[KGTO]

Working on a 70 GTO that has been in the same family since new. They want to install new exhaust, 2.5" Pypes with X and install the correct style splitters on the end. They also want to add the ram air manifolds (d port) though it sounds like there is some trouble obtaining these

The exhaust is the original, including the mufflers. Only thing done was the original tips are gone.

I feel like the exhaust should be saved. Is that weird? It's amazing to me it's still on the car and isn't full of holes, in fact its in really good shape. I'm going to see if I can remove each side in one piece without removing the rear end.

[Formulajones]

My 69 Z had it's born with exhaust still intact and functional, including the factory "deep tone" muffler. A testament to living a desert life out here in the South West. Actually when I put it back on the road I left the exhaust alone for a couple years. I ended up saving it for a couple reasons, and replaced it with a Pypes setup since we drive the car all the time.

[KGTO]

Probably good US steel too!

Ya, I think we will save it too.

[b-man]

Save that original exhaust, even if you have to drop the rear end down to accomplish that.

[KGTO]

Yessir, I agree. Thank you

[Scarebird]

What is the owner trying to do with the 70? If this car is quite stock, noting to them that replacing the exhaust with the Pypes setup will hurt the value and not really gain much in performance.

[KGTO]

They are looking to keep the integrity of the car, but update a few things. This has been in their family since new, it's staying in the family and won't be sold. It is, however, a completely legit and unmolested survivor with one repaint.

[Formulajones]

Oh but they pick up a ton of performance with a better exhaust system. It's night and day.

When I ran the factory stock exhaust on my Firebird it was stuck at 14.0's at 99 mph no matter what I did tuning wise.
Soon as I installed a simple 2 1/2" transverse Force II Flowmaster mandrel bent system on the car it immediately went 13.70 at 102 right off the street. A little tuning got 13.60. I later swapped to a Pypes SGF70 system, still transverse muffler, still 2 1/2" mandrel bent, and it picked up another 2 tenths. Further tweaking eventually got a 13.10 at 106 mph. The car was finally responding to tuning. Not so much as had a valve cover off it.

My Z was very similar improvements with the exact same SGF70 Pypes setup, although a smaller engine. The stock exhaust is pretty choking, even on something that only makes 350-400hp.