[RaineMan]

Hey all...

I want to turn the exhaust on my Daytona into a side-exit system. It is a 2.5" catless system with some kind of stock-ish muffler on it. It idles deep but not very loudly.

After looking under the car I see that the pipe makes a bend and comes over on the drivers side just forward of the rear wheel. It then turns again, goes over the axle, and out to the muffler in the back.

I'm wondering if anyone has tried a side-exit system before? I plan to cut off the piping where it comes closest to the drivers side of the car and put a tip on it there. As far as a muffler goes I'm looking for a 2.5" canister style one that will tuck up in the "tunnel" underneath the car... much like a resonator on more modern vehicles.

Any suggestions?

 

[ke6960]

a bunch of people have side exits... search the exhaust section...


what are the laws in nc as far as cats/no cats.... alot of states you absolutly have to have one.... you should check into it

 

[RaineMan]

Oh the law says I should have a cat... but cars made prior to 1991 are exempt from emissions inspection. The only thing I really have to worry about is if the mechanic decides to crawl up under the car and look around. But honestly, the way this thing looks right now I doubt they will bother.

If I have to I'll just find an old 2.5" cat and gut it... since they won't "sniff" the tailpipe... it won't matter.

 

[86 Duster]

I'd check into the laws about the side exit exhaust as well. In Pennsylvania, the exhaust must exit behind the rear wheel not anywhere in front of it.
I had to redo an exhaust once because of that, because it was visually obvious, the mechanic didn't care about the not catalytic but the duallys sticking out in front the rear tires were a no no.

 

[camarobutcher]

The 3" on mine is a side exit. Exits right in front of the rear tire. Use a Dynomax Bullet, they make it in 2.5". I installed it a few inches before the first 90 degree bend and its tucked up into the tunnel. You might have to clamp a section of pipe on when you cut the exhaust off before the second bend unless you can find a really long exhaust tip.

 

[Msquared Racing]

Interesting- I'd like to see the inspection code on that. Being a former licensed inspection mechanic in PA, I can tell you that was total BS.

I had side exit exhaust on TWO of my street-driven, PA inspected (not by me) cars with no issues.

I'm not trying to be argumentative, and it's not you I'm annoyed with. It's these so-called mechanics that reinterpret the inspection code at will...

To the original poster- I actually built mine out of bends from the speed shop (easiest way to get mandrel bends). I ran it out straight from that section before the over-the-axle bend, and put half a 90 bend (cut at an angle) on the end of it to turn it slightly down and back.

It can be quite loud on the highway (depending on RPMs and if you're running next to a Jersey wall...), but most times it's fine.

As a side funny story- on the way back from SDAC8 I got pulled over with the car, and the trooper asked me to please shut it off because it was blowing gravel all over his boots...

 

[RaineMan]

Wait... don't stock ford lightnings have side exit exhausts in front of the rear tire?

There are no regulations in NC about where the exhaust comes out... as long as I have a muffler on it I should be fine.

 

[speedyshelby16]

Here a old pic of my current exhaust setup on my shelby charger. I'm running no cat with a 3" glasspack it isn't very loud.

 

[glhs496]

Wait... don't stock ford lightnings have side exit exhausts in front of the rear tire?

There are no regulations in NC about where the exhaust comes out... as long as I have a muffler on it I should be fine.

I never understood that myself. Mass supposedly has an over the axle reg but a stock 6 cylinder F150 exits before the right rear wheel. ???

I ran a 3 inch side exit for awhile and got sick of it. I did it more to save the weight of the full exhaust system. I bought mandrel bends and had an exhaust shop put it together. Short money.

 

[Timmay2]

There is a law for where the exhaust exits.

The law is the exhaust must exit behind the passenger cabin.

This is ok for the ford lightning for its cabin is ahead of its exhaust.

It is not ok for a passenger car, as a side exit in front of the rear wheel is still in the vicinity of the cabin.

Reason being- exhaust fumes entering the cabin.

Whether or not your vicinity chooses to enforce it, all depends on those inspecting. But it is a real law.

 

[Timmay2]

Lots of places have them, this was the easiest to find but its for austrailia:

Exhaust systems

5. The system terminates behind the last body panel.

8. Side exhaust systems (sometimes called lake pipes) are not permitted.

 

[impuresoul2k3]

I have a full 3" exhaust/swingvalve on mine with a 3" Dynomax muffler. I haven't driven on it yet since my steering column seems to have broken but it does seem a little ricey but it also doesn't sound like a honda with a 4" muffler it keeps it in control. Mine is pretty custom made though since I used vbands on my homemade swingvalve and therefor also have a 3" flex pipe section in. Certainly a lot more tame than running open swingvalve though, although the exhaust sound was amazing at 14psi

 

[GLHNSLHT2]

Was gonna mention the F150's.
3" side exit straight pipe on my Tona.
Camphone6
Underneath
DSC01358_1

 

[street_racer]

man oregon deq sucks they test cars from like 1976 and up. and they check for a cat and also test for sound. my csx-t failed for being to loud with 2.5 inch with cat but no muffler.

 

[RaineMan]

No muffler... yeah... it's gonna be loud.

I'm not gonna bother doing the exhaust until after the inspection... I figure that'll give me a year with it on anyways.

 

[Csx254]

I think for trucks, its as long as it exits behind the cab(not 100% on that). There are lots of strange exhaust combos on truck around here, that don't even make it back to the rear wheels. lol

 

[GLHNSLHT2]

Wonder what they do about the Mercedes McLaren SLR. The exhaust exits on both sides right behind the front tire before the doors with 2 big pipes on either side.

 

[bfarroo]

I built a side exit for my Ice race car out of 3in exhaust tubing. Instead of buying a mandrel bend I cut 15degree cuts at the end of the pipe and 2 slivers with 15 degree cuts and welded it all up. Should flow just as well as a mandrel bend and didn't cost anything but my time and a little more wire for the welder. I also have a side exit on my 87 daytona. it isn't bad but as others have mentioned it's still a little on the loud side and can get annoying if your daily driving the car. The daytona has a 3in dynomax bullet muffler on it.

Benji

 

[impuresoul2k3]

My friends and I call those 'awesome bends' lol and we have used them both on my car and on his Grand Am but they are 10-15* at most

 

[bfarroo]

for a 90 degree total bend you have 6 15 degree cuts. I just couldn't see spending 30 bucks for a 90 on a car that I'm trying to do on the cheap. It's loud as can be in a gutted out shadow, flows so well that I can barely keep the boost under 15lbs with the mitsu and I ported the WG hole as big as I could. Going to have to add more fuel I guess