H-pipe or X-pipe with Tri-Y's

[GT1966]

OK, so my 66' is running an '85 302 with Windsor Junior heads and plated Tri-Y headers going into the stock GT exhaust system with resonators thru valance. I'm looking to upgrade the exhaust from the collectors back. So, firstly, are we talking an H- or X-pipe in a 2 1/2" system? What mufflers do folks suggest? Has anyone installed these Pype systems? Flowmaster versus Magnaflow. Not interested in a highway drone. Car has a 5-speed, so revs at 75mph cruising speed are 2300-ish with 3.25 gears. All suggestions welcome, but I want to know the H- versus X- answer.
CT

 

[j69302]

I have the pype X pipe with the built in cutouts with flowmasters, No drone.. 5 spd with 2.79 gears. No body believes me when I say I have no drone with the flowmasters but it is true.

I like the Pypes x-pipe and how it has the split for running cutouts.. I eventually put some electric cutouts on there... It can tuck up relatively tight but its not going to be super tight since it is a universal kit... you can probably cut it and narrow it and maybe get it somewhat in the trans tunnel.

 

[horseballz]

You won' beat the price/quality of the Magnaflow. If you click the blue word "Exhaust" near the top right of this page, it will take tou to listings of what's offered through this site. Find the number you need and click the blue words "Special pricing for StangNet members... contact us here" , that will open a private message for you to send to the Moderators of this site. You will be pleasantly amazed at the price, in the reply back to you, shipped to your door. You can also click on the part number that you need and that will take you to that part number at the ManaFlow site, showing the system and the "street price" which is MUCH MORE than you will pay through our Moderators. The setup for my 68 fit quite well and "tucked up" nicely. A little bit of "futzing" was required from the tri-y's to the pipes, but not bad and you need a shop/friend/you who can weld the stainless. On the question of "H" vs "X" pipe, the sound difference is fairly dramatic. An "X" sounds a bit more modern and smoother (kinda like a later model Cobra with nice mufflers) where as the "H" sounds a bit thumpier, more old school. I have absolutely "NO DRONE"! I went from 2 1/4", no crossover, to cherry bombs, to L pipes out the side (sounded way cool but TOO loud) and putting this system on sure seemed to drastically improve my touch of the toe", low end throttle response. I'm not sure of the price today, but last year when I got mine it was $425 to my door.
Check It Out,
Gene

 

[NMEMJCM]

I have Pypes x flow with their racepro mufflers. Sounds Awsome. Not to loud, but people definately know your coming! I also have the electric cut outs... OMFG.... awsome. You have to do a little cuttin and pasting with it, but it is a great setup. Just my .02.

 

[EP429]

I have the 2.5 inch Pypes X-pipe and their Violator mufflers, fed via Tri-y's. This replaced the PO's hackjob 2 inch w/x-pipe & Flowmaster setup. With moderate throttle it sounds nice with very little drone and won't burst your ear drums, but once you drop the hammer it'll sing to sweet Jesus.
I like it WAY better than the Flowmasters.

 

[rbohm]

for my 66 coupe, i am planning 2 1/4" pipes with an X pipe.

 

[tx65coupe]

In my opinion Flowmaster is the worst especially for sound. It sounds like a hollow tin can and drones.

I switched to Dynomax Ultraflo and love them. They are similar to Magnaflow, but sound a bit more old school.

I have Magnaflow on my old body style F150 and like it too.

I do prefer the sound of H to X pipe though. The H is deeper sounding. If you want less highway noise the X will probably give you that as well as a milder idle. It will be more raspy at higher RPM. The X is somewhat exotic sounding.

I have heard EP429s exhaust and really like it too.

straight through > chambered

 

[Shakin66]

Magnaflow's X pipe kit was so pretty I didnt want to drive in the rain. And I have had people tell me it sounds like a newer Cobra. When you accelerate hard it sounds great and there is no drone....Of course my car is heavily Fatmatted. As you can see it sits really low but that depends on your headers.
<a href="http://s32.photobucket.com/albums/d6/scatpro/Shakin/?action=view&amp;current=Picture227.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d6/scatpro/Shakin/Picture227.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s32.photobucket.com/albums/d6/scatpro/Shakin/?action=view&amp;current=Picture229.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d6/scatpro/Shakin/Picture229.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

 

[blown65]

Mines loud with the race bullets but I love the xpipe on it.

 

[Pony66]

I read these posts all the time. I have some Tri-y that I plan on installing this spring. I think I want the quietest performance muffer. My car drones aweful loud right now. I wish I had two cars next to each other with X and H pipes.

 

[NMEMJCM]

ahhhhhh HA HA Masterbait and Liquer AAAHHHHH love it. Im gunna search high and low till I find one of those things to keep my adult beverage cool. Sorry for the hijack, but that's awesome. OH... with my pypes x pipe and electric exhaust cut outs, I only have 2 3/4" of ground clearance. Mind you that I am running 17" rimes and the car sits just above the tire, so its pretty low. Just fyi.

AHHHHHHHH ha ha ...... Masterbait and Liquer ha ha ha......

 

[j69302]

I read these posts all the time. I have some Tri-y that I plan on installing this spring. I think I want the quietest performance muffer. My car drones aweful loud right now. I wish I had two cars next to each other with X and H pipes.

I reccomend dynomax turbo mufflers.. They sound really nice and are not loud unless you floor it and want them to be, and even then they are quiet compared to most.


I had a h pipe before, I dont notice a difference in sound until 3000 rpm and above.. which made it sound nicer.

At idle, cruising and below 3000 I didnt notice a difference in sound.

 

[tx65coupe]

I read these posts all the time. I have some Tri-y that I plan on installing this spring. I think I want the quietest performance muffer. My car drones aweful loud right now. I wish I had two cars next to each other with X and H pipes.

Dynomax Super Turbo is what you want.

 

[tx65coupe]

I reccomend dynomax turbo mufflers.. They sound really nice and are not loud unless you floor it and want them to be, and even then they are quiet compared to most.


I had a h pipe before, I dont notice a difference in sound until 3000 rpm and above.. which made it sound nicer.

At idle, cruising and below 3000 I didnt notice a difference in sound.

The H pipe should smooth out the sound at idle a little.

 

[frdnut]

As said before the X pipe has a more modern raspy kind of sound where the H pipe is more old school muscle car sounding..One other thing is the X pipe makes things pretty tight in the driveshaft tunnel area..If you go that route make sure you leave yourself room to access whatever you may need to..

 

[2+2GT]

Here's original Tri-Y's with an H:

 

[Fstbk]

Here's original Tri-Y's with an H:

So what brand is that H? Where did you get it etc...is the rest of that system off the shelf or shop made?

Thanks...

 

[blown65]

Here is the xpipe alternative. dumped with those little mufflers = loud. lol

 

[2+2GT]

So what brand is that H? Where did you get it etc...is the rest of that system off the shelf or shop made?

Thanks...

That's a stone-stock 65-66 C5ZZ-J H-pipe, cut at the collectors and welded to the cones. Slight tweaking of the RH pipe can be seen in the photo, but nothing excessive. This works much better than the "Tri-Y/header H-pipes" most suppliers offer. The rest of the system is a Motive 65-66 GT/K-code repro.