Does anyone know where I can purchase an Y-pipe for stock manifolds? I have an 1987 5.7 iroc with 28,000 miles and don't want to go with headers but would like to up grade the Y-pipe. I called Macsperforamce, summit ,SLP,TPIS no body has them for stock manifolds. Thanks for any help, Robin

 

If you want to upgrade, find an exhaust shop (not a "muffler" shop) that does mandrel bends and have them fabricate one for you.

Otherwise, you can get a replacement from partsamerica.com. http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductD...pe=688&PTSet=A or http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductD...pe=688&PTSet=A . Wouldn't call it an upgrade, but it would be better than one that's rusted out or smashed.

 

SLP used to make one, but they haven't for many years now.

But I'm surprised MAC doesn't offer one anymore. Someone just posted about a week or two ago that he'd just gotten one from MAC. And Hawk's still shows the MAC Y-pipe on their site, but it says it's a 4-6 week backorder. It's a very nice one:

http://www.hawksthirdgenparts.com/in...OD&ProdID=1233

Jegs also sells one. It's not as good as MAC's, and it's more expensive than the MAC's. It comes with an "off-road" straight pipe where the cat would be, but it looks like the Y-pipe is shipped in pieces for assembly, so you could run a cat instead of the straight pipe:

http://www.jegs.com/p/JEGS/764015/10002/-1/11535

Those and partsamerica are the only choices left, I think. So for otherwise, I'd have to go along with five7kid and suggest having an exhaust shop make you a mandrel bent pipe.

 

I called Mac's yesterday and the guy said that the y pipe was on a back order and didn't know when it would be avail. It sounded to me that it might be on back order forever. I could be wrong, but he sounded very unsure of any time frame... Thanks for the 2 links I'll check into both. Robin

 

MAC makes excellent products. And their Y-pipe is the best one, by far. But I'm afraid they do tend to be very slow to produce items that are out of stock for Camaros and Firebirds, probably because they mostly produce Mustang parts. People have posted about having to wait months for some items.

But with only 28,000 miles on your car, I doubt there could be anything structurally wrong with your stock Y-pipe. So if you're sure you won't be going to headers, and you're set on replacing the Y-pipe, then I'd either have one made with mandrel bends or wait for the MAC pipe(and just keep checking with them about it).

I've had a MAC Y-pipe on my car for 3 or 4 years now. It's beautifully made, and it's a perfect fit. Though I didn't have to wait for mine to be produced because it was in stock at the time, it's definitely worth the wait, IMO.

 

Since the MAC one is un-available, would the JEGS 555-31050 bolt up to the stock LO3 manifolds? Also, is the outlet where the test pipe clamps to the y-pipe 3" like the hooker 2055 y-pipe?

I was thinking this might be a good alternative to getting the 2055's. If its really 3" I could use a hi-flow cat instead of the test pipe for emissions. Also, the 3" hooker or 3" flowmaster would bolt right up, right?

 

Yes, it should bolt up to LO3 manifolds. But I think you'll have to contact Jegs to findout the size of the collector.

It's made for the L69, LB9 and L98, so the collector is probably 3"(at least, 2.75"). And if you look at the second pic where the pipe is disassembled, the collector looks quite a bit larger than the 2.25" downpipes.

So it should fit just fine on an LO3 with a 3" cat and cat-back.

 

Alright I will have to keep that in mind for when I do my exhaust. Its quite a bit cheaper than the 2055 headers.

 

The Y alone is a weak alternative to the complete 2055 system.

JamesC

 

Yeah, but with just changing the y-pipe out, I run less of a chance of putting the car out of commission.

Believe it or not, this firebird is all I have. So lets say I buy the 2055's. I soak the stock manifolds with PB blaster multiple times before I go to do the swap. However, maybe one of the bolts will still break off in the head. Then I am screwed. I have no experience pulling a head, nevermind getting a sheared bolt out. Also, I would have no way to pay a shop unless I were to adopt the "pay the mastercard with the visa" financial policy.

Also, I plan on having a job soon. I wouldnt want to loose a job over a broken bolt that kept me from driving to work.

 

I got a Y- pipe (48692) from MAC about a month ago... I wonder if I got the last one?

Regardless, It fit like a glove on the manifolds and the cat delete pipe fit well with the intermediate pipe. Everything worked very well together. I couldn't be happier with the set up. No leaks or funny vibrations. If you can manage to get your hands on one you wont be sorry.

 

So what if the bolts on the Y/manifold connection twist off? If your financial situation is poor (no pun intended), perhaps you should consider waiting to do the swap right the first time.

JamesC

 

I will admit that I had to use the torch on the manifold-y-pipe bolts to get them out. I had new ones to go in wether I needed them or not, which I did.

Good point, James. Whats the old saying? "If you dont have the money to do it right the first time, do you have money to do it right the second time?"

 

If you just want a stock replacement one you can get it from NAPA or possibly rock auto.

 

Im not worried about the Y-pipe bolts. I could be resourseful and get them out if needed (PB, Torch, and my 1000 ft/lb IR gun).

I was saying why I am afraid to put headers on. If a manifold bolt breaks, then I am screwed. People say "well the chances of that happening are very little" but the chance is still there. The car is 18 years old, and those bolts havent turned a degree since they were put in at the factory.

And even with the best job, I couldnt imagine having enough money just chilling around to pay a mechanic high dollar to pull a head. And possibly have to drill and tap it.

 

i've been on the wall about getting the 2055's my self for the same concerns u have with broken bolts. my motor is the L69 so the manifolds are higher flowing than the L03, thats if there is such a thing as higher flowing manifolds with this gen of maros and birds.
but i have been thinking of just getting a new Y-pipe and then adding in a c/b. i like the fact that the jegs is an off road Y. even if the down pipes are 2 1/4" the collector is def 3" b/c its made for the HO motors. so that, with no cat will kind of off set that the down pipes are 2 1/4". it may even creat better scavenging. i don't know. i'm no exhaust expert but it makes sense.

so i might go this route for now. it will be awhile before i can afford 800. for the 2055's. i don't mind spending 200. for the Y pipe. just my
jay.

 

The hole idea here for me is to help the engine breath as much as poss. With out going the header route (broken bolts,exhaust leaks,pita to install). I'll wait for the mac y pipes b/c it's 2.5 inches mandrel bent and a almost perfect fit from what people are saying and the jegs is only 2.25 inches I believe that's the same size as the factory y pipe, it is mandrel bent so that would be of some help. I have the Mac's on back order and until it's available I'll go with a test pipe and a cat-back . That should help a little bit. I don't know maybe 5 hp?

 

In 'making do,' I wonder how much more money people spend than is necessary? I decided I couldn't afford to 'make do.'

Good luck all.

JamesC

 

Along that vein, I say if you can afford to do it wrong, you can afford to do it right the first time.

 

Well, the reason I never bought a cat-back when I had the money, was because I wanted to wait. I was gonna buy the flowmaster that necked down to 2.25", but then realized if I got the 2055's and a new cat, I could have a whole new 3" exhaust.

The only problem is, now that I think of the cost of paying a mechanic to pull and repair a head (or possibly both), that suddenly makes a new exhaust seem not worth it. Because not only that, I would have to rent a car, or do without, while the firebird was in the shop.

For god's sake, I couldnt even get my distributor bolt loose when I got the car. I tried for about 4 hours, and stripped the wrench. Finally my buddy that is real strong helped me, but it took even him an hour.

 

Hey my wait is over just got my back ordered Y-pipe in from Mac's. If you have seen my other thread You know that I have already replaced the Cat with a test pipe and put a Dynomax 2 1/2" cat back on and received a 13 HP as well as 24ft-pounds TQ increase on a totaly stock 1987 5.7IROC. Next is the Ported plenum TPIS large tube runners a TPIS big mouth intake, TPIS spark plug wires,TPIS throttle body airfoil and the throttle body coolant bypass. Then I'll do a dyno run. lastly I'll install the Y-pipe to see the over all HP and TQ increase. Robini

 

The jegs y pipe is only 2.25" and it does not look to be any better made than a stock-er. Why on earth would you "swap" to that? It's not going to be a performance gain, other than losing a cat, which will be worth about 0.5 hp.

You are worried about nothing with your manifold bolts. Just do it. The manifold bolts on these cars are HUGE. 3/8-16 bolts. If you go slow and rock them carefully if you think one is stuck, there is zero chance of you breaking one. A 3/8-16 bolt is very very strong. You can tell using hand tools if one is stuck way before you snap it off. The only time I have ever snapped off manifold bolts were 5/16" bolts on other makes. Can't work on stuff if you are afraid of it.

 

Hey cmk-2 got any pics of your new y pipe?

 

Exactly. Note your other post, slow, on wheel bearings. It's not rocket science. For the most part, it's unbolt and bolt up.

JamesC

 

i just got my mac y-pipe today too. it is a very nice looking piece. its very well made. i will be putting it on along with the mac test pipe this weekend. for this week i am soaking the cat and mannifold bolts with p-oil.

 

I would go with the 2055s and just spray the manifold bolts before trying to loosen them,go slow and I bet you will be happier with spending the money on the 2055s,than just getting the jegs Y pipe.