When I bought my car, it had dual s on it, but was missing the x brace. I bought a x brace and want to puyt a new exhaust system in. What are your suggestions?

Thanks again
John

Someone on here got one of the Flowmaster systems to work with just a 1/4 inch shim on the x-brace. I can't remember who now, but maybe they will chime in.

I had a custom system done at a local shop. 2.5" was the max that we could fit but I have heard of people putting 3" on.

It depends on if you want to go stock or after market/performance.

I had a stock system on and replaced it with the Flowmaster dual set up. I like it allot but make sure you take your car to a good shop that understands exactly what you want or do it yourself.

I had to have my shop install it twice because they did not even consider the X brace. They also installed the emergency break cross over cable over the pipes instead of under.

Just tell them that you would like the system installed with the X brace in use.

My X brace needs a spacer in the front but none in the back. If the shop took enough time I think they could have mounted it better with no spacer needed for the x brace.

Because I have sub frame connectors in I have not put the x brace back in yet.

One other member (Bob Spears) had his system mounted without spacers and was able to use the X brace. I think he just went to a better shop.

Thanks for the replies. Much appreciated.I live in a small town of 6000 and the only muffler shop in town has alot to be desired. I guess I will put on the trailer and drive 120 miles to GET R DONE.

Thanks again! :cool:

Originally posted by MytMini:
Someone on here got one of the Flowmaster systems to work with just a 1/4 inch shim on the x-brace. I can't remember who now, but maybe they will chime in. In my 69 vert we installed the Flowmaster American thunder system with 2.5 inch pipe under the xbrace with only 1/4 inch shims. The fitment was nice. I am behind a firewall here so I can't link you to pics but if you go to www.homepage.mac.com/bspears (http://www.homepage.mac.com/bspears) and browse around you can find all sorts of pics of the exhaust system.

good luck with your project

bob

ps.....there is a Quicktime sound file of the exhaust system at idle if you are interested

Well, I am reassembling my car and had Dynomax headers on it that fit great. Well, I pulled the motor etc a while ago, put in a ZZ4 and put the engine in with new Energy Suspension poly motor mounts. I test fitted the headers and the drivers side fits great. The passenger side hits the floor pan. Is there anything I can do besides bend up my floor pan?

Thank you graemlins/sad.gif

The passenger side header was hitting the floor pan on my 68 as well. It turned out the transmisison crossmember was holding the transmission up too high and when I put the custom crossmember in, it lowered back down and the head has clearance now. Maybe yours trans mount bushing is too thick. Or the motor mounts are sitting too high. If it fit before, it should fit now.

3 inch Dr Gas tandem x-pipe with 3 inch mufflers.
http://images.cardomain.com/member_images/4/web/412000-412999/412680_8_full.jpg

Modified cross brace.
http://images.cardomain.com/member_images/4/web/412000-412999/412680_23_full.jpg

Tight fit, but it does fit.
http://images.cardomain.com/member_images/4/web/412000-412999/412680_20_full.jpg

Sporter,
Great pics!!!!

Also a great look at how to space out the X brace.

Thanks alot.

I must say the exhaust I installed looks identical to the one pictured above. I too used a Dr. Gas, 3" In, and Out to a 2 1/2".

Instead of shimming down my x-brace, I had already installed Globasl West Sub Frame Connectors, so I made a new X-Brace that actually fits up into the tunnel, above the exhaust. I felt shimming down the x-brace was a little to low, not to mention if you ever drove over something, I didn't want to rip off the floorpans. At least the exhaust now which is the lowest point can't snag on anything. The x-brace is very similar to the one they installed on the White Convertible at Year One. They did something very similar.

If anyone would like to post some pictures fro me, I could email them to you so they could be posted. I'm not up to speed on the proscess, Sorry.

And here they are. Thanks, Jon.


http://img20.photobucket.com/albums/v61/gort69/69%20Camaro/Exhaust_001.jpg

http://img20.photobucket.com/albums/v61/gort69/69%20Camaro/Exhaust_003.jpg

http://img20.photobucket.com/albums/v61/gort69/69%20Camaro/Exhaust_004.jpg

[ 05-30-2004, 01:46 PM: Message edited by: BPOS ]

I'm also going 3 inch on my convert , I will be using borla's , I will be running 3 inch over the axle also what should I run centre out or offset out of the mufflers , what would give the most clearance or does it matter .
Mark .

My Flowmasters are side inlet, center outlet, and I think it works well. 50's are what I run.

Try the link below to my web page that shows more descriptions and photos of my exhaust.

http://home.earthlink.net/~jcniez/index.html

I checked my rear trans mount and it is the same as a stock rubber one, same with the motor mounts. I am thinking the guy who put my floor pans in put it in to low. Unfortunately, he no live here anymore. I dont want to beat my floor pan in. I am looking at going with stock manifolds. Any thoughts?

John :rolleyes:

John,
A picture may help us see how the header is hitting the floor. Even if the floor pan was installed to low you could try different motor mounts.
It would be easier than messing with the floor.

Another option is to sell the headers and pick up a different set.

I started out with the dynomax headers but they hung too low for my car. I was scraping the ground with them because my car is lowered. I went with headman shortly headers and had no problems. I had to dent one or two areas to get them to fit but it is another option to modifying the floor.

I built a 2 1/2" system using mandrell bends that fit between the x-brace and drive shaft. The cross brace was not modified and looks stock. I did bend the cross member up slightly at the trans mount to ensure the transmission was sitting up where it belonged.
Check out my web site and click on the exhaust section.
http://www.tootechracing.com/Car%20Section%20Starter%20Page.htm

Here is another way to get an X pipe into a 1st gen F-body.

These machined bar stock aluminum braces allow the body pan to be lowered so the X can go above it.
http://pypesexhaust.com/gallery/rpe631fa3.jpg
Look at the ground clearance.....
http://pypesexhaust.com/gallery/brown02.jpg

Hi Chris - it was cool to run into you at the ARMO reception last week. Have you thought about an oval pipe X-pipe section that would fit under in the tunnel with the drive shaft and not need so much spacer to bolt the X-brace back on? My thought was on a lowered car like mine (see link in sig) it would be too low. I already have my X-brace dropped about 3/4" with just straight pipes...

We hadn't considered that. It's only convertibles and its only 1st gen. I believe the cost for such short production runs would be prohibitive but I am going to investigate.

Maybe something that could be utilized on coupes as well that are lowered allowing improve ground clearence...

Look at the one in My picture section , it seperates the exhaust from the driveshaft and I made a driveshaft loop on top . No ground clearance problems and ne need for large spacers .
Mark .