mufflers & exhaust..............

[RiceHater]

Hello all. I have a 72 challenger with a 70 340 bored 30 over, cam, etc. I need to replace my againg exhaust. I currently have a pair of longtube headers but since the car was sitting low thanks to a worn suspension, the lowest part of one header scraped the pavement on several occarions and now the tube diameter is about 1/2 it's original size. i then have straight pipes each going to a muffler (one is blown) and exiting out the rear stock location. here are my questions:

1. should i replace the headers? (maybe i can post of pic of mine...........)
2. are the straight pipes hurting my performance? am i better off with an h or x pipe? i know an x pipe will give me a little more power and an h pipe will give me a more muscular sound. true?
3. what mufflers do you run and how do you like them? i have magnaflows in my daily driver. they are quiet at idle and load when u punch it. this challenger is just a head turner so i want VERY LOUD AND AGGRESSIVE.

thanks guys and gals.

[oldred]

Well, here's what I know, which may not be what you want to hear:

1. Yes, I would replace the headers, I had the same issue on mine and ended up cranking on the torsion bars to lift the front end up (the bonehead who owned it before me had the car all the way down....way down). I've been told that even though it wont' hurt your engine, it certainly doesn't help performance having one tube getting more backpressure than the others.

2. I've also been told that the X pipe is the way to go. I'm not sure that straight pipes are hurting your performance because I don't know what you have done to your motor.

3. I've got purple hornies on my car. If you're looking for loud, that's the way to go.

[Carlwalski]

Loud isn't always good. 
You may end up with a car that sounds better than it goes without good back pressure. 

I've got an X-Pipe and it is fantastic. It is quieter than straight pipes, but only just.
But, then again, the performance is better overall.

I run Dynomax Super Turbo mufflers on Lucy...nice crisp and loud when you punch it.

My 

[pink panther]

I'm currently running Hooker comp headers and flowmasters on my 73 340, sounds real good especially with the exhaust right behind the door panels.

[MyMopar]

Would I replace the headers, yes.
I would also go with an X pipe.
I'm not really into the loud and obnoxious car thing that doesn't go fast (read imports/tuners) but if you like it loud, flowmaster 40's are a good choice w/o being too too loud that you can't think when you drive.  I'm dumping these from my Charger, to me they were annoying.
Headers, X pipe and Magnaflow mufflers would be my choice.

[Chryco Psycho]

I would use TTi headers as they do not go under the steering & hang stupid low , no point in replacing the headers only to get them smashed again & I would use the X pipe & Hooker aero mufflers

[Rob C]

I gotta second Cryo's suggestion. Superior headers coupled with what I think is a great chambered mufler for a killer sound. Only cost stands in the way for those headers. A less expensive header is the Hooker Super Comps. Unless you have a scattersheild, they'll fit perfect. I had to dent a tube for my scattersheild. A manual steering box would be better to have, but the power box fit. Otherwise, they fit '73, 4spd, s/b Cuda like they should and expect it should. Uncoated @ around $300.

2. are the straight pipes hurting my performance? am i better off with an h or x pipe? i know an x pipe will give me a little more power and an h pipe will give me a more muscular sound. true?

In order of question asked....
1. Yes
2. Yes.
3. False.
The X is more powerful. Not a little more power. But alot more (In generally speaking) over straight true duals, a bit more than an "H" pipe. The muscular sound is from the muffler and only the muffler. It is the way to go. Again, if your pocket allows. I have heard loud aggressive killer sounding cars with nothing more than a set of mufflers.

[cudagirl4406pk]

Well i have hooker super comps and they went on easy and we have a flowmaster exhaust on my cuda and with the 4406pk it spunds awesome.The flowmaster kits from summit the american thunder kits are really nice and fit well.

michele

[RiceHater]

thanks for the replies. as for the headers they are not as badly damaged as i stated. i will probally hang on to them for now and save up for a nice set.

i have an o/r x pipe and magnaflow exhaust system in my mustang daily driver and like the quality and sound of the magnaflows. quiet at idle and nice when you get on it. what do you think of this Magnaflow x-pipe system for my chally:

http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=MPE%2D15851&N=0&autoview=sku

Should I go for the 2.5 inch or 3" system?

i have a 70 340, 4.08 cylinder bore (including .040 over), 3.31 stroke, 10.46 compression, TRW pistons, crane cam 691191, edelbrock torker intake, holly 750 4 barrel carb, timing 35 degrees at 2200 rpm. i think i should go 2.5 as i feel the 3" duel exhaust might make less power than the 2.5 inch. what do you all think?

[Street_Challenged73]

Hmm, I really don't know what you should go with for your exhaust's diameter.  I plan on using 3" pipes on my 340 and I plan on having a stout engine combo, so I really don't know if you'd benefit more by using 2.5" pipes or the larger ones.  
Chryco, where do you stand on this one?

[MEK-Dangerfield]

Not that I'm any expert, but my headers come to a 3" collector. After that, it's smaller. I'm guessing 2.5 inch. I have a 440, which is built up, so I think the 340 will be fine with 2.5 inch exhaust pipes. Of course, my pipes look 3" coming out that back(hee-hee). I guess I need pics to help this, don't I??   

  Mike

[RiceHater]

this has gotta go! prob about 15 years old

[RiceHater]

passanger side header

[RiceHater]

bottom view of driver's side header, bottom of those 2 tubes are flat from scrapping but do not leak

[RiceHater]

here is the best angle of the driver's header. you can see that the diameter of the 2 pipes has been reduced, but not that badly. what do you all think?