Ok simple question H pipe or X pipe? H pipe is the classic V8 style. I've heard X pipes are for high rpm horsepower and that they quiet things down. Makes me wonder if its getting quieter does that mean the H pipe is doing something wrong? Would the X hurt the power range on an FE?

 

H pipe.

I seriously doubt you will see enough differece in an FE motor to justify the difference in price. H pipe kits are about $35, X Pipes are over $100 the last time I looked. I think it would also be difficult to plumb and X-Pipe on an Fseries truck. I could be wrong...

take a look to see my H Pipe setup.

http://www.thedreyerfamily.com/69f250/67f250/exh.htm

 

That looks awesome! I really like the dual side pipes like on the Harley Trucks and stuff. I have been trying to come up with some ideas for doing a side exit that didnt look cheesy and that is a great setup. The actual flow of 4 pipes is probably useless but it looks damn cool. Never though of doing dual out mufflers on each side. I guess it spent a little time around a pipe bender though. I've been playing with the idea of getting a welder when I get the truck and I wanted to learn to weld up my own exhaust off of some long tubes. I've found numerous cheap x pipe junctions on ebay and stuff going for about 35 bucks. Theres one now thats mandrel bent 2 1/2 being sold by some exhaust shop. I honestly dont know what the underside of the truck looks like yet since I dont have it yet so I dont know about X fitment issues. But for the same price of a balance tube it seems I can get an X junction from almost anywhere. I want it to be optimized for performance where it lives in the
sub-5000 rpm range.

I was thinking I could buy all mandrel bent pre bent elbows and stuff and try and do the whole system by myself. The only drawback of course is the no pipe bender thing. If I wanted to do a system like yours I suppose I could just take the muffler and tubing and just measure it out and take it to a shop and have them bend it to where I needed it because the rest of the system is pretty much straight right?

 

I'm no bender or welder. I've always taken my exhaust work to the same guy. He does very good work on the bends and the wleds. He get's the angles that I want and puts up with my special requests. Of course he got $350 for this last job and I supplied the H-Pipe, cut-outs , mufflers and tips.

The 2 pipes not only look neat, it sings. And I mean sings. with four pipes there are basically about four different pitches humming along at 2500 rpm, and that's what I wanted. It sounds a bit like a freight train horn.

take a lot of measurements, we had enough fun trying to fit in the H-Pipe and cut-outs with the dual-dual setup. An X-pipe is genrally longer, that's why I would be concerned.

 

I had my Linc done from front to back with mustang parts at a ghetto exhaust joint for pretty cheap. It was a pita and things did not go according to plan but they got it done (eventually). I'd probably take it to them. I suppose I could TRY and weld up the exhaust and mufflers and then have them do the tips from the back of the muffler where all the special bending would take place. I just hate to have the pipes all crimped up if I can have mandrel bent. Sure it doesnt make much difference unless its nascar or something but idunno its the principle of it! With the 4 tips though, the crimping wont matter because it will be two pipes for each muffler. Anyhow I'd really like to hear the train horn effect off of that. Sounds quite interesting. Guess I might have to try it hehe

 

I called FloMaster and talked to them about this very question. They told me the X pipe is no better than a H pipe. BTW it would be very hard to place a X pipe close to the collectors. FloMaster said to put the H pipe as close to the collectors as possible. Which in my case was right behind the trans mount. I do like the improvement in the sound quality.
http://members.***.net/randy-barnett/videos/btrk.wmv

 

Well I did a little searching and technically speaking an X pipe is better than an H pipe. The H seems like a flawed design, however, it works nonetheless. It makes more noise and can cause some popping sounds when done certain ways. The crossover is not smooth flowing. Its a 90 degree angle. The X allows the flow to cross paths directly without hitting an obstruction. I think the reason the X hurts the low end a little compared to the H is that backpressure is good for torque, however, not as good for horsepower. The X basically simplifies the flow while also scavenging and what not. I think the reason they say as close to collectors as possible is because the whole scavenging vacuum effect would obviously be stronger the nearer it is to the exhaust valves. Makes sense. On my Lincoln I have a full mustang dual setup with H but it was originally single crap setup I don't know what difference it would have made

 

The H and X pipes are meant to balance the pressure between the two sides of a dual exhaust system. They aren't meant to flow any real exhaust gases. As for the H pipe having a 90 degree , if you think about it the X has a 90 dgree angle between the opposing sides.My H pipe elimanated the raspy popping sound of my 3" dual exhaust system. It is a much better sounding setup now.

 

H pipe will bring a better low tone to your exhaust My mustangs with h pipe were always loader and meaner sounding that without and it puts the comaro's ta shame! Hey gtex did you have all your unions welded or are they clamped? if not do you ever have any leaks?

 

no leaks, some are welded some are clamped. The H Pipe is clamped in as are the mufflers. The cut-outs are welded to the short pipes coming off the collectors that were needed to get things lined up. It's not a straight shot. The tips are welded on.

 

Ive known people to clamp and have no probs. Just wondering cause your pushing good cfm through there and i dont wanna pay an exhaust shop any more than i need too.

 

We like to run a H pipe with flowmasters @ use old driveshafts for tailpipes
makes for a deep rumble. HOTWRENCH

 

I had a good exhaust shop fab up an x-pipe for my 390, coming right off the collectors into Flowmaster 40s and right out the side in front of the wheels. Sounds pretty mean. Definitely gets people's attention!

 

71 did you feel that you lost any torque or gain goin with the X pipe? And it sounds mean but does it sound as loud as you were expecting? People say X pipes quiet things down. But I kind of wonder if that helps smooth out the sound throughout the rpm range too since it flows more naturally.

 

It's not quieter by any means! It's pretty loud. The motor seems to like this exhaust system a lot better than before. But, it had a pretty ratty exhaust on it before, too. The sound alone turns heads just idling around the Sonic!