2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Stacks: Crossbox or Y pipe?

[biggy238]

I'm having an indecisive moment... I went and priced the steel to build a crosstube. .



6 inch miter cuts will be installed.



2X6 in box tube was $5 something per foot. . I could have the crosstube built for cheap... The tubing presents the same cross section as 4 inch diameter exhaust tubing. .





So the question is..... Are flow characteristics worth the added cost of a Y pipe and exhaust elbows? The cost of construction more than doubles...



If I go the crossbox route, is the 2X6 too narrow?



Crossbox supply bill: 2X6 (5. 5 feet) 6 inch Diameter tubing (flange for stacks and band clamps) 4X4 inch angle iron - double as end caps and mounting brackets on the end of the tube.





Y pipe: One Y pipe, 3 elbows, Two reducers, two mounting brackets, section of exhaust tube, ***** load of clamps...



Tell me what you think guys.

 

[Signal73]

If you got the talent Id go Homemade. Ive seen them in person and think they look great. 6" stacks I think you need reducers for a 5" Y-pipe where you could have a cleaner look with the Homebrew. Makes it sorta Unique, and if its cheaper... .

 

[Forrest Nearing]

I've done both styles... on the same truck... there is NO difference in performance. period. but the box crossover resonated less inside the cab (it was . 250" wall tubing)

 

[Scrappy]

I agree on the crossbox(that is how I have done both of my trucks) but I think I would use something larger than 2" on the dimension, I used 4x4 tubing on the 1st and 5x5 on my second.

 

[Forrest Nearing]

I used 3x6. internal cross section is JUST shy of a 5" pipe, but you're splitting into TWO, so flow is not hampered

 

[biggy238]

Exactly Forrest... That is one of my point I argues on another forum. Even if the dimensions look small, you've still doubled the cross section so flow is only hampered by the angles.



I'm thinking 3X6 will be my box of choice. 5 feet of that, some large angle Iron... 6 inch circular tubing for stack mounts... 4 inch out the bottom into an elbow. . I could do this for $100 I think.

 

[Forrest Nearing]

yup, it's cheap and easy, and resonates less in the cab...



I PREFER a true y-pipe setup, but it's a lot harder to build, more expensive, doesn't perform any better, etc.



I will say that my y-pipe setup you could hear the turbo slightly better

 

[SRadke]

I built one with the Y pipe, it wan't a big deal. Just cut the back out of two 90° elbows and welded them together. Clamp on each stack and your done. Clean, smooth and sounded great. Took about 4 hours to do all the measureing and put it together. That's the only route I'd go with the proper tool handy.



-Scott

 

[biggy238]

Now that's an interesting point about the Y pipe... . I'm all about the Turbo sounds... .



I'd have a ford if only for that sound... ..... makes my hair stand up some times to hear a ford spool when straight piped... .



I got my BHAF yesterday... +Turbo Sounds %150. . If I could get the exhaust to carry it. . all the better.

 

[Forrest Nearing]

it's "slightly" better... the box crossover will still put out a lot of turbo sound!

 

[lumberjack98]

question

If the crossbox is 3" tall or so it would seem there would be more room at the fuel tank if installed under the bed and thicker steel would keep the temps down at the tank as well as be able to heat wrap it to reduce more heat and drone from box. what do you think? Ken

 

[SRadke]

Thicker steel will not keep the heat down. It will take longer to heat up, and stay hot longer, but not keep the heat down. You'd be better off to make it thin and use the space you save for some kind of thermal barrier.

 

[lumberjack98]

good point

 

[AndyMan]

Where did you find box tube for $5/foot? I've got a box style set up with my stacks, but I think it should be bigger. It's like a 4x2 box or something. To my way of thinking, it is nowhere near big enough for my set-up. I'd like to go 4x6 or so. Cheapest I can find for a 5' section is over $150 +Shipping. I'm also not sure where to look for it locally. My setup was on the truck when I purchased it. I'm looking to re-do it.



Thanks,

Andy

 

[SRadke]

Steel is more or less sold by the pound. They charge by the foot for these shapes but divide price out by the pound and it's all very similar. With that in mind a thin wall tube (let's face it, we don't need an strength here) will not be terribly expensive. Call your local steel yards and see what they've got in the . 095" to . 125" range. They may have something in their remnants that would work. Often they charge you so much to cut it you'd be ahead to buy the whole piece.



-Scott

 

[kelly4463]

I used an y got all the parts at a truck parts store clamps ,elbows and the almighty 6" miter stacks :-laf :-laf take your time its not hard at all, you will need a saw zaw makes the job alot easier!!!

 

[biggy238]

This is a steel warehouse in Somerset Ky. nothing special... 2X6 was in the $5 range 3X6 $7 range and 4X6 was $11...



This was . 125 wall I believe... I even thought about having some sheet steel folded to make the box... weld the seam myself. .