X exhaust people. How tough is it to..

X exhaust people. How tough is it to change a transmission or remove a driveshaft with that nice X of exhaust pipe in the way?

Do you use bolted flanges, or what? Must be expecially tough with headers too.

What are some common sources for 2 1/2" systems.

I'd like to make one fit my application.

ElectraJim

 

3 words "IT'S A BITCH"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:spank: I have them on two cars and both cars the trans has to go up and down side ways in oreder to work on. My exhaust are so tight that even with all the collector bolts removed the exhaust will stay in place... It can be done wit one person but two is a little easier. Converter changes are no better! Jim i have a x pipe on a caprice body like your electra bought the kit from jegs worked out great!!

 

Thanks 'BD70
I was afraid of that, but never heard about it.
I think if I go that route, I may have some flanges welded up, or just cut the system at the mufflers, and have a shop fix it back up when needed.
I don't mind driving to the welder/muffler shop with open headers.
Really let them know I have arrived! :eek2:

I assume you are using a kit like this from Jegs in the Caprice?
http://www.jegs.com/InstallationInstructions/500/555/555-30661.pdf

Thanks,
ElectraJim

 

I made mine removable w/flanges at both ends.

 

If you installed an x-pipe on your exhaust and the trans won't come out without removing the exhaust then you installed the x-pipe wrong. uzzled:

Mine is 12 inches aft of the crossmember. :TU:

 

Now theres a boy thats thinking,good job.

 

After a while, I always have a problem with my gaskets leaking because the flanges get warped after some tightenings, loosenings, and retightenings. Do you have a way around that?

-Bob C.

 

Use a newer style ball flange with the two bolts that draw it together at the muffs?

 

I have the 3 inch in my A body. I had to allready remove the tranny and I didn't move anything.

 

My X-pipe is set up to drop the whole center easily. The new ball flange connector is very nice. Used it when I built my system. Thread on the build http://www.v8buick.com/showthread.php?t=105799&highlight=n-25

 

Flanges--properly done--should work nicely.

I'm too cheap for that.

I just straight-cut the pipes at an appropriate location, and seal the exhaust system with band clamps. If I have to drop the system--undo the band clamps, and it falls out. Band clamps are somewhat re-usable. If you install them properly you can get several "tightenings" out of them. Eventually they'll stretch enough so that they no longer seal.

 

Well considering i run a long tail trans and i have headers thats have 3 1/2 inch collectors i would say my xpipe is fine. Also if depending on what headers your running as like the ones on my caprice i have to loosen the headers completely to let the trans come down as they are tucked close to the motor. some people on the board have seen both cars and they will tell you both exhaust are done correct and neatly!!!

Jim thats same system on my caprice only difference is that my exhaust shop i use doesnt clamp it together they weld the system together so it doesnt leak. good luck wit the x

 

I had to make mine removeable because at least one header must come off to remove the long tail trans in order to replace fried switch pitch converters. The gaskets haven't been a problem, but I use the kind that glues itself to the flanges. So when I remove the X, the gaskets are destroyed by leaving half of their contents on each flange. I just keep lots of gaskets around.
I also have two straight runs to put in place of the X for comparison. The car pics up a tenth with it, but actually loses almost 1 mph. The sound is noticeably different too. The "stereo" effect of the cam goes away at idle, which I don't like. But the part throttle snap goes away too, so it's some good, some bad.
Tried the ball flanges in two other non X pipe applications and hated those. The ball just kept slowly collapsing and the system would loosen up and rotate. I would tighten it, and it would collapse some more. In both of those cases, I cut the ball off and put normal flanges on. I would think that a properly designed ball flange is out there, but Hedman hedders don't have one. Stay away from the ball flange style in the pic, or see how I eventually fixed them. The two bolt ball flanges that sailbrd used look much better. Maybe the best combo would be normal flanges at the header end and good ball flanges back at the muffs.

 

I used the ball flange from flowmaster. In my case I used it behind the muffler to help line up the tailpipes. Worked great and I have not had a problem with them. Either the flowmasters are better or there is less heat there to cause problems. The flages at the headers are a different story. cannot get a gasket to hold up there. Going to try copper next.

 

I have a Torque Tech 2 1/2" X system. I looked it over this evening and even pulled the drive shaft out. There was absolutely no problem getting it out. I also looked at the location of the X and if I needed to remove the tranny and I do not see any problem to do so at all.


I thought I would include this input...


Mike

 

I got one on my car. I have to unbolt it from the headers any time I would need to do something underneath. Best to put flanges by the mufflers also to make it an easy removal.

 

how much power you get out of an x-pipe, is it worth the trouble?

 

I think RACEBUICKS put some results on here a month or so ago with some results on the track with the X vs H vs no crossover. The X was definately a hands down winner in times and power. Additionally what an X system does is quietens your system down, allowing you to run a considerably more free flowing muffler to increase flow.

 

If I had a nice exhaust system in place I would not make the change. But if you need a new system it is the way to go. A few extra HP, motor seems to rev quicker, a little different sound but I like it.

 

i've also read in one of the car rags that you want the X or crossover as close to the engine as possible for the best horsepower gain. However there is the problem with trans clearance. So if you are going for peak horsepower make it as close to the engine as possible, But know that you will need to remove pipes to work on the trans.

-nate