3" Exhaust
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TECH Resident
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 801
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From: Anaheim Ca.
3" Exhaust Riddle me this. Is one 3" exhaust the same thing as having two 1 1/2" duals? Simple math tells me that it is. I would think that for the kind of power these LS engines are making, that you would need @ the min two 2 1/2 pipes, or a some kind of 5" oval? So I would like all of the so called exhaust guru's to chime in and set me straight.
Thread Starter
TECH Resident
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 801
Likes: 1
From: Anaheim Ca.
Thread Starter
TECH Resident
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 801
Likes: 1
From: Anaheim Ca.
This one says that a 3 1/2" pipe is the same as two 2 1/2" pipes? I dont get it?
http://www.angelfire.com/my/fan/Exhaust_Pipe_Size.htm
http://www.angelfire.com/my/fan/Exhaust_Pipe_Size.htm
11 Second Club
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 390
Likes: 2
From: The Burnie, MD
Assuming your exhaust pipe is round, you need to figure out the area of the tubing to you want to use, not the radius or diameter. A 3" pipe will flow far more than two 1.5" pipes.
You also have to take into consideration the thickness of the tubing used. Exhaust pipe is measured by the outside diameter. A 18 gauge 3" pipe will flow much more than a schedule 80 3" pipe.
You also have to take into consideration the thickness of the tubing used. Exhaust pipe is measured by the outside diameter. A 18 gauge 3" pipe will flow much more than a schedule 80 3" pipe.
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this. there is an exponential factor to consider when comparing area. it seems that a well bent 3" setup works well up to ~400whp.
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Two 2" dia pipes are NOT equal or even all that close to one 4" pipe. You can almost fit those two 2" pipes inside of that 4" pipe. What about all that unaccounted for space in the 4". Hence the area of a circle below.
Area of a circle. PI*r^2=A
2" dual = 6.2in^2
2.5" dual = 9.8in^2
3" dual = 14.2in^2
3" single = 7.1in^2
3.5" single = 9.6in^2
4" single = 12.6in^2
Dual 3" exhaust is good for about 800bhp. Single 3" about 370bhp. I have found that dual 3" into a single 3.5" makes for a good balance of noise and power. It is limited to about 500bhp though before it starts pulling power from a theoretical maximum.
Area of a circle. PI*r^2=A
2" dual = 6.2in^2
2.5" dual = 9.8in^2
3" dual = 14.2in^2
3" single = 7.1in^2
3.5" single = 9.6in^2
4" single = 12.6in^2
Dual 3" exhaust is good for about 800bhp. Single 3" about 370bhp. I have found that dual 3" into a single 3.5" makes for a good balance of noise and power. It is limited to about 500bhp though before it starts pulling power from a theoretical maximum.
