What would one's engine run like if they had shorty headers installed, but ran one side with 3" exhaust, and ran the other as an open header?

I have such a scenario running right now, and am wondering if the engine problems I am experiencing are related to the exhaust, or if it's a different monster all together.

Basically what happened is my exhaust is fairly old, and somewhat rusted. Then when we had the first bad snow of the season, I had to drive the car home, and the snow was high enough to touch my transmission, and exhaust. The exhaust cracked clean all the way around the y-pipe on my passenger side. So the headers flow basically into the y-pipe but there is nothing sealing it. I get a nasty rapid crisp popping sound that almost feels like backfiring when accelerating hard - with a slight miss, and I get a much slower, muffled popping that feels like ignition in the exhaust when I let off of the throttle after a good rev. This only happens under load, in neutral I can rev all day and it sounds great. Any ideas? I've been trying to fix the engine, when all this time it's probably just the exhaust. I have performed a FULL tune up w/ a new coil as well. AC Delco components. MSD wires.

The car is the 1985 TPI IROC in my info. Basically stock, except for K&N CAI, Hooker Shorty headers, 3" exhaust. Also added an airfoil.

 

Get your exhuast fixed.

 

Cool, I'll see what it costs to get that welded up. Thanks!

 

Make sure you use an "H" pipe or "X" pipe if your going with a dual exhaust. Should cost $300+ depending on the products you use and what size the tubing is.

 

I'm just doing a larger than stock exhaust. Single 3" to muffler, dual 2.5" exits.