if your window is down. Example window or mirror is steamed/frosted up so you have your window down so you can see to back up.

[Pyrotechnic]

Originally Posted by N2TRUX

I love the sound of my 77. It has 3" ram horns in to a custom 3" y-pipe. It goes through a hi-flow cat then a Si/So Flowmaster. It's has a slight rumble but nothing that you notice in the cab. Once you hit the loud pedal, it comes to life with a nice raspy sound.

Why the catalytic converter on a 77 in Texas ? 83 and down is exempt from emissions and cats are not required even if they were original equipment. Just feeling environmentally friendly ?

[Russell]

I've been considering putting a cat on too. I find that they give a much deeper / mellower exhaust note. Run a cat, and a louder muffler

[N2TRUX]

Those are 3" ramhorns that were specific to the 63-64 Corvette with a FI 327. They can be found as they have been reproduced. As you might have guessed those have been ground smooth and polished.

[N2TRUX]

Originally Posted by Russell

I've been considering putting a cat on too. I find that they give a much deeper / mellower exhaust note. Run a cat, and a louder muffler

I agree with Russell. I know that a cat isn't required, but that is a hi-flow cat and it works like a resonator. It gives the exhaust a smoother sound...

[Pyrotechnic]

Yeah i figured that might have been the reason. Iron manifolds and cats give really cut the high end and just leave the lows. For a long time I had Flowmasters pinned to the smooth and deep sound I had heard so much on newer vehicles since it seemed like everyone went and bought a new Z71 and put Flowmasters on it.

Then I put a pair of Flo's with long tube headers on my truck expecting that same sound, but what I got was an aggressive muscle car sound with a full range of sound. Totally different sound but the deep rumble that Flowmasters are famous for is still there.

[Captkaos]

Originally Posted by Roper

Russel if your going with a single exhuast then try to route it to the passenger side.

Keep in mind the fuel lines are ran down the passenger side of the truck also. There would be a lot of heat under there near them.

[Russell]

Mine are routed down the driver's side these days, bit of a side effect from the TPI

[75gmck25]

The iron ram's horn Corvette manifolds with 2.5" outlets are still available from GM, but reproduction parts are also available from other sources. I've seen them for as little as $80 each, new from one of the standard places (Partsamerica, I think).

There are also always a few sets of 2" outlet rams horn manifolds listed on ebay. Usually at least one set is from a pickup, which means the outlet is swept back instead of pointing straight down.

Bruce

[1976HighSierra]

Hooker Aero Chambers are really nice mufflers. They give an agressive tone during acceleration simalar to magnaflow. Only its a deeper sound. The nice thing is at idle and crusing speed they are quite so you dont have that annoying resonance in the cab going down the road.

[Ivan D.]

Not to hi-jack, but tis an exhaust thread, so figured I'd post my new setup here:



Ran me about $55 and took about 2 hours to install, also thumbnails re clicky for them bigger pics.

[Russell]

If it were my truck, I'd move the stacks out of the box and come up through the steps on the side of the box

[Ivan D.]

Russel, that'd make it like that Red Express Dodge, right? I was thinking of that, but it'd bring the exhaust real low, cause it will have to go under the gas tank on the passenger side - a suburban/blazer tank install will take care of it, but for now I call it good. Also, before someone suggest to spread them out a bit, I have the bed with wooden planks, so holes for pipes were drilled along the planks center lines, can't really move anything anywhere.