What's the bottom line on true duals?

I'd like to have real duals on my project Regal. What about a crossmember? A buddy told me some G-body Grand Prixs had them (for duals). Are there any sites that address this? Thanks in advance.

 

Sorry, no G-body came with a crossmember setup for duals. You have 2 options.

1. With stock manifolds you can run the driverside pipe between the oilpan and the transmission dust cover and then run both pipes out the back. You won't be able to go larger than 2" and you can't use headers.

2. Buy (or make) a G-force style crossmember (www.crossmembers.com). It will straighten out your launch and fit true duals very well. Although pricey, it's the best option IMHO.

 

G-Force is the best way to go.... But if you're on a budget, you can cut down an A body crossmember and bolt it in. I did that on my 84 cutlass... Worked fine. But for the amount of time, measuring, and cutting... It might just be easier to go G-Force.

That will give just enough room for headers & collectors.

 

I've modified my crossmember, and someone elses to accept duals. All you need is a welder buddy to do it. Not hard. TIP....... Leave it go till the headers are on, then mark where you need the new hump installed.

 

I used a cross-member from a 70 skylark, buy cutting both ends back slightly it fit using the skylark mounts but it is tight against the floor board. G Force is the best way to go.

 

We made a crossmember for mine. The first one we did we took the ol crossmember and flipped it around. We cut the tab off and welded it on the backside. Then we flattend the center at the collectors to give us room for the 3inch pipe. This works but i don't really recomend it. The second one we made out of 1inch solid tubing. we welded on a tab to mount to the tranny and welded in cradels on the ends to bolt to the frame. Since it's solid it weighs a lot but you could lift the car with it :laugh:

Thanks
Dustin

 

Well all i did was measure where the pipe was to go and heated up the bottom of the stock crossmember and beeted it in with a hammer and then undercoated it.I put in the 3 inch exhaust from torque tech(mickey thomp headers) and it fitted awsome.looked good.Ask kingfish he has the car now.Im in the prossess of building another 455 regal limited and ill do the same.Just beet it till u have the room.this is the most cost effective means :laugh: no lie it works

Brian :beer

 

I installed the crossmembers.com crossmember with my 3" Torque Tech exhaust. Installed easy, and I was able to tuck the big 3" exhaust for good clearance!

 

I did exactly like Brian did. It was at a friends shop where we had it up on the lift. We heated it orange/red with a torch and beat it with a short 8lb sledge. It took about 30 minutes from the time we heated it until we were done. It is rsurprisingly smooth and after painting, in now looks almost factory.

 

A word of warning about the heat it up and bang it out method. That crossmember is tempered automotive steel, and by heating it past 600* then work hardening it you have made a very brittle crossmember. There are all kinds of warnings about heating up springs etc becuase those steels are designed to absorb vibration by being a little flexible. Heating and hammering on a tempered steel makes it more like cast iron than steel.

It probably wouldn't break under most normal or even drag racing loads, but it will start to show small cracks eventually. When you see the hairline cracks about 1/8" long get a new member ASAP. The crossmember has no redundant members, so if it goes, the engine and tranny will be your road brake.

 

Another warning. When you do that while it's still installed, you are actually bending the frame by pinching it inwards. Next time you undo the cross-member and try to bolt it back, you may have to use a come-along to re-align the holes!

 

I removed mine and beat it...my crossmenber that is.
I didn't heat it up though.
MARK

 

The latest Jeg's catalog has one listed for 129.99. Says it is designed to be used with 2.5 in exhaust.

 

Thanks for the replys, the one from Jeg's sounds interesting. My bud says his GP with the duals crossmember was a Canadian model. Has anyone heard of this?

 

I'd want to SEE it. My 78 and 79 are both Canadian, as are all the GP's I pull parts from in the wrecker. G-bodies had a lot fo neat and wierd crap on them, but never had dual X-members. I should know too, I spent 6 months trying to find a good X-member solution, pulled about 10 of `em, built 3 of my own before settling on a G-force.

It's far more likely that someone modified the X-member before they sold the car to this guy and he's telling you a story. "Oh, the factory made a mistake and put 14-1 compression in my car." Lots of good ones out there. :laugh:

 

Revin Rivvy

He also go over to the MalibuRacing.com web site and search for the ICEMAN,

Here is a link to a discussion forum on on a Crossmember for G-body he offers a little bit cheaper than a G-force.

http://www.maliburacing.com/forum/search.php?mode=results&sid=121857977f04a1e3e3f40dbc7d6ac6f6

Hope this helps

later

 

Here's his web site. I've been looking for the same thing.

http://www.maliburacing.com/iceman/

 

I bought one from the ICEMAN a couple of weeks ago.

A really awesome piece, bolted right into loacation. :TU:

Definitly worth the money.

 

you cant even go 2 1/4"?

 

I ran 2" and it was pretty tight. I suppose you could go 2 1/4 but if you need that much flow then a crossmember and some headers are well worth it.