Need to decide: H, or X...

[Schlodes]

Ok I am ready to order my stuff tomrorrow.. [suspension stuff, torque box braces, few other knick nacks, and some sort of mid pipe]. But I can't decide on a mid pipe for the life of me.

As far as X pipes. The Bassani, and BBK that have the X shaped Chamber way at the back.. First off.. Isnt it the closer to the headers that X is, the better it works? The Holley/Flowtech off road X looks like it is a good example of that [but you cant buy it with cats] the others do not. The BBK and Bassani ones almost seem like a glorified H pipe or a version of Mac Pro Chamber.. instead of an actual X incorporated early into the exhaust system.

Is there that much of a gain HP wise, going from a 2 1/2" high flow catted H pipe, to one of the Bassani or BBK catted X "chambered" pipes..? I have to stay with cats.

How bout a HP gain in general from off road H to an off road X. [or catted to catted] Anyone ever dynoe'd this or is it all what sound you want?

I want the best performing one for the least $$ spent.. Something tells me there would be no difference between a 2 1/2" catted H and the catted X chamber mid pipes other than maybe sound..

 

[nmcgrawj]

yea...i have been told that they go off of sound. But on the different x pipes, i would think Bassani's would be the best (they cost the most) but i dont know. Just buy what sound u like the best.

 

[custom89stang]

x pipe will make your exhaust sounds "raspier" if thats even a word. more raspy....i went with the H (off road) and i love the boosted sound and the same rumble from my flowmasters

 

[331 cobra]

The standard old school way of installing an H pipe is to spray paint on your dual exhaust for about a foot behind your headers, then drive it hard. You add the H pipe where the paint burned off the most.

So, it isn't always better if it's closer to the collector.

Exhaust is sometimes more art than science, especially after the collectors. Unless you have lots of time and a chassis dyno handy, it's trial and error. Avoid the ricer fart can and you will be allright.