I thought that would probably be the case.I'll try it and see what happens.

    Frank is correct on that. The key to doing the H pipe is to put it as close to the motor as possible, thats where is does the most good. When I bent up pipes for a while, that would make quite a difference. A lot of times it was also a cheaper way to improve you overall exhaust system with out having to go with a larget diameter pipe. And it will defintely quite things down.

                         Michael

Does the size of the H-pipe make any difference?I'm thinking of using pipe a little smaller than the exhaust pipe because it would be easier to weld.

I've been through the bifocal thing with welding.  It dawned on me one day while arc welding that I was trying to peer through the narrow window in the helmet and could only use the top of my glasses.  A helmet with the large window was a big help.  Also, I bought a pair of drugstore reading glasses and use them instead of the bifocals, er now trifocals.  For gas welding, I use the reading glasses and a full face shield with a tint.  Still not as good as it was 30 years ago without glasses.  And now I find that my eyes don't react to light change very well, I start with the hood up and it's light.  Then put the hood down and it's dark.  Then strike an arc, and it's light again.  Takes me a couple seconds to be able to see where I'm weldiing, and it's usually not where I want to be.

John in Selma, IN

I know what you mean. I compounded the problem by having Cataract surgery on both eyes. I can see a LOT better but no matter how dark I adjust my shield I can't seem to see the point where the work and arc meet. Now I spot weld and have a friend do the finish work. My welds tend to "drift" around! Chuck in NH

                          thing. One, of my sons, helped me correct this "problem"

                          of not being able to see above while working and welding;

                          He said Dad, turn your glasses over!!!  I did and it's worked

                          for me since....   Nothing to do with your H-pipe, Paul.

                                               See Ya'll in Columbus, hopefully

                                                               Bill

I too have had cataract surgery about 12 years ago, but only on my right eye.  At the time, no cataract on the left.  Over the years I have developed diabetes related retinal problems in my left, and as the cataract grew, my doctor said there was no need to remove the cataract, my vision wasn't that good in the left eye.  Biggest problem I've had is that when they put the new lens in the right eye, they put a little correction in it.  Now each eye sees things in different sizes.  My depth perception is terrible now, which really makes it hard to tell where the tip of the welding rod is in relation to the work.  I finally talked my doctor into removing the cataract in the left eye and equalizing the lenses.  Going to do it Sept 24.  This getting old is not for sissies.

John

   John, does the cataract have any connection to the floater thing?

We did a chassis dyno yesterday and the performance tech told me that I would add significant power with an h-pipe and race mufflers to add a little back pressure.  They said it would be quieter at idle, but would much louder under acceleration.  I will not be able to have that installed by Bonneville and Columbus, but I sure will by the October and November El Mirage meets.

It will be interesting to see if you can feel a gain in response in a street car.  Please let us know how it works out.

As for the welding vision problem, I have had great success with a larger auto-dark window in the helmet.  My glasses are standard bifocals and I can see well from the pre-arc to the finish weld.

Good luck with the project...................

Google - "David Vizard Exhaust" - you'll find it.

He is a proponent of creating a large "expansion chanber" downstream of the header exit, common to both banks of the engine - then re-splitting to two low restriction mufflers. This set-up was created while looking for a street silenced exhaust that had little or no impact on power production. One thing he really believes in, is to use "oversize" - big passageway mufflers with reducers down to your pipe size - like a three inch nominal inlet/outlet muffler reduced to 2-1/2 or 2-1/4. 

I welded a crossover of inch and a half tubing about 8 inches ahead of the mufflers.Sounds great.I don't know yet about any performance or economy gain.Probably going to use more gas now,because it will be more tempting to stand on it in town.

For a couple of rearons I won't post any pictures.Number one,I'm a complete dunce when it comes to pictures and computers.Number two,there's no way in the world I'm going to let anyone see my welding job.I'm not much of a welder anymore anyway,and I discovered something that never occurred to me before.I was using some flux core wire that I've had for several years and having a tough time getting a good weld.The roll ran out before I finished,so I put in a new roll and discovered a world of difference.Apparently the flux in the wire deteriorates over time.

Whatever the reason was,the new wire sure worked better.It could well have a little rust or deteriorated flux,or both.Anyway,I have a good excuse for the horrible looking welds.

         Doesn't matter, the object is to allow each pulse two mufflers or twice the volume to exhaust to. Bends don't make a difference to the pulse.

Don't have to go to the Old Folks Home.The Missouri Veterans Home is only about 30 miles from me and I've already got my reservation in!!!!!

My kids are scoping out a spot for me...Gerry

The addition of a H-Pipe into the exhaust system will reduce the ‘per side’ exhaust pressure which in turn would reduce any tendency for the exhaust to be using the crossover in the intake manifold as a pressure release.  With this in mind, the intake manifold can potentially see a slight drop in temperature with the installation of a H-Pipe or anything else in the exhaust system that would alleviate some of the exhaust back pressure.

       If I understand you correctly, you're asking if the crossover would act the same as an "H" or "X" pipe? It would but the crosssection is so small that it wouldn't have much effect. And, as you mentioned, opening it will raise the intake floor temperature. This isn't necessarily a bad thing in the midwest, in cold weather, but hurts on the dragstrip. The "X" pipe seems to be the best on a dyno, while the "H" pipe is easiest to install. Both help.