True dual or no

[klaussk]

I have been looking at my exhaust system. It all new from the headers back. It goes from 2 inch into the y-pipe then 2 1/2 into the cat then splits into dual 2 1/2 with duel glass packs. I'm going to have to modify whats on it to run headers. My question is., Should i swap over to true dual and run dual cats? The truck has a 305 in it and I'm just not sure how much I will benefit from that extra flow. Also, does anyone know if i can remove my cats in Virginia. The DMV says that any vehicle 25 years or older is exempt from emissions inspections , whether it has antique tags or not.Thank you

[Psycho71]

Anything over 25yrs old is exempt from emissions testing here in Tx too. But, and isn't there always a but, original emissions equipment must remain.  So I put these on my '85. http://www.frozenboost.com/index.php?cPath=210&osCsid=87b8b8d4882f7395e304a9f3530288b7 .

As for the true dual system, it definitely couldn't hurt anything.

[screamin86]

Imo its not worth the hassle from the inspection stations or cops and a single 3in exhaust will flow as good or a little better than a dual 2 1/4 or 2 1/2 can't remember which.I do think true duals has a littbe better sound but then again its up to you and if you plan to run regular plates on it and get it inspected.

[beastie_3]

Im surprised someone makes a fake cat

[screamin86]

You can find them all day long on ebay! Lol they are much better than knocking the guts out of a old one.

[beastie_3]

im just thinking the legality of it. You only need cats on a registered vehicle. No one runs cats on a off road vehicle. Obviously it would be illegal to put these on a registered vehicle, so why allow them to be made?

[beastie_3]

As for the dual exhaust, I built mine myself and saved a ton of money. I got the 2.5" piping, H pipe, and Flowmaster 40s from summit. Went to the parts store for hangers and aluminum colored high temp paint.

There is a little difference in sound with single vs dual exhaust. If you want dual exhaust, I recommend a H or X pipe to balance it out.

[screamin86]

All the ones I've seen state that they are not street legal or just for show or whatever. I have a actual converter on my truck but I dunno if anything is left in it or not it was a cheap on I put on so I wouldn't be hassled and needed it then and has gotten louder since it was put on. Back to topic I do agree h or x pipe all the way I've always heard a h pipe sounds better but x pipe flows better.

[beastie_3]

ya, stating that it is not street legal is their way of not being questioned by CARB or any other federal or state smog cops or being sued by a customer because he modified his exhaust. In cali, even a flowmaster or magnaflow is illegal because it increases sound, but as far as smog issues, its fine.

IMO, a X pipe is no more beneficial than a H pipe on the street, but if your always above 5k, then it does help out, if it is in the correct spot.

[Cody1018]

My truck has true duals on it. Each header has its own pipe (no x pipe or h pipe) going all the way back to 90's behind the rear wheels. Gives it a really nice rumble since each pipe only has 4 cylinders coming out of it. Recently went to glass packs with 90's in front of the rear wheel if your looking for something louder.

[screamin86]

I've had friends tell me about cops bugging them around here about altered mufflers before saying if its not oe equipment its illegal. Oh and to the op I live in va and when I first got my truck it came from wva and had true duals with manifolds and glasspacks straight out the back. I knew it was illegal since it had no cat but I took it to one of the shops local that usualy is pretty good about letting things like that slip by and they failed it. I had planed on changing it so I wouldn't be hassled but had gotten a ticket for no inspection about 2 days after I got my truck when taking it to my inlaws house so I could start working on it.

[klaussk]

i had something like that happen to me sceamin, when i got my old jeep in highschool it had no tailpipe. i was on my way to my buddies house to put one on and i got a bad inspection ticket. even after i told the cop i was on my way to fix it and get it inspected. So i have to run cats. Are those performance magnaflow cats sold at auto stores any good. there not 2 pricey.

[bake74]

     Unless your 305 is built, I don't think power wise you would notice a difference in power, if you are going for sound, IMO x pipe will balance out each side better than an H pipe and you won't get different sounds from left and right side of your engine.

[klaussk]

Well I need to put headers on it.The stock exhaust manifold on the passenger side has a terrible leak. So I might just do the dual exhaust while im working on the exhaust and modifing it to fit the headers. I figure why not.

[bake74]

     If your manifold is no good and you got the money, then go ahead, it really sounds like you would like the set up and sound it will make.