I would like any experience, opinions, and/or advice on exhaust pipes exiting just in front of the rear wheels. They will be on a 31 A Coupe and it has a rumble seat. I would perfer to exit to the rear, but it appears that will be most difficult.
remember , you did ask for opinions. run them all the way out the back. dumping them in front of the rear tires looks like you were too lazy to do it right , or couldn't figure out how to do it what is in the way? pictures?
I don't think that you would be pleased with the exhaust drone in the interior. I tried it once, and quickly modified to route the tailpipes out the rear.
Yep, I agree out the rear of the car. Also go straight out the back, no turn-downs or you'll be stirring up a bunch of dust on unpaved areas.
I'm don't think that having the exhaust exit in front of the rear wheels is a problem of noise or laziness. I think that it has more to do with the style of car you are building. Are you planning side pipes, more lakes type pipes, or just having the exhaust poke out from under the car? Lots of t-buckets (mine included) have side pipes ending in front of the rear wheels. I had a slightly o/t truck ('68 GMC/327 Chevy motor) with the exhaust poking out in front of the rear wheels. Mopar put the AAR 'Cuda and T/A Challenger exhaust in the same spot. It can be done, but it has to be right for the vehicle. Don't force it, and try to make believe it looks ok.
I had pipes exit in front of the rear wheels on my '57 chevy and it fine, but the time I had them dump under the car in front of the rear axle was not. The sound in the car was very loud when the pipes ended under the car.
sound sucks pom pom on both sides run pipes under rear axle not as hard as it sounds, just have suspension it right height when doing it and its much easier to get it to the rear anything can be done , but SOMETIMES it takes a lot longer but being cool in the end makes it all worthwhile i am doing side pipes on a 53 chev and puting glass packs in the front body mount brace area lot of trouble pain and frustration, but when i am cruising it will be worthwhile
I never liked it but if the customer insisted I made him happy. Usually it was a cost consideration more than anything else. one thing to remember with the exhaust exiting in front of the rear wheels there is a good chance that your rear wheels and tires will get covered with soot and exhaust smutz. Especially if your engine has a few miles on it.
I would perfer to exit to the rear, but it appears that will be most difficult. Go under the axle . easy-peazy
I do alot of exhaust systems (have a bender 22 years) Running a system out the side is not a very good plan.It is lot or droning there is also the fact of sucking exhaust fumes inside the car with the windows down at any speed.Plus alot of times the exhaust makes a mess out of your rear wheels.
Thanks guys. Have been doing some serious measuring since the post, no way to get the pipes over the rear crossmember as I had hoped, have come to the conclusion that under the axle is the "only" way to get a rear exit, which I perfer. The coupe is full fendered, full hood, no sidepipes or side exit headers.
I would run them straight out the back also, except if you have a Long Roof or (shudder)van. Then run them out the back corners. Reason being if you drive with the lift gate/rear windows open you will suck exhaust into the car.
Yep, been there done that and while they sound cool for a 20 minute run to the store, they get to you in a big way on cross country runs. It's not how loud they are but that constant drone in your ear. A lot of guys used to run the pipes under the rear axle on severely lowered or low clearance rigs.
I like to hide mine and come out from the rear fenders. I plan on cutting these tips down a little. To me out the rear looks like the wheel barrow look. Although my 40 pickup project is being built 60's style and will come out the rear.
I put ~ 100K on my avatar coupe, behind the axle is the only way I'd ever do it. You'll be glad you worked out a solution. You mentioned rear x-member clearance, see if an oval-ling of a good diameter will pass in the region, get some "S" shaped bent pieces and float them in place, w/a wheel off on one side, you may still be able to go above.
I have the same issue in my coupe routing exhaust through the IRS maze but someway somehow I'll get it coming out the back. Back in the day I ran side exhaust with the banger motor. Sounded like crap plus anybody riding in the rumble seat was sucking pure exhaust.
A good experienced exhaust man might be able to "see" a way through the mess that an average guy can't. Being "most difficult" does not mean impossible to a talented tech. That is what they do every day. It's even more important with a rumble seat. IMHO I should add that you might need a tech that has worked on hotrods before and not your average muffler replacer at Midas.
I have done it many times, and not because of laziness or cost, but it fit a style I was looking for. And it the right mufflers are chosen there is no drone, just like any system, I've heard plenty of systems that go out the back that drone like a mother F'r. This was my 41 coupe done that way When I did the exhaust on the 40 Ford Road Tour car this year (built by Hollywood Hot Rods for that magazine), I dumped it in front of the rear wheels as well, but really hid it so you had to look to see a little tip sticking out - and it got many positive comments
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