dual exhaust

[inthemaking]

want to do a dual exhaust on my car just dont know where i should start it and what to move if any one has done a dual if they have pics of under the car to see what i am getting in to would be awsome .
thanks
rob

[MrMazda92]

*Takes a deep breath*

Alright, this will be one of the most complicated things you can do, if you plan on doing it "properly". Properly meaning equal length piping from head to outlet. There are 2 ways to do that, you can maintain the 270 degree bend that most headers(pacesetters excluded of course) include on the right side(rear), or you can dump the exhaust in different locations.

Before we really advise on this, it would be best if we knew your plans. Are you doing this strictly for performance? Are you doing it for looks? I.e. bragging rights? This will play a huge role in how you go about this project, mainly due to the choice between a "catback dual", and true dual exhaust. Catbacks are simple, and give all the looks of a true dual(unless people are able to see beneath your car of course).

True duals will sound like crap, unless you go to great measures to avoid this. It's pretty much the same reason the PaceSetter headers sound like crap for most people. Compared to stock exhaust manifolds or ebay headers for example.

Get back to me on that, and I can pitch some ideas to you either way...

[Josh]

Yes I am sure a true duel exhaust has been done I have never seen pictures, most just go with a duel muffler or tip setup (not real duel exhaust). If you want to do a real duel exhaust I would recommend using like 1.25" or 1.5" pipe, keep the 270deg bend in the rear header and then run them into an X pipe then keep them separated the rest of the way back. you will need to run 2 cat's, 2 resonators, and 2 mufflers but would be fairly straight forward. the other issue is running the pipe on the drivers side of the fuel tank. they did not really leave much room there but it can be done any halfway decent shop should be able to do it. I would like to think it would sound very nice.

[mikeinaus]

you think theres enough room for 2 cats and 2 resonators? our exhaust channel isnt the widest and he'd probably have to offset the cats to make them fit. i could see maybe 2 cats and 1 small resonator fitting but i doubt hed have enough room for 2. maybe a dual in dual out muffler instead of resonators? either way its a dumb mod. the whole point of dual exhaust is because its not practical to have a massive 5"+ diameter exhaust on large displacement engines. if you want the look throw on a 2nd muffler and run a Y before the axle. youd also have to get hangers welded to the body of the car as theres nothing on the drivers side to mount it too. also not to mention i dont know of any performance mufflers that come in 1.5" inlet. it would more then likely turn out extremely loud/raspy and cost a tun of money. or you could go fowljesse's way and just run 2 pipes out the side of the body...

[MrMazda92]

Offset cat/resonators is a good idea. For purely performance, you can do an awful lot with a true dual exhaust. The #1 benefit that comes to mind is that you have much more control when it comes to exhaust sizing. You can fine-tune it as you see fit, and you aren't stuck with 2.25"/2.5" diameter pipe as most members here use.

I've got a few more reasons to want true duals myself, but you'll all have to wait and see.

[Josh]

I have enough 3" SS laying around right now I was thinking about making a 3" resonated midpipe myself. but I think N/A with 3" it might scavenge a little bit. but then again I do have headers

[MrMazda92]

I don't know if you'd scavenge much of anything with 3" pipe... The velocity would be low enough(after the headers of course), that you'd have a hard time pushing the exhaust out in the first place, not to mention assisting in filling the cylinders :O

[MrMazda92]

If I had the money, I'd go all out testing header primary diameters. I'd be extremely interested to see what a smaller primary might offer, especially if you open it up by a calculated amount in the secondaries, and then run straight pipes back. Honestly, I think there'd be a ton of room for improvement.