I'm really undecided if I want to fab up dual exhaust. I'll be doing all the work myself so its not that big of a deal to pay a shop. I recently have a new 2.5" I-pipe put on with my old flowmaster muffler. I'm getting new headers right now so here's my breakdown of cost:

For single exhaust (upgrade to 3"):
Headers:$150
Y-Pipe:$50
I-pipe:$50
3" Cat:$50
Muffler:$75
Total: $375

Duals:
Headers:$150
2.5" Cat:$50
I-pipe:$30
Mufflers: $150
$380

So basically its the same cost. I'm only running a 305 but may swap it later since I love the car, and I'll be upgrading the engine as I get more into engine work. I'd like true duals as bragging rights anyway and it's just something I can say I put together myself. It's also something I won't ever have to upgrade if I ever get a more powerful engine. So now I'm trying to decide what exhaust I want since I'm not crazy about my flowmaster.

EDIT: I forgot the question to post. Basically I want to see if I'm on the right track and if what I'm thinking is logical.

 

You're going to need a bend or two in there somewhere.

 

Oh definitely, I figure I'll need a few odds and ends pipes to weld up regardless of which setup I go with.

 

here is how much it cost to put my dual exhaust on my car with part numbers from summit:

Hedman Longtube Headers: HED-68460 : $135.88
Hedman X-tensions 2.5": HED-18806 : $21.95
Summit 2.5" h-pipe : SUM-642025 : $36.95
Summit 4' stick of 2.5" tubing x2 : SUM-640025 : $10.95 x2 : $21.90
Summit Chambered mufflers 2.5" x2 : SUM-633222 : $41.69 x2 : $83.38

Total: $300.06 + $20 to ship, cause the exhaust tubing is oversized.

pic of it all installed and welded up by me:

ground clearance at the lowest point:

 

That's so badass. That's basically what I had in mind exactly. Did you dump before the rear axle? And how do you like the sound and volume (If I didn't ask on a different thread)? I want to avoid the raspy Flowmaster sound I have now, and I want to be able to talk while inside my car.

 

These cars have E-tests to pass, up here in Ontario anyways...

Until the car has no emissions stanards, I know up here I'll run a full exhaust, dual.. but, not true dual. My 81 second gen has true duals on it and it's cut at the axle. Quite honestly it is the loudest car I have ever owned, and it's only a 305. When I pulled up next to my friend with a 427, he crapped his pants and thought I had a serious small block in the car.

Dual exhaust, with no connectors, and glass packs, will bring a good ol' smile to your face, if you don't have to pass any emissions tests, then I'd say go for it. If you do.. then you have to find room for 2 cats to run a true dual setup, you can run a typical dual, and use a Y-pipe and 1 cat if you wanted to.

Lot of options here

 

the car is actually quite mellow for what it is. the h-pipe really helped smooth the tone out. it is not raspy at all. the raspy "flowmaster" sound that you have right now isn't really a flowmaster sound at all, but rather a raspy "single exhaust with a crossflow muffler" sound. the duals sound absolutely badass. going down the interstate with the windows down and my foot barely on the gas, i can barely hear the exhaust, but when i get into it, man, let me tell ya, it'll frickin' wake the dead! but that's what i wanted, somthing super mellow just cruisin, but absolutely screams at WOT. the mufflers are a 3 chamber design so that's what makes it so mellow. it sounds good at idle to, but i have a bit bigger than stock cam, so it has a bit of a thump to it.

the exhaust is dumped right in front of the rear end housing and here is picture of that. they turndowns that are on the car now are from jegs, and they are mandrel bent, the ones on in this picture are from an exhaust shop and they were kinda long, so i got the new ones from jegs.

 

That is 100% badass. I can't wait to get this done. I plan on starting next week.

 

glad to hear man, let us know how it turns out.

 

Uh, in your origional price breakdown, you only list the price for ONE cat on the dual exhaust part, so add another 50 to the total.

 

Stock cat's already on there.

 

Uh, you're saying you would re use your origional one?

 

who needs cats?

 

I run dual 3in super 40 flowmasters and it works just fine....sounds damn good too.

 

Well I was assuming he had to have them, since he factored them in... but good point. Mine is sitting off in some distant pile somewhere. No snifer checks here.

 

He only included one cat for the duals. Add $50 to the duals total.