Generation III External Engine LS1 | LS6 | Bolt-Ons | Intakes | Exhaust | Ignition | Accessories
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

True duals size question.....

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Apr 20, 2005 | 11:47 PM
  #1  
99Hawk262's Avatar
Thread Starter
11 Second Club
iTrader: (19)
 
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,491
Likes: 1
From: Little Rock
Default True duals size question.....

Now that I have ordered the Sweet Thunders, I want to know if it's best to go 2.5" all the way back, or if I should mix and match the sizing? I noticed that a lot of people start with 3" then go into 2.5" tubing. I am pretty sure I've settled on the H-pipe. I know the X supposedly makes more power, but I want the sound. I'm already going to pick up the power with the headers, and I'm sure I'll gain some with the duals. A few ponies is not a big deal to me to get the sound I want. So what are the pros and cons around tubing size? What is affected and how...........sound, power. Clearance really isn't much of an issue. This should be interesting, so shoot away! Thanks a lot.
Reply
Old Apr 21, 2005 | 01:03 PM
  #2  
99Hawk262's Avatar
Thread Starter
11 Second Club
iTrader: (19)
 
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,491
Likes: 1
From: Little Rock
Default

Anyone??? I just want to do it right the first time.
Reply
Old Apr 21, 2005 | 01:22 PM
  #3  
MeentSS02's Avatar
Kleeborp the Moderator™
20 Year Member
iTrader: (11)
 
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 10,316
Likes: 6
From: Dayton, OH
Default

I personally went 3" into the x-pipe, and then 2.5" over the axle and out the back. I don't think it makes a huge difference, but I do remember Lane or someone else saying that keeping it 3" until at least the X will give you the best performance if you have to shrink it down to 2.5" like I did to get over the axle.
Reply
Old Apr 21, 2005 | 01:48 PM
  #4  
99Hawk262's Avatar
Thread Starter
11 Second Club
iTrader: (19)
 
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,491
Likes: 1
From: Little Rock
Default

I'll be dumping them before the axle, so the size doesn't really matter. I was leaning towards 2.5" all the way, but I don't want to choke the car. If they'll make good power, I'll just go that route.
Reply
Old Apr 21, 2005 | 02:01 PM
  #5  
Brandon Boomhauer's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (10)
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 8,766
Likes: 0
From: Gainesville, Denton TX
Default

I went with 3" all the way back, with a dr. gas X. Why are you saying the H sounds better? Just personal preference, or have you heard some H cars?
Reply
Old Apr 21, 2005 | 02:06 PM
  #6  
87calais's Avatar
Staging Lane
 
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 61
Likes: 0
Default

Fwiw, Somewhere back on another site, somebody did a pressure check on a mandrel bent system, 2.5" running 600 hp ( nitrous, 200 shot) and it only logged 1.2 psi backpressure, they say you start losing power at 2 psi, so I think 2.5 is safe...
Reply
Old Apr 21, 2005 | 02:15 PM
  #7  
MeentSS02's Avatar
Kleeborp the Moderator™
20 Year Member
iTrader: (11)
 
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 10,316
Likes: 6
From: Dayton, OH
Default

Well, it is really up to what kind of ground clearance you are looking for (you don't want to be dragging a 3" system on a lowered car), and your ultimate power goals. My car sits pretty damn low, so my system fit me well.
Reply
Old Apr 21, 2005 | 03:34 PM
  #8  
99Hawk262's Avatar
Thread Starter
11 Second Club
iTrader: (19)
 
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,491
Likes: 1
From: Little Rock
Default

Brandon, after numerous seaches on this site, I came to the conclusion that the H-pipe sounds better. That is what most people said. I have never heard one. Is there really a difference between the two? If two equal car were sitting next to each other, one with an X, the other with an H, would there be a noticeable difference?
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-5

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

 
story-9

10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Apr 21, 2005 | 05:00 PM
  #9  
Raise's Avatar
TECH Addict
20 Year Member
iTrader: (31)
 
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 2,152
Likes: 0
From: Virginia Beach, Va
Default

i went 2.5 all the way and dumped before the rear. i also have the sweet thunders. u wont regret it. it sounded sick the 2.5 will give u awesome torque as well as great ground clearance. and its still debatable how much the 2.5 will hurt u horsepower wise in the higher rpms.
Reply
Old Apr 21, 2005 | 05:24 PM
  #10  
landonew's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,251
Likes: 0
From: Tuscaloosa, AL.
Default

I have heard both the x-pipe, and the H-pipe. I couldn't tell the difference, so i got the x. Speaking from an engineering perspective, or from what i have understood from the 3 or so years of formal education I have had so far in college, the sound amplitude, or loudness, is affected by not only the air velocity(speed), but also by the turbulance of the air. IMO, in other words this is my theory not proven fact, the x-pipe would increase the turbulance of the air more so than would the H-pipe (simply do vector anaylsis for the forces of the two moving streams of air), therefore possibly increasing the volume, although probably not enough to be detectable. In all honesty, the most likely outcome from swapping the two would be a different pitch. However, again i could not tell any difference. Oh, and about the size, go with th 3". If you ever dicide to go big(+ci, turbo, nitrous, blower, or big block) then you wont have to redo that part. Of course big block or turbo would require new headers, but you get the point. Go bigger at first, so if the plan changes you didn't under buy.
Reply
Old Apr 21, 2005 | 05:43 PM
  #11  
Flielow's Avatar
On The Tree
iTrader: (9)
 
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 145
Likes: 0
From: CA
Default

Dont mean to beat the horse dead, but I am running Mac's w/ ory to B&B Tri Flow and want to replace it with a true dual sytem w/ Hi Flo Cats and Sweet Thunders over the axle, since I plan on adding AFR heads and TR 224 cam would I be restricting my air flow by going 2.5" all the way back or should I do 3" system, I know about the panhard relocation for 3"

Dont mean to Jack 99Hawk262, just going through a similar situation as you and trying to get some info so that I can also do it right the first time
and we can all learn from each other

BTW, I plan on keeping my Mac's since I have the Pro Kit
Reply
Old Apr 21, 2005 | 06:20 PM
  #12  
Mark98SS's Avatar
9 Second Club
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 737
Likes: 0
From: Fredneck, MD
Default

I've had both X & H center sections in my setup, I too could not tell much if any difference in the sound. Currently running the H style. I have a Spohn TA which requires the exhaust to snake around the pass side of the car. With the X style my fabricator couldn't get enough cross section at the smallest point. I elected to switch to H & don't regret it at all. Here's a pic. Sweet Thunder mufflers of course.

Like one person said, 2.5 inch is good to 600hp (I heard 550) I'm 2.5in all the way.
Reply
Old Apr 22, 2005 | 12:14 AM
  #13  
Camaro99SS's Avatar
TECH Resident
20 Year Member
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 879
Likes: 0
From: Nashville, TN
Default

I went with 3" all the way with my setup, and didn't lose a wit of low end, even if lug away from a near stop in 2nd below 1000 rpm. If anything, I gained torque across the board. They say an H pipe will give a slightly deeper tone than an X, but it will be minimal if any. The tone difference will matter more with muffler choice and pipe size (bigger pipes will be slightly deeper). Go with an X, preferably the Dr. Gas.

Jason
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:54 PM.

story-0
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-2
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-5
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-6
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-7
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE