HP Exhaust to Log Head Pipes

bajajoaquin

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I'm planning out the future rebuild of my engine, trans, rearend on my Imperial, and will be putting on a new exhaust at the same time. It's got logs with a single exhaust now, but I've got HP manifolds which will be going on, along with duals. Budget is an issue, so I'm looking to do everything myself that I'm realistically capable of doing.

Original plan was for a TTI C-body dual exhaust, and give them the casting number for the HP manifolds so I get the head pipes that match. At nearly $700, that's a lot of money, but I can't really bend tube myself, and they supposedly just match up.

Waldron Exhaust also comes well-recommended, and even though it's 2-1/4" tube, would still probably work just fine with my mild performance upgrades. It's about $250 cheaper. Only issue is that I contacted them and they'll only make pipes to fit the original logs, since that's the only factory setup for my car.

I don't want to run open exhaust while I'm breaking in the cam/engine, and while I drive it to a muffler shop. I'm worried about my ability to fab up new head pipes in a reasonable time that will work without cracking, rattling, or otherwise sucking.

Is there an easy way out of this that I'm not seeing?
 
I'm planning out the future rebuild of my engine, trans, rearend on my Imperial, and will be putting on a new exhaust at the same time. It's got logs with a single exhaust now, but I've got HP manifolds which will be going on, along with duals. Budget is an issue, so I'm looking to do everything myself that I'm realistically capable of doing.

Original plan was for a TTI C-body dual exhaust, and give them the casting number for the HP manifolds so I get the head pipes that match. At nearly $700, that's a lot of money, but I can't really bend tube myself, and they supposedly just match up.

Waldron Exhaust also comes well-recommended, and even though it's 2-1/4" tube, would still probably work just fine with my mild performance upgrades. It's about $250 cheaper. Only issue is that I contacted them and they'll only make pipes to fit the original logs, since that's the only factory setup for my car.

I don't want to run open exhaust while I'm breaking in the cam/engine, and while I drive it to a muffler shop. I'm worried about my ability to fab up new head pipes in a reasonable time that will work without cracking, rattling, or otherwise sucking.

Is there an easy way out of this that I'm not seeing?
Do you already have a system & just need head pipes ?
 
Going to buy a full system. Was hoping to have something pre-bent so I could bolt it on when time came to reinstall the engine and trans.

TTI will give me head pipes to match their exhaust to the manifolds. Waldron will only match their exhaust to logs.
 
It would be a lot of screwing around but you could put the logs and single exhaust on for the cam break in then after it has run and your happy with it swap to the HP manifolds then take it to the exhaust shop.
 
That gives me two questions:
1) How much did you change to get the HP manifolds to fit?
2) Why wouldn't you do it again, and would your opinion be different if the engine, exhaust, manifolds, etc., were already out of the car for other reasons?
 
That gives me two questions:
1) How much did you change to get the HP manifolds to fit?
2) Why wouldn't you do it again, and would your opinion be different if the engine, exhaust, manifolds, etc., were already out of the car for other reasons?

1) I didn't change anything, as in altering the car from stock. My car needed exhaust so I drop it to the shop with the original logs on. They swapped the manifolds out and installed new duals; 2-1/2" to the muffler with 2-14" tail pipes.

2) There are no issues with the passenger side manifold. You can drop the exhaust off of it and remove the manifold with ease. Everything can be done from leaning over the fender.

The driver side is another story. The manifold I used the flange does not run parallel with the side of the car. If you ever have to drop the exhaust it is a real chore to get the exhaust bolted back up to the flange on the manifold. The easiest way that I've found to do it is to remove the manifold from the head. Put tape around the head of the bolt, insert the bolt in the manifold, then place a long extension with a universal and the socket on the bolt head. Now you can install the manifold and hope the socket doesn't fall off. I don't think you're going to notice any performance increase in a 4000# car.

You can see in the attached picture that seeing the front flange bowl on the driver side is easy enough the only way to see the back is from underneath. Then you can get one hand up there at best.
IMG_7089.JPG
 
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I'm planning out the future rebuild of my engine, trans, rearend on my Imperial, and will be putting on a new exhaust at the same time. It's got logs with a single exhaust now, but I've got HP manifolds which will be going on, along with duals. Budget is an issue, so I'm looking to do everything myself that I'm realistically capable of doing.

Original plan was for a TTI C-body dual exhaust, and give them the casting number for the HP manifolds so I get the head pipes that match. At nearly $700, that's a lot of money, but I can't really bend tube myself, and they supposedly just match up.

Waldron Exhaust also comes well-recommended, and even though it's 2-1/4" tube, would still probably work just fine with my mild performance upgrades. It's about $250 cheaper. Only issue is that I contacted them and they'll only make pipes to fit the original logs, since that's the only factory setup for my car.

I don't want to run open exhaust while I'm breaking in the cam/engine, and while I drive it to a muffler shop. I'm worried about my ability to fab up new head pipes in a reasonable time that will work without cracking, rattling, or otherwise sucking.

Is there an easy way out of this that I'm not seeing?
the easiest way is tti. spend the money you wont be sorry.
 
IMHO, there isn't a lot of gains to be had with the HP manifolds in a big car.

That said.... You have the manifolds and you are taking the engine out. Makes perfect sense to use them. I would do it and wouldn't think twice. I also wouldn't screw around with swapping manifolds for break in once it was in the car.

The TTI system fits like a glove. I have one on my car and it's a very high quality piece. The Waldron system may be a very good OEM type system, but the TTI is a very good aftermarket system. The quality is high and I think that is the reason for the additional price.

I bought my system at Carlisle and it was a "show special". I think it was 10% off the retail.... So if you can catch a special from one of their vendors, that price gap is going to be less. Remember, TTI isn't really a retail house. They sell at full price. I'll even bet that if I walked into Rob's Rod Shop, where I bought mine, I'd get the same 10% off today.
 
I swapped to HP manifolds and installed a complete tti system. All fit with little to no effort. (I bought my tti system without their mufflers and installed a set of OEM replacement mufflers). The only real performance gain was going from single to dual exhaust. I don't think the HP manifolds made any difference aside from looking cool.
tti may offer a dual exhaust system that will bolt up to the log manifolds. If so, you'll save a bunch by not buying HP manifolds, or selling the ones you have.
 
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