kj280z Posted May 27, 2010 Share Posted May 27, 2010 Hey all, I was talking to the guys at Burns Stainless today trying to size up the parts I will need to finish my LS1 exhaust. I'm using the Sanderson shorty headers that JCI sells I did some searching but with the advanced search not working on the forum I was not able to find a topic specifically related to exhaust options. My goals are to have the car as quiet as possible (it will be my daily driver) but also not degrade performance (or to minimize it). The guys at Burns state that in order to flow enough for a 400hp motor the absolute minimum for a merge collector into single pipe would be 3 1/2 inches. I am using my stock 280z fuel tank (1975)... Has anyone tried to run a dual 2 1/2 exhaust all the way back with resonators and mufflers rather than a merge collector into a single pipe? Is it possible to fit it all? I know I've seen a few guys with dual mufflers on the drivers side which would be ideal if it's possible to make it fit... Let's share some exhaust pictures/ideas on your existing LSX swaps to see what options are available... Thanks for your help/ideas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EvilC Posted May 27, 2010 Share Posted May 27, 2010 Call Joe! 2.5 inch crush bent exhaust system with two resonators and car dyno'd over 400whp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMortensen Posted May 27, 2010 Share Posted May 27, 2010 I think the 3" for 400 hp rule of thumb sounds a bit arbitrary. I know John Coffey had one of his customers put down 315 whp on a "basically stock LS1" according to this thread: http://forums.hybridz.org/index.php?/topic/31968-dual-exhaust/page__p__250833__hl__ls1%20exhaust__fromsearch__1entry250833 I was thinking single 3" or 3.5" depending mostly on whether I could fit the larger tube. I like single because it keeps the weight down, and I am going to try and run mine to the passenger side to offset some left hand weight. Not sure where the weight is, but even completely stripped down my car was heavy on the drivers side, and when you start adding in seat, steering, brake pedals and masters, gauges, etc it's pretty easy to see that offsetting some of that weight (even if it's just exhaust pipes and muffler) might be a good idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kj280z Posted May 27, 2010 Author Share Posted May 27, 2010 Call Joe! 2.5 inch crush bent exhaust system with two resonators and car dyno'd over 400whp I'd like to see a pic of Joe's setup... Of coarse - he needs to call me back since I've left him a bunch of messages Do you have any pics of his stuff? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rags Posted May 27, 2010 Share Posted May 27, 2010 I don't reply to txt messages Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kj280z Posted May 27, 2010 Author Share Posted May 27, 2010 I think the 3" for 400 hp rule of thumb sounds a bit arbitrary. I know John Coffey had one of his customers put down 315 whp on a "basically stock LS1" according to this thread: http://forums.hybrid..._1entry250833 I was thinking single 3" or 3.5" depending mostly on whether I could fit the larger tube. I like single because it keeps the weight down, and I am going to try and run mine to the passenger side to offset some left hand weight. Not sure where the weight is, but even completely stripped down my car was heavy on the drivers side, and when you start adding in seat, steering, brake pedals and masters, gauges, etc it's pretty easy to see that offsetting some of that weight (even if it's just exhaust pipes and muffler) might be a good idea. The guys at Burns were doing it more scientific within their software. I believe they were basing their recommendation on my LS1 engine specs and I also gave them the details on the headers etc... I hear you on balancing the weight - but with a stock fuel tank I don't think there's a lot of room to do that on the passenger side is there? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kj280z Posted May 27, 2010 Author Share Posted May 27, 2010 I don't reply to txt messages I left ya a couple voicemails! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMortensen Posted May 27, 2010 Share Posted May 27, 2010 The guys at Burns were doing it more scientific within their software. I believe they were basing their recommendation on my LS1 engine specs and I also gave them the details on the headers etc... I hear you on balancing the weight - but with a stock fuel tank I don't think there's a lot of room to do that on the passenger side is there? Oops. Forgot it won't work with a stock tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1 tuff z Posted May 27, 2010 Share Posted May 27, 2010 (edited) ken, i'm running the stock tank. exh is sanderson headers into 2.5" pipes, merge to y pipe then single 3" behind the tranny, no resonator then 3" in/out muffler in stock location. flows great, not too loud. pics in my hbz album Edited May 27, 2010 by 1 tuff z Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SUNNY Z Posted May 29, 2010 Share Posted May 29, 2010 Since we're on the topic of exhaust, I LOVE it when cars do a true dual setup under the diff, ala Terminator Cobra style. SECKS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zdlite Posted June 6, 2010 Share Posted June 6, 2010 I am using JTR headers on my 240. I had a shop bend up a dual system merging into a single duel inlet Magnaflow muff in the stock location. Here are two pictures of the set up. Not too loud. Definitely a mean sound to it. http://www.mandrelbend.com/gallery.asp?ContentId=69 http://www.mandrelbend.com/gallery.asp?ContentId=70 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColtGT4g63 Posted June 8, 2010 Share Posted June 8, 2010 With my Sanderson Headers, 2.5" Y pipe into a single 3.5" and a Torquer V.2 cam, my car dynoed 411 to the wheels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kj280z Posted June 8, 2010 Author Share Posted June 8, 2010 I am using JTR headers on my 240. I had a shop bend up a dual system merging into a single duel inlet Magnaflow muff in the stock location. Here are two pictures of the set up. Not too loud. Definitely a mean sound to it. http://www.mandrelbe...sp?ContentId=69 http://www.mandrelbe...sp?ContentId=70 I am really liking the exhaust you did! I noticed that the pictures are linked to "http://www.mandrelbend.com" - are you involved with that company? If so I'd like to order everything to reproduce that exhaust... One other question for you on the sound... My car will be a daily driver and I'd REALLY like for it to be quiet... I'm wondering if there would be room to install some resonators as well.... thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zdlite Posted June 12, 2010 Share Posted June 12, 2010 I am really liking the exhaust you did! I noticed that the pictures are linked to "http://www.mandrelbend.com" - are you involved with that company? If so I'd like to order everything to reproduce that exhaust... One other question for you on the sound... My car will be a daily driver and I'd REALLY like for it to be quiet... I'm wondering if there would be room to install some resonators as well.... thoughts? I just live near the shop. Found out about them through a local newspaper article. Paid like $1200 to have them custom build this. One of the few things in my swap I didn't do myself. I wanted the car on the road so this was worth the price. Copying the set up exactly may not work since I made my own mounts. I used a TKO trans so had to put the engine pretty far back and low. I am sure it could be reproduced but it may need to be modified slightly for other mounts. I also put a second exhuast cut out in the rear cross member for the dual exhuast. Not sure what car you have but 240's sit pretty low. I couldn't find a place for cats, let alone resonators. Maybe a good shop could work something up for you. The car isn't quiet but it isn't that loud either. And that is with zero sound deadening right now. Like I said, a nice mean sound to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zzeal Posted June 13, 2010 Share Posted June 13, 2010 I visited a good friend last week while he was doing ball joints on a stock 2500 4X4 Silverado pickup with an LS2. He told me to check out the exhaust system. It had 2-7/8" pipes coming off the headers into converters. Then 3" coming out of the converters which then merged into a 3-1/2" "Y", just before a very large muffler. A short tailpipe continued at 3-1/2". Seems GM saw a need for their baby to breathe. I'm rethinking my plan for a single 3"system for my LS2 S30. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qwik240z Posted July 14, 2010 Share Posted July 14, 2010 Ken, I am late to this thread but I too am running the Sanderson shorty headers and 2.5" pipes that merge into a 3" behind the trans. The 3" goes back to a single muffler. No resonator but I would like to add one as my car is a bit loud for daily driving. Mine makes 340RWHP so almost 400 at the crank. Seems to breath fine to me. It has been on the road almost 5 years now. (Wow, 5 years already) Ground clearance becomes an issue with more then 3" pipe, although Burns has the oval pipe that can reduce the clearance issue. Good luck, David Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kj280z Posted July 14, 2010 Author Share Posted July 14, 2010 (edited) Ken, I am late to this thread but I too am running the Sanderson shorty headers and 2.5" pipes that merge into a 3" behind the trans. The 3" goes back to a single muffler. No resonator but I would like to add one as my car is a bit loud for daily driving. Mine makes 340RWHP so almost 400 at the crank. Seems to breath fine to me. It has been on the road almost 5 years now. (Wow, 5 years already) Ground clearance becomes an issue with more then 3" pipe, although Burns has the oval pipe that can reduce the clearance issue. Good luck, David Hey David! I REALLY plan on driving mine everyday, so I want it to be real quiet... I'm thinking I might try running 2.5 inch pipes off the headers into a X pipe then 2.5" pipes back to 2 Borla mufflers if I can fit them side by side on the drivers side in the stock location - These mufflers have proven to be the best flowing and quietest that I can find - http://www.borla.com...x?cat=2&type=43 If that is too loud I can add resonators (hopefully) Would love to hear thoughts/feedback/opinions on this option... Ken Edited July 14, 2010 by kjones Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kj280z Posted July 14, 2010 Author Share Posted July 14, 2010 I am using JTR headers on my 240. I had a shop bend up a dual system merging into a single duel inlet Magnaflow muff in the stock location. Here are two pictures of the set up. Not too loud. Definitely a mean sound to it. http://www.mandrelbe...sp?ContentId=69 http://www.mandrelbe...sp?ContentId=70 Let's try to get those pics to show up in this thread: I wonder if I could do the same and enlarge the rear valance to allow dual pipes to exit side by side and squeeze 2 mufflers in the stock location? If I can pull that off I "think" it would work real nice - thoughts comments/ideas/feedback? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Savage42 Posted July 14, 2010 Share Posted July 14, 2010 Yep, that is the setup I've seen & heard on other V8 Z cars and it sounds good. Will have mine done just like that shortly. I bought a full mandrel exhaust kit and will do most of it myself. http://www.mandrel-bends.com/catalog/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kj280z Posted July 15, 2010 Author Share Posted July 15, 2010 Yep, that is the setup I've seen & heard on other V8 Z cars and it sounds good. Will have mine done just like that shortly. I bought a full mandrel exhaust kit and will do most of it myself. http://www.mandrel-bends.com/catalog/ I posted this on a real old thread but thought I would add it here as well... Looking at the pics of these 2 mufflers side by side in the stock location (but this pic appears not to have the stock fuel tank), I'd like to "try" to fit 2 Borla mufflers in that same space with minimal mods... They seem much smaller than the ones in the picture - The ones I'm looking at are 13 1/4" x 4" x 9 1/2" and come in any combination of offset or centered inlet/outlet. I haven't found a post where anyone has tried 2 mufflers that small in that area and so far my rough measurements seem to indicate that it "might" work... I would be running dual 2 1/2" pipes and have a stock fuel tank... Would love to hear any feedback on whether it could be done and if a combination of mixing mufflers with different offsets would help with pipe routing and clearance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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