New Exhaust System

OK. I'm posting this because I know many people were following the (many) recent threads on X-pipes and exhaust manifolds. I'll include pictures and prices below (in additional posts) for anyone who wishes to go this route.

I'll summarize at the bottom because I want to upload all the pictures now while I'm at home, and then comment on everything tomorrow at work :Brow:

OK - here's the 'before' picture. I believe this exhaust was the $99 special at Midas. The tailpipes were 2'' outside diameter and I'd be surprised if some spots were 1.5''. Some of the bends around the axle were 'mangled' and very restrictive. From the mufflers forward, I'd assume the pipes were 2.25'' outside diameter.

This poor car was literally breathing through straws - ou:

 

Here's a 1971 800 CFM carburetor I bought off Phil Green and sent to John Osborne for rebuilding.

I figured if I was going with a 2.5'' mandrel bent exhaust system with an X-pipe, a better flowing and rejetted carburetor was needed to fully complement the upgrade. :Brow:

 

Here's the carburetor mounted. It's the first thing we did at Stage1 Automotive last Thursday.

 

I was able to score a set of (used) Greg Gessler's ported exhaust manifolds. Rob Chilenski sand-blasted and painted them.

They were ready to bolt on. :laugh:

 

Here's some comparison pictures between ported and stock exhaust manifolds. Can you tell the the difference? :eek2:

 

Comparison #2

 

Comparison #3

 

The last manifold pictures

 

Here's the finished product. I did take a picture of the X-pipe by itself, but it didn't come out o No:

 

Here's the last picture -

 

Here's the price rundown. This wasn't cheap.

Code:

Everything					1707.78

Carburetor
	Initial Purchase		$25.00	
	Shipping to KY			$13.00	
	John Osborne Rebuild		$299.21	
	Shipping to NJ			$14.51	
	Total Carburetor Cost			$351.72

Exhaust Manifolds	
	Initial Purchase		$250.00	
	Sandblast/Paint			$40.00	
	Manifold Gaskets		$11.75	
	Install Labor (3 hours)		$195.00	
	Total Exhaust Manifolds Cost		$496.75

Exhaust System
	Downpipes (Torque Tech)		$115.00	
	X-Pipe (X-Force Tech)		$230.00	
	X-Pipe Shipping to NJ		$17.87	
	Mufflers (17749 from Summit)	$85.90	
	Tailpipes (Torque Tech)		$191.00	
	TT Shipping to NJ (all pipes)	$24.54	
	Install Labor (3 hours)		$195.00	
	Total Exhaust System Cost		$859.31

Overall, I'm very happy with the performance of this car.

Please feel free to ask any questions.

 

Very nice marco, Are you sure you didn't bolt it on the way I sent it to you. Looks good.

 

Thanks Phil.

These are the only two pictures I have of the carb. Overall, it came back very clean.

I did have one 'issue' with the throttle linkage sticking, but a little grease solved everything.

Thanks again for offering the carb :TU:

 

Marco, does the X-Pipe give the car a unique sound? I've read in these threads that the sound is different. If it's different, can you describe it?

Can you 'feel' the extra power?

What mods did John make to your carb?

Of all the mods can you guess which had the most effect on power?

 

I'm not sure how much sound is due the the 2.5'' pipes, the Walker mufflers, or the X-pipe. Any of these three things listed would effect the exhaust note. If I already had a 2.5'' system and the mufflers, I could tell if the X-pipe give off a different sound but since I was breathing through straws I'll never know.

The car is DEFINITELY more responsive.

A stock '70 Stage1 is jetted 68 primary and 42 secondary. A stock '71 Stage1 is jetted 75/45. John jetted my carb 76/48. I asked him if he tapered the rods and he told me I will get a carburetor that runs great. I don't think he wanted to tell me all his secrets.

All the modifications made effect breathing. Probably just a 2.5'' mandral bent exhaust system would have made a huge impact. That's a pure guess.