Is it really necessary to modify the crossmember for a dual exhaust?

-
J

Jcon82

Member
Joined
Mar 24, 2025
Messages
13
Reaction score
15
Location
Providence RI
Still planning out my build and came across pics from an old BaT listing. This car has a dual exhaust where it looks like they just flattened the pipe a bit to get around the trans crossmember rather than modding it. IF others have gotten away with this I'll probably do the same since I dont really plan on lowering the car at all.

1743193715090.png
 
Not totally necessary. It's just that the RH pipe will stick down a bit to clear the crossmember. I have one car with duals and the pipe has never bottomed out, but, it doesn't have the nice clean tucked up look that most people would want.
 
Check out Laysons
Transmission Cross member Conversion for Dual Exhaust
Layson's Restorations has come up with a solution to the Ugly Low Hanging exhaust. The factory cross members for 1963-66 A-body Mopars did
not have a factory cutout on the passenger’s side. This causes any Dual Exhaust Conversions to an A-body to have the Passenger Side Pipe drop
below the cross member in order to get clearance all the way back to the rear valance panel. We have solved this problem by Modifying the Cross-
member to have a factory type cutout on the Passenger side as well. It bolts up the same as your old one and looks factory original. It comes
back to you steamed cleaned and Powder Coated Black.
 
Jcon82 said:
Still planning out my build and came across pics from an old BaT listing. This car has a dual exhaust where it looks like they just flattened the pipe a bit to get around the trans crossmember rather than modding it. IF others have gotten away with this I'll probably do the same since I dont really plan on lowering the car at all.

View attachment 1716385204
Click to expand...
Looking at that exhaust, you'd be better off with a stock HP single system. Without a good crossover, it won't scavenge very well. I like the X ones best if you keep the duals. Looks like you're missing the engine to transmission braces too. I recommend you find a pair and install them.
 
No not totally necessary, but it sure does add some ground clearance and makes for a very neat looking installation. Why wouldn't want to do it?
 
Yeah, not really necessary, but- there's a good chance the pipe will end up flattened whether you do it or not. And really, to mod it takes about a half hour your first time; why wouldn't you do it?
BTW, that pic looks like the crossmember WAS modded- he just didn't route the pipes to take advantage of it.
 
junkyardhero said:
i agree, from the pic it looks like it has already had the modification done.
Click to expand...
I think yall might be right. What's so hilarious is, the driver's side pipe wasn't even bent to take advantage of the stock exhaust cutout in the cross member and hangs down lower then the passenger's side. lol
 
Here's what my right side pipe looked like with factory 340 manifolds and the stock crossmember before I went to TTI headers and X-pipe exhaust and did modify the crossmember. I don't think it hung down as low as when I had fenderwell headers on it. In fact, I'm not sure it hung down any lower than my TTI headers. Guess I need to take a low level picture of them.

1743229862612.jpeg
 
When my Dad & I put mine together back in the winter of '70-'71, he used the complete exhaust system from the '68 'cuda the 340 came out of, manifolds, hangers, and all. Notched the rear valance to clear the tips. I don't recall ever having a problem with it hitting. Pretty sure I would have noticed as I hated the rattle from the heat riser until I tied it open with a coat hanger. Dad wasn't too thrilled with that. :lol:
 
I had custom duals on my 64 Barracuda, way back when. Never cut out the trans member and never had any problems. When I did the 66 Formula S, I went back to the 2 1/2 factory 65/66 Commando single exhaust. Love that exhaust sound and performance.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
-

Back
Top