How do you find the ideal location for the crossover in a dual exhaust system?

I've understood (for a long time), that you run the car on a dyno at the tq peak, with heat tape up and down the piping. You note where the highest temp is, and for max power and tq, that's where your crossover goes.

Is this correct? How much difference does the crossover location make?

-Tom

 

Anyone?

 

I heard a trick once that you could use really crappy paint too, like spray paint, and where the discoloration/peeling/bubbling occurs you put the equalizer section just before that. The tape method seems like it'd work too.

 

That is correct.

The reason it works, is because the exhaust temp is highest, where the pressure is the highest. (Remember Boyle's Law) You want to put the crossover at that spot, because the most exhaust gas will spill over to the other side, if located there. The pressure varies widely all up and down the pipe from acoustic (pressure wave) effects.

Of course, you'll probably find that the "perfect" spot is somewhere totally impossible to put it; but you'll just need to get it as close as possible. That's all you can do.

You can also do it with the heat paint stripe (or tape), and just run it at the strip.

 

Good posts! Thanks for the input. The paint ideal is a good one; Never thought of that.

That makes perfect sense. Thanks for the clarification.

-Tom

 

SSSShhhhhh!!!! Don't say that, you'll ruin my reputation.