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An automotive exhaust system is made up of a pipe that extends from the engine block to just before the rear axle. The system has no muffler and no resonators, which means it is louder to mark your presence, wherever you go!
Usually, straight pipes increase an engine’s horsepower, torque and decrease its weight. Straight pipes are illegal in most states because they produce lots of sound and vibration.
What are the Benefits of Straight Exhaust?
Installing straight pipes exhaust pipe system will increase fuel efficiency for the engine. Installing straight pipe systems also improve the sound of your engine and helps in producing a distinct sound.
It removes both the catalytic converter and the exhaust valve, thus engine generates a great raw sound.
The Straight pipe Exhaust also gives your car system a unique look. Your car fuel economy also improves dramatically.
Steps to straight pipe a car
- Remove the entire exhaust system from your car.
- Measures pipe and mark the proper length and provides a minimum of 6 inch of extra space.
- Place straight pipe across exhaust manifold.
- You may either fix the new exhaust pipe or use pipe clamps.
- The engine must be tested before the fittings of the pipe are complete.
- The exhaust manifold should be exposed so you only have two choices: welding or pipe locking the new tube up or welding this inside.
- The new exhaust system is cheaper and easier to install than welding the pipe.
- Prime and paint all metal parts with texture black spray paint to prevent corrosion.
- Cut off the muffler and resonator part of the exhaust system about an inch after where is attached to the engine block. Then cut it at a 45-degree angle instead of just cutting it straight across.
- At the same time cut off any extra tubing connecting to the exhaust system where you just cut at a 45-degree angle
- Then weld in that place a 90-degree tube using a TIG welder (Tungsten Inert Gas). If there is no welding equipment available, use high-temperature resistant adhesive. For effective welding, use MIG welder with argon gas.
- Once you have completed the welding job for attaching the straight pipe of your choice, make sure to let it cool completely before doing any type of test drive on the street.
- After everything is done, hang up your muffler and resonator back on the car with bolts making sure to hang one end of your muffler higher than the other.
Notes:
- If you are using steel, make sure it is thick enough so that it does not warp when pressure is applied to it (i.e. hammering). Also, if you are using steel, make sure it is polished and smoothed so that you can weld to it.
- If your car requires high flow air filters due to the straight pipe exhaust system, you must change or modify it accordingly with any aftermarket item.
- The piping diameter of a car’s exhaust system determines the amount of torque and horsepower. Use a piping diameter that is greater than 2”.
- The louder and harder your engine roars the more power it will produce.
- You may need to adjust or modify your back pressure regulator (BPR) if you notice a big change in idle speed and overall performance. Adjusting this part might give you a fine tuning on how loud and powerful your engine should sound.
- To prevent any harmful affect on your car’s performance, do not cut or modify the piping that connects to the catalytic converter. This part must remain intact for a successful and safe installation of your straight pipe system.
Limitations
- Installing Straight Pipes will increase fuel efficiency and decrease power output. It is illegal to use on public streets.
- Straight pipes are not for everyone. The car must have the guts and power to back up this modification. Running without a muffler can cause excessive sound levels that may be an annoyance to the public.
- Restriction of Air Flow will decrease horsepower thus has an impact on fuel economy or drivability.
- High Performance straight pipe exhaust systems are also referred to as open headers. Straight Pipes become much louder when vehicle speed is increased and the air moves faster through the pipes.
- They sound best on bigger engines since they don’t spool up quickly and therefore lack that “top end” note. Open headers work better with larger displacement, carburetor or EFI motors.
- High Performance Straight Pipes do not have a muffler, but some manufacturers incorporate a small resonator after the catalytic converter to provide a little performance and protect your investment from excessive noise levels.
- They bolt directly to the exhaust manifold, header(s) or an accessory flange. If you decide on going with aftermarket headers, use straight pipes only if the primary tubes are equal to or greater than 2-1/2”.
- The length of an exit tube should not exceed 18 inches. If you have a small block Chevy with cast iron heads, the factory manifold bolts right up to these systems.
What are straight pipe exhaust kits?
Straight pipe exhaust kits are a collection of pipes that replaces the factory exhaust. The benefit of such an upgrade is mostly found in the area of horsepower and torque, often with an increase in fuel economy as well. The appearance is also improved.
There are several straight pipe kits for different car models. You should pick the one suiting your car model. There are universal straight pipe kits available that are compatible to most vehicles.
The diameter of the pipe should be in line with the car’s model.
How long does it take to straight pipe a car?
Installation of straight-piped exhaust doesn’t take much time. The spares you need to get for proper installation are sometimes a little expensive. The labor costs is not high but takes a few hours to mount straight pipe. The ‘make’ and model of the car determine the total cost associated with the installation.
Some people spend hundreds of dollars while other people spend over 1 thousand dollar on the installation of the exhaust pipe. The job involves welding and therefore it may be more difficult for professionals to do it on their own.
You should get out of here within short time as long as his mechanic knows what he or she wants.
Standalone exhaust pipe
You can expect somewhere from $60 to $90 for a straight exhaust pipe. Most after-market straight pipes are universally compatible. The pipe is just needed to connect to the exhaust. The standalone pipe is cheaper than the larger models but it might need modifications to fit.
You can also pay for the pipe which is desired and take it to a mechanic to attach it to the intake port although you may have to use a welding tool to make it work properly.
How much will it cost you for a straight pipe exhaust?
If you are looking for a straight pipe exhaust system, you should struggle in selecting between a varieties of available options at several different price ranges. When replacing your car exhausts it’s a matter of putting the proper kit together and then choosing the most suitable one to replace it.
From $6,000 to $1000 you can obtain custom-fabricated pipes from a reliable car shop. The quality of the material directly influences the durability of the system. A mechanic to purchase your parts will likely cost you around $100-$200. If you want a mechanic to fix the exhaust for you this costs an extra fee.
The installation isn’t quite hard at all but requires the proper tools and the appropriate skills.
Is installing a straight pipe worth it?
A straight pipe exhaust won’t harm your engine and it shouldn’t significantly shorten your vehicle lifetime. Putting in new exhaust systems may also void the warranty on your car.
Additionally straight pipes generate a lot of noises your neighbors may not take too much comfort from your silenced engines. The main reason this is not worth it is because later you will have difficulty selling your automobile.
Your car may also lose your warranty if you install a faulty exhaust system for your car. At some point the decision whether it is worth it would ultimately lie solely on you.
Does straight pipe hurt your engine?
Straight pipe to your vent doesn’t affect the engine in any way. It raises the sound from your automobile engines and increases the reliability. Autos equipped with straight pipe exhaust can produce pure noise from the engine.
It’s usually louder than any other setup. It’s a smart choice for people who use their vehicles for races. When you apply this system there is no need to change muffler bearing since you don’t need the replacement part.
Straight pipe exhaust kit
For around $1000 to $2000 you can also get high-end pipe exhaust kits. Most kits come with large straight tube and pliable hoses in case you need a few narrow bends to access parts located on the underside of the car.
Some less advanced kits work fine if they are installed properly. Several sub-$100 kits exist but are mostly made of light steel. The average costs of various common straight pipe kits range between $200 and $500.
We must warn that such kinds of kits are commonly of lesser quality and likely don’t last as long as professionally welded pipe.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is straight pipe legal?
Straight exhaust is prohibited but regulations vary between states. It is recommended that you ask your state about restrictions as many states have comparable restrictions.
Most drivers aren’t stopped unless cars are so loud that they’re dangerous for the neighbourhood. A good many people will not.
How much does a straight pipe cost for a BMW?
The typical cost of replacing an exhaust pipe on Mercedes-Benz is between $1091 and $1120. Cost of labour should be about $105 to $134 with components around $986.
How much does it cost to straight pipe a Camaro?
You will pay a significant fee if you wish to straight pipe a Camaro. Other people actually use up $1000 to buy your kit. The cost varies by the cost of the kit.
Conclusion
Straight pipe exhausts are a fun addition to make your auto power more efficient. Straight pipe is customised – every fixture is unique. Use good material and make sure the pipe is exactly about the right width, the right diameter and the right gauge. Depending upon how many resources there are, you can easily install them yourself.
My Name is Christopher Angels, and I am a postgraduate in mechanical engineering. Cars have always excited me as a child, and soon I decided to dive into the world of cars by pursuing mechanical engineering. I also worked as a Mechanic for over 3 years to understand Cars’ anatomy and how each part contributes to its working.
My Name is Christopher Angels, and I am a postgraduate in mechanical engineering. Cars have always excited me as a child, and soon I decided to dive into the world of cars by pursuing mechanical engineering. I also worked as a Mechanic for over 3 years to understand Cars' anatomy and how each part contributes to its working.
