Hey everyone I'm looking to put true duals on my '86 Camaro I've found this: http://m.summitracing.com/parts/wlk-89009?seid=srese1&gclid=CMjM0IWbzMUCFcITHwod1AkAsg
And I was wondering if the 2.250 inch pipe will fit on my stock 305 headers. Thanks

 

On third gens there isn't really a "true" dual exhaust, just side by side pipes running down the stock routing. The design of the underside of our cars prevents putting in a balanced traditional dual exhaust. As far as fitting your "stock" headers, are you referring to the factory manifolds? If so then no, that product is meant to be used with aftermarket headers and custom fit to whatever your application is.

 

A single pipe 3 inch exhaust is good up to 400hp.

 

Whats with all the true dual exhaust threads there is one or two per week

 

A true dual exhaust has a single pipe for each bank of cylinders, usually with a connecting "H" or "X" section to balance the flows, and approximately equal length to the tailpipes. On the third gens this isn't possible because the underside of the car will not allow fitment of such a system, both due to ground clearance and the way the underside is designed. The biggest problems are the structural brace on the driver side under the firewall and the panhard behind the rear axle. When designed consideration was only given to allow a single exhaust pipe to run down the passenger side of the car, over that side of the axle, and then into a single muffler to be split into two tailpipes. The dual systems available typically follow this same routing instead of a traditional "true dual" exhaust layout.

That being said, with enough money and stubbornness you can do just about anything. Just bear in mind the aforementioned issues about clearance and routing, and be prepared to overcome them. Be aware there is no bolt in solution.

 

Ive been thinking about modifying my floor/under car, to accept true duals. like widening my trans/shaft tunnel or something. Just thinking....

 

The floorboards don't look like the problem on mine, mainly just that blasted structural brace on the drive side. It eats up like 2" of vertical space. If it could be cut, run the pipe through it, then weld a cap back over it to keep it strong then maybe. But probably not advisable. And there really isn't room to route around it without having the pipes touching the trans.

 

Oh it wouldn't be a easy task. If i were to do it it would be a professional job where I would apply statics and strengths and have to engineer the whole underneath of the car. So pretty much redesign the uni-body. Yet, look like it was that way from the factory.

 

Only way TO do it, and then you still have the problem of the panhard bar in the back. It's just not something GM thought of when designing our cars unfortunately.

 

because it just flat out sounds better.

 

And that stops a persons ability to read an old thread how?

 

Custom building something isn't that difficult until you try to get it over the rear. My duals dump just before the rear and I've only had clearance issues once in the years I've had the setup. The way I see it is that yeah, I've sacrificed some ground clearance, but I still have as much clearance as a new vette, so it's not a big deal.

 

There's nothing wrong running a single exhaust pipe as long as it provides enough flow. That's why true dual systems are preferred, however if designed (and built) correctly a single system can flow good enough to support 500+ horses. Look for mendrel-bent tubes and a quality, brand-name muffler.

 

LOL yes its not easy but true duels can be put in without any mods on the bottom of the car. Its really about how bad you want it. And I still have clearance for speed bumps.

 

I was more curious if I buy the header back system that they will line up with the stock manifolds the pipe is 2.250 inches wide anyone know the size of the collector for stock manifolds???

 

I do not think it will line up. You're not going to see much of a performance gain by leaving the stock manifolds on there. For the same amount of money you can get a decent set of headers (especially if you go used from a site like this) and then build your exhaust after that.

At the end of the day it's your car, so if you want to try to make this stuff work then of course you can do that, it just might not turn out like you want.

 

honestly duals isnt that hard the way we ran them we welded everything up and dumped the exhaust off right by the rear wheels. i understand not everyone can do this due to emissions, cops being jerks etc. i haven't welded everything up quite yet but when we test fitted everything it seems to work just fine. we did keep the 2.5' piping though

 

I will be installing a full length dual exhaust on my 87 this summer. It will start from my existing 1 3/4 SLP short tube headers with 2.5 pipe then transition to dual 3" to eventually support 600hp. I'll make the transitions so that the 2.5 pipes will be equal length, about 30", then go through a 3" X pipe and dual 3 back through Power sticks. Balancing flow between banks is the important thing and the equal length down pipes and X pipe will take care of that pretty well. I've measured and double checked and it will all fit with decent clearance, even on my lowered corner carver. It will take some work and require modification of the track bar brace and lowering the track bar to keep it level to the axle. I will do the work myself over a few weeks.

There is a sticky on this forum with pictures of a full length dual exhaust on a third gen. Mine will be different and alot more work but I look forward to doing it. It'll be fun. To the OP, I will say I don't know if dual exhaust is worth the effort if you're staying with the restrictive stock manifolds. Good thing is. Most short headers exit.in about the same place as the OE logs. So switching to headers later would take just a little work.

 

You're better off getting a set of headers and y-pipe now and mate that to your stock exhaust. That will gain you the most benefit as the stock manifolds are horrendously ineffeicient. You can then worry about duals later. Wille here on the boards did a killer dual set up that follows the single routing but is duals. The custom work needed put him back nearly $1000 for the shop to do it right. And that's just labor.

 

Willie's system is the fine example I was referring to. It's a clean install, using dual cats for the later model car. One idea I plan to borrow from his system is the slip joints where the pipes go over the axle for easy removal of the muffler system. I will also need quick disconnect joints behind the x-pipe(my x-pipe will install where the OE cat was) for removal of the intermediate pipes for future drivetrain work. With the pipes installed, this car will have to be serviced on a drive on rack only.

I work in the industry and have both drive on and two post lifts for my own use. I also have access to the equipment and have the skills needed to do the job right, or I wouldn't even bother. I still expect to spend many hours measuring, cutting, tacking and finally welding each part of the system. Even doing the work myself, the materials cost for the system, including mandrel bent pipe, mufflers and x-pipe, will run about $1,000. I really don't ever want to have to do the exhaust again and plan to keep the car for life, so time and cost are secondary to producing an excellent result the first time.