Exhaust piped out in front of the rear tires? Pros? Cons?

I have always liked the look of the exhaust dumping out in front of the rear tires, and as I was crawling under my '68 Riv this weekend, I realized that I don't have frame rails keeping me from doing it.

However, I would like to ask some of you guys to get your thoughts, and if anyone else has done it, regretted it, etc. If you have pictures of your car with this exhaust setup, please post! Thanks, guys,

 

In some states, that's illegal. Where are you located?

-BC

 

Side exhaust in front of the rear tires looks awesome.Illegal or not,I have to do it on one of my cars as it came that way from the factory!!!!!!:TU:

 

I like the look as well someone told me they switched from the rear tailpipes to in front of the wheel & didn't like the increase in exhaust noise while cursing with the window down.Just thought I'd mention it.
Jamie

 

Pro:

Looks great


Con:

Loud cabin noise

Exhaust smell with the windows down

heat from the exhaust while sitting still

 

I live in Montana - where everything is legal. Thanks for the input, I like the sounds of running the exhaust out the side!

 

Looks cool, and also does neat stuff to tiresmoke when doing a burnout.
But, when you're sitting at a stop light, idling, etc, you get exhaust smell.

Increased noise.......that can be a pro or a con depending on your preference.

 

i guess i'm in the minority. i like the exhaust all the way out the back.

 

No your not John, I'm with you:Smarty: Out back where it belongs.

I had a 63 Chevy Impala with the exhaust in front of the tires when I bought it. I had a local guy at a cruise tell me that all I needed to do to finish the look was knock out a couple teeth,put on a straw hat, and play a banjo:laugh:

It's been out the back ever since.

 

My pipes end right before the rear axle and the tips angle downwards. I'm running Cherry Bomb glasspacks. When I step on the gas, it gets deafening. At cruising speeds, there is a bad exhaust drone that vibrates up through the back. Kind of annoying, but I have been dealing with it for the time being.

At first, I thought it would sound cool. After 2 weeks, I was ready to take them back off. After 2 years, I hate them now. When I get around to it, I plan to swap out the glass packs with Flowmasters and leave the pipes as-is.

Edit: Straw hat confirmed.:TU:

 

I ran the pipes on my 72 in front of the rear tires primarily to be able to get the exhaust on and off quick and easy. Its great for that.

I think it looks great too.

I have 2.5" pipe with flowmaster 40 series. LOUD is the word. If I had my druthers I would now switch to 3 chamber flowmasters to cut the noise down a bit. As is, I get dull ears after about a half hour of driving.

I dont get excessive exhaust smell.

My pipes come out 90 degrees to the frame....If I had it to do again I might angle them 45 degrees to the rear.

 

Note that on the 'Cuda the exhaust comes out the front on the muffler and loops over to exit in front on the rear tires. In other words the muffler inlet and outlet are on the same end. That might make for a cleaner installation Jason.

- Bill

 

I am thinking about putting exhaust on my racecar, and planning on it facing out right in front of the rear tire, to deal with the burnout smoke.

 

I am not a fan of the exit in front of the tires on a street car. I'd rather have them in the back where factory placed them. Back 25 years ago,when I had less money,maybe....Now...NO WAY!But that's totally my opinion..

 

Real cars have over the axle tail pipes!

 

i've had headers & 2.5" flowmasters out the sides since '05.
now i kinda wished i'd spent the money somehwere else. it's not really that loud or smelly, but the riv's not a racecar, & the side-exhaust gives the racecar impression. o No:
it DOES make tire smoke curl up over the car during burn-outs, which makes for a very cool picture! :TU:

 

Illegal in GA, so it has to be piped out under the rear bumper. That is the way I like it to look anyhow!

:3gears:

 

Eventually the exhaust will damage the surrounding metal surfaces.

 

u are referring the AAR trans am cars.

 

Haha One of the many reasons my wife and I love Montana and travelled so far just to get married there.

I had a 67 Riv that I exited the pipes before the rear wheels. Part because I was poor and part because I liked the look. The frame is designed perfectly for going out the side on this generation Riv as you have noticed. I was able to find rectangular tailpipe extensions that saved a valuable 3/4" or so of clearance going under the rocker. I had no problem with exhaust fumes and the sound didn't bother me.....but I was a lot younger then. If you do it and don't like it its no big deal or cost to continue the pipes over the axle. So I'd go for it and see how you like it.