NOT Happy with Pypes SGF70 '77 Trans Am
 

Regarding the installation of the Pypes SGF70 transverse muffler exhaust system on my 1977 Trans Am. After 6 hours of fitting, removing, modifing, and excessive cussing, I have the system about 60% completed. The X pipe, and everything forward to the headers was a good fit and straightforward.

HOWEVER..

The tailpipes are really ridiculous. Is it really that hard, or not cost effective to produce a tailpipe that is meant for the splitter tips? They will be correct for multitudes of '76-'81 Trans Ams... I hate all these extra cuts and joints caused by the adapters.

Additionally, the drivers side midpipe that goes over the axle comes dangerously close to the rear axle brake hose. Again, this is an engineering blunder, and not one mention is made of this in the supplied literature. I have found numerous posts on other sites regarding this issue.

Total time for installation was 11.5 hours. I was able to clearance the drivers side mid pipe to allow 1/2" from the brake hose. I was able to tweak the main fuel line 2/3" away from this same pipe. I am still going to apply a high heat wrap to prevent the lines from getting hot.

While the end results for the sound and appearance is good, I don't wish the installation on my worst enemy.

77' I have a 77 bandit car with SGF70 on it. Let me have a look at it in the morning and report back. It's been quite a while since we did that install.

Tell us more

Relentless

I had to head out to Carlisle, so I may not be able to give this topic the full attention that it deserves. However, I had a a minute to take a look at the back of my Bandit car and the tailpipes do have those little adapters. I realize these adapters seem excessive but we made SGF70 to fit 1st and 2nd gen Camaro's as well as 68-74 Nova's. While it's an extra step, it does allow the splitter tips to be positioned to look quite original. I'm going to have one of our tech guys post a pic of how they look on mine. We'd also have to see the underneath of the car to determine why your tips are hanging at that awkward of an angle.

My tips sit just fine. That was never one of my issues. The main issue was the driver's side over the axle pipe, which was dangerously close to the fuel line where it bends to enter the muffler. Also the pipe was almost rubbing the rubber brake hose. The tailpipes could look better without that joint that is easily seen in the wheel opening.

One of the reasons the driver side over the axle pipe gave you fits on your brake line has a little bit to do with the design of the exhaust. The way that Race Pro transverse muffler is designed has the inlets/outlets criss crossed opposite of each other, which isn't typical of the original transverse muffler.

So your driver side over the axle pipe is actually entering the top of the muffler and the tail pipe on that side comes out the bottom. On a factory transverse setup both over the axle pipes enter the bottom of the muffler originally, and the tail pipes both exit the top.

This does make things a little awkward on that side and I've run into this myself. Some cars the brake hose gets a little close, and others it's just fine. I've installed this system on 1st and 2nd Gen F-bodies (have it currently on both of our 1st and 2nd Gens) and also installed it on my X-body (Nova) Only car the brake line was even close to was my 2nd gen. Easy to deal with though.

If I had any gripe about the system though, it's related to the driver side with the tailpipe exiting out of the bottom of the muffler. It makes things more difficult when wanting to run a factory OEM tailpipe setup for a stock appearance. I did this on my 69 Z/28. I don't like the tailpipes offered from Pypes because they don't have the correct bends under the tail panel that positions the tailpipes more towards the center of the car. I also can't use the factory tailpipe hangers on a 2 1/2" pipe that is designed for a 2" tail pipe. So I had to build some pipe on that side to meet the factory tailpipe coming up from the bottom of the muffler. The end result is the appearance of factory tailpipes exiting in the correct location at the tail panel. More work but looks factory. Would have been much easier if the flow of the muffler were designed with tail pipe exits on the top (both sides) but a better flowing muffler is probably the reason for this design.

Got a pic of your brake hose?

Hi Guys, I am posting pictures of the splitters and adapters we have installed on our Bandit T/A we have in the show room. It's kinda hard to get pics of the fuel lines while it's sitting on the floor, but I'm gonna try. In the meantime, check out these pics. I also included a shot of the crossflow muffler and how it sits from the back end.

Thanks for the pics. Like the factory did, my splitters were welded on, as were the adapters. As soon as I return from Carlisle, I will raise the car and photograph the pipe/brake hose.

Here are pictures of the fuel line. I actually slid under and got a half-way decent picture. Although the pipe is close to the fuel line, the muffler & pipe isn't as hot as the up-stream system. There is plenty of fuel line to the engine to cool it too... Maybe for peace of mind, you guys can install a heat shield there or wrap the line with a heat wrap. Just a suggestion... Also what we do in the shop is take a spacer (we use 1x3 piece of wood) and put it between tight areas before clamping the system down. That'll act as a third hand while putting the final adjustment.

That's exactly the clearance (or lack thereof) I had. I reluctantly unbolted the fuel line, and re-bent it to have more clearance. I tried to not modify any part of the car. I would prefer to modify the pipes to fit the car, and not the other way around..

That's kind of an odd looking fuel line that is kicking up like that.

My 70 Formula with this system happens to be up on the rack right now. I'll shoot some pics, but I don't think my fuel lines are anything like that.

Yeah I know... there is a bracket there and I don't know what was there...

By the way... here is a video we did of the installation on the cross flow on a 75 FB. We did not use splitters though... just a "hockey stick" style.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=P...&v=LEzDmlCyA14

I referred to the Pypes Youtube video of NJSteve's 1975 Firebird prior to installing the system. I noticed that the rubber brake hose is in a different location compared to my 1977. Also, your tailpipes are tailored for those 1970-1975 style tips.

That video made the installation look so easy!

Here is a photo of the brake hose orientation I speak of:

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...1&d=1492645342

From that shot it doesn't look close at all. Looking up from the bottom it looks like the hose comes off the rearend and is actually going away from the pipe. That also doesn't look like a Pypes exhaust. That's a crush bent "over the axle" pipe.

The photo was posted to show where the brake hose is. It is not my car with the Pypes system on it. On my car, the exhaust pipe is over to the left 6 inches.

Went to Burdette Bros Pontiac show yesterday. Found a guy with a 71 T/A that had the Pypes transverse system on . ask him about install . He said no problem. I bought a 70 T/A a wile ago and I'm looking to change out the flowmaster under car system that is obnoxious loud . Had him start his car . Sound was pretty nice, not bad. nice idle and revving engine noise was not crazy loud.

Looking to pick up system at Pypes car show June 16-17

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...70#post3978038

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...ighlight=sgf70

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...ighlight=sgf70

Flowmaster transverse system?