True Duals - 2.5" or 3"? Did Search
With the heads and cam, you'll be expecting rwhp #s in the low to mid 400 range, right? So thats nearly 500 flywheel hp. With that kinda hp you're going to want your exhaust capable of flowing around 1100 cfm with no loss. Now a a single 3.5" will flow over 1100 cfm, dual 2.75s will flow 1366 no loss cfm, while dual 3" will flow around 1624.
But...
That is just the flow of a straight section of pipe, and most street cars dont run just a straight piece of pipe hanging off the collector. I guess a lot of it depends on if you want to do shortie duals or true duals all the way to the back bumper, but the longer the pipes are the more frictional losses there will be. Additionally, the longer the pipes are the more bends there will be, and if they aren't mandrel bent then you run into smaller cross sections at each bend. It sounds like you're doing shortie duals though. With this is in mind, I would do with the dual 3" pipes. Plus, if you ever want to spray some nitrous your exhaust wont be holding you back as much as if you went with 2.5 or 2.75
But, IMO, dual 2.5" is too small for a ~425 rwhp car.
J.
Is that a custom fabbed X-pipe or did you buy it from somewhere?
Thanks for the info Crazyquik. I was worried that the 3" might have been too much. Nice setup BradWS6. Bet it sounds good.
two, 2.5" pipes is more flow capsity than even most big blocks need
by going with the 2.5, you have more ground clearance (lowered cars need this) and it also lets you run the pipes under (yes...UNDER) the rear axle so you can take the enxhaust all the way out to the rear bumper (don't have to dump under the car).

