well fellas, i need to do my first upgrade on my electra. :grin: the first thing i was thinkin is gettin a nice free flowing exhaust for it; has anyone done this? it looks tough to do myself, lots of bends and the trans shift selector seems like it might be tricky.
Are you thinking about headers? Go with the long tube Dynomax SuperTurbo mufflers. They are very free flowing and quiet....compared to blowmasters. I also recommend the X Pipe.....helps take out the drone that most performance exhausts have. Take it to the local muffler shop and have them install it for you - since they really don't make a "kit" for the Electra. I had duals put on my 71 LeSabre and my 71 Centurion. The Centurion has TA full length headers, x pipe and dynomax muffs. Heck of a combo - can't beat it really.
how much did it cost? 4-500 for installation and parts? i was thinking about keeping the manifolds, because i cant afford headers. :ball: i suppose its pointless to have duals if there arent headers attached to the motor. perhaps this is not even worth it!
It's worth it....regardless of if you have headers or manifolds. A free flowing exhaust will do nothing but help. Ok cost breakdown of my system: Used headers: $300 2 1/2" X Pipe: $100 Header collectors & gaskets: $60 Installation of system: $275 (I know the owner of a Midas store) The install was CHEAP!!! He even installed my headers for me!! I bought a couple cases of suds fo him, and did some irrigation work on the side to make up for it. You can get a good dual exhaust system installed for about $350 on your car. You just have to do your homework and see who does the best work in your town.
I got duals put on my Buick at the local independent shop. I supplied the large transverse muffler, and he supplied all the pipe and labor. I kept my factory manifolds, but everything was new from that point back. I put aluminized pipe on it. It was $209 for the system, and I provided the $80 transverse muffler from flea-bay. So total was around $290 but I could have come out cheaper by using pancake or standard mufflers the shop stocked.
Adam, I have a friend who has a beautiful bright red 71 455 Centurion convertible with white interior and top. I have been trying to buy it from him for 10 years. I dig that car. Anyway I know you won't like what I have to say but here is my experience. Compared to Magnaflows or Walker Ultra flows or any other "straight thru" type design "turbo flow" type muffs SUCK. They flow way better than stock muffs but are still cheap and only flow marginally better than chamber type muffs. They will rust and can blow out also. Check out www.magnaflow.com/02product/universal/oval.htm Biggest you can fit. I used 5x8x18" case offset/center 2.5" part #12256 on a G-body. Other than that I agree 100% with your post. Electra, if you don't go with headers and don't want to remove the exhaust manifolds. You can still port the exhaust manifold outlet big as you can reasonably get. You can also use 3" pipe from manifold into X pipe 2 1/2" comming out of X into muffs. This will be good for some TQ and Horsies. I don't want to sound like some know it all because I sure as heck am not. I do know these are some win win ideas though. Good Luck on your project.
I ran the T/A mandrel bent 3" A-body kit with two sets of El Camino extensions. I just turned the pieces that go over the axle around and ran them backwards from how you would on an A-body. With the system I run 2 chamber flowmaster center in side out mufflers(a bit loud), with Poston headers. I've since added an X-pipe, but haven't been able to prove if that helped. The X-pipe made the sound more mellow, but also did away with the "stereo" nature of dual exhaust. I sort of liked it better before.
