aluminized or stainless extension exhaust tubing when adding an X-pipe? - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

The SwiftChancelor · 08-18-2012, 09:52 AM

I bought a Magnaflow resonated X-pipe to install but all the local shops use only aluminized metal. One guy said he could get the stainless but I have to pay $70 for it and I'm sure I could get the amount I need for a lot less. What are you guys doing when adding an X-pipe? Unless you do the work on your own, do you have your local shops weld it up with the typical aluminized metal or do you have the use 304 or 409 stainless steel?

Bell040 · 08-18-2012, 11:02 AM

You have SP LTs, Solo axleback, and a magnaflow x-pipe. What part of the tubing are you missing that needs to be added?

btw, $70 extra for custom bent and welded stainless tubing is not that bad.

The SwiftChancelor · 08-18-2012, 03:03 PM

I have the L99 so the mid-muffler or resonator H-pipe is twice as long as the magnaflow resonated X-pipe. I need, I think around 2ft of 2 1/2in diameter of stainless steel tubing (around a foot for each side) to connect the X-pipe to the Solo axle-back. Stainless Works Power sells the 2 1/2in stainless steel tubing at around $15 per foot with $17 for shipping. I'm just wondering if people just go with what there local shops have which is usually aluminized metal or specifically ask for stainless?

TheNewCzar · 08-18-2012, 07:24 PM

I just went with what the shop had. They cut out the resonator and welded in the Tru-X and short bit of pipe to where they cut the back of the resonator.

Apex Motorsports · 08-19-2012, 08:31 AM

Stay away from aluminized steel. It is garbage and will rust out in a couple years. Your factory components and the Magnaflow X-pipe are both 400 series stainless, I believe the Solo axle back is as well, so I would go with that at a minimum.

The SwiftChancelor · 08-19-2012, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Apex Chase

Stay away from aluminized steel. It is garbage and will rust out in a couple years. Your factory components and the Magnaflow X-pipe are both 400 series stainless, I believe the Solo axle back is as well, so I would go with that at a minimum.

Thank you. I'm trying to get it by Friday so I can have it installed before the Somerset, KY, Somernites Cruise event you may know about. I found some 2.5in 409 Stainless Steel exhaust tubing 4ft long on Summit Racing for under $30 and $10 for shipping. Beats the hell out of the local shops $70 price which I bet would have kept the extra steel.

Apex Motorsports · 08-19-2012, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The SwiftChancelor

Thank you. I'm trying to get it by Friday so I can have it installed before the Somerset, KY, Somernites Cruise event you may know about. I found some 2.5in 409 Stainless Steel exhaust tubing 4ft long on Summit Racing for under $30 and $10 for shipping. Beats the hell out of the local shops $70 price which I bet would have kept the extra steel.

Oh yeah, I am familiar with Somerset. We went for the first time a couple months ago when the F-Body was the featured car. Had a lot of fun and will definitely be back.

Nitroman28 · 08-19-2012, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Apex Chase

Stay away from aluminized steel. It is garbage and will rust out in a couple years. Your factory components and the Magnaflow X-pipe are both 400 series stainless, I believe the Solo axle back is as well, so I would go with that at a minimum.

Hmm, Got that garbage under my truck, Been over 5 years 164,000 miles and still working fine, Got it on my Camaro axle back, still no problems.. Why waste a lot of money on stuff you will never see? Yes stainless will last a lot longer but most never own the car that long..

Apex Motorsports · 08-19-2012, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nitroman28

Hmm, Got that garbage under my truck, Been over 5 years 164,000 miles and still working fine, Got it on my Camaro axle back, still no problems.. Why waste a lot of money on stuff you will never see? Yes stainless will last a lot longer but most never own the car that long..

Down south you can probably get away with it but with the salt brine that is on our roads half the year aluminized steel just doesn't hold up. The OP is located near us so that is something that has to be a consideration for him. That is also why the OEM uses the more expensive 400 series stainless instead of aluminized steel. They would be replacing a lot of exhaust systems under warranty.

Nitroman28 · 08-19-2012, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Apex Chase

Down south you can probably get away with it but with the salt brine that is on our roads half the year aluminized steel just doesn't hold up. The OP is located near us so that is something that has to be a consideration for him. That is also why the OEM uses the more expensive 400 series stainless instead of aluminized steel. They would be replacing a lot of exhaust systems under warranty.

Makes since, I have no idea where wildcat country was. That's one thing we dont have to worry about around here is salt, We dont get much snow and when we do they use sand..

The SwiftChancelor · 08-24-2012, 02:23 PM

Wildcat country is the heart of the bluegrass, "my ol' Kentucky home". Maybe not Apex though, he might be a Cardinal. College ball is big for us here in KY. Back to the exhaust topic, I've had flowmasters welded up with aluminized pipe on past cars and it doesn't last a year or two before it starts rusting through. Got my Magnaflow resonated X-pipe welded on with the 409 stainless and I'd have to say there's not much difference loud wise but dose have more of that throaty exhaust note.

Apex Motorsports · 08-24-2012, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The SwiftChancelor

Wildcat country is the heart of the bluegrass, "my ol' Kentucky home". Maybe not Apex though, he might be a Cardinal...

I knew this picture would come in handy some day.

The SwiftChancelor · 08-24-2012, 04:25 PM

Ha, ha! Took the Camaro out again and like I said the resonated X-pipe has more of a throaty sound than the stock L99 H-pipe but I don't think its all around louder. I'm kinda disappointed, unless it gets louder or I'm just not used to it I may have to put the Tru-X on and have no type of muffler. Anyone know of this?

Badfinger · 08-25-2012, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The SwiftChancelor

Ha, ha! Took the Camaro out again and like I said the resonated X-pipe has more of a throaty sound than the stock L99 H-pipe but I don't think its all around louder. I'm kinda disappointed, unless it gets louder or I'm just not used to it I may have to put the Tru-X on and have no type of muffler. Anyone know of this?

I have 2010 L99 and I had the dealer install the GM performance mufflers when I bougth the car. I'm also experimenting and did a muffler delete. To my surprise it didn't make much difference so I removed the resonator added an x pipe and was going to reinstall the mufflers when the guys at the shop said "you may want to hear it before putting the muffers back on." They were right, it still didn't have the volume I had expected so I left them off. It's ok and pops a little more than before. Now I'm looking at the cats and headers and guessing that if I remove the cats I'll have to put the muffers back on

08-18-2012, 09:52 AM	#1
The SwiftChancelor Drives: SGM, 2011 2SS/RS, L99 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Wildcat Country Posts: 593 View My Garage	aluminized or stainless steel exhaust tubing when adding an X-pipe? I bought a Magnaflow resonated X-pipe to install but all the local shops use only aluminized metal. One guy said he could get the stainless but I have to pay $70 for it and I'm sure I could get the amount I need for a lot less. What are you guys doing when adding an X-pipe? Unless you do the work on your own, do you have your local shops weld it up with the typical aluminized metal or do you have the use 304 or 409 stainless steel? __________________ K&N air intake, Solo w/Jpipes axleback, SP 1 7/8 LT headers Last edited by The SwiftChancelor; 08-19-2012 at 09:21 AM.

08-18-2012, 11:02 AM	#2
Bell040 Drives: 2SS/RS - Black - GFX Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: B'ham, Alabama Posts: 2,458 View My Garage	You have SP LTs, Solo axleback, and a magnaflow x-pipe. What part of the tubing are you missing that needs to be added? btw, $70 extra for custom bent and welded stainless tubing is not that bad. __________________ Ordered: 10-13-08 Built: 3-30-09 (#1691) Recieved: 6-12-09 Blacked out, Cammed (Lunati Voodoo 233/245, .578/.598 @114°, +4°), ARH LTs, VR OTR CAI, Cutouts, and lots of other fun mods.

08-18-2012, 03:03 PM	#3
The SwiftChancelor Drives: SGM, 2011 2SS/RS, L99 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Wildcat Country Posts: 593 View My Garage	I have the L99 so the mid-muffler or resonator H-pipe is twice as long as the magnaflow resonated X-pipe. I need, I think around 2ft of 2 1/2in diameter of stainless steel tubing (around a foot for each side) to connect the X-pipe to the Solo axle-back. Stainless Works Power sells the 2 1/2in stainless steel tubing at around $15 per foot with $17 for shipping. I'm just wondering if people just go with what there local shops have which is usually aluminized metal or specifically ask for stainless? __________________ K&N air intake, Solo w/Jpipes axleback, SP 1 7/8 LT headers

08-24-2012, 02:23 PM	#11
The SwiftChancelor Drives: SGM, 2011 2SS/RS, L99 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Wildcat Country Posts: 593 View My Garage	Wildcat country is the heart of the bluegrass, "my ol' Kentucky home". Maybe not Apex though, he might be a Cardinal. College ball is big for us here in KY. Back to the exhaust topic, I've had flowmasters welded up with aluminized pipe on past cars and it doesn't last a year or two before it starts rusting through. Got my Magnaflow resonated X-pipe welded on with the 409 stainless and I'd have to say there's not much difference loud wise but dose have more of that throaty exhaust note. __________________ K&N air intake, Solo w/Jpipes axleback, SP 1 7/8 LT headers

08-24-2012, 04:25 PM	#13
The SwiftChancelor Drives: SGM, 2011 2SS/RS, L99 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Wildcat Country Posts: 593 View My Garage	Ha, ha! Took the Camaro out again and like I said the resonated X-pipe has more of a throaty sound than the stock L99 H-pipe but I don't think its all around louder. I'm kinda disappointed, unless it gets louder or I'm just not used to it I may have to put the Tru-X on and have no type of muffler. Anyone know of this? __________________ K&N air intake, Solo w/Jpipes axleback, SP 1 7/8 LT headers

08-18-2012, 07:24 PM	#4
TheNewCzar Drives: 2011 SS Rally Yellow Vert, 2000 WS6 Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Conway, AR Posts: 138	I just went with what the shop had. They cut out the resonator and welded in the Tru-X and short bit of pipe to where they cut the back of the resonator.

08-19-2012, 08:31 AM	#5
Apex Motorsports Drives: 2000 Camaro SS Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Louisville, Ky. Posts: 25,179	Stay away from aluminized steel. It is garbage and will rust out in a couple years. Your factory components and the Magnaflow X-pipe are both 400 series stainless, I believe the Solo axle back is as well, so I would go with that at a minimum.