Couple of Exhaust Questions

[Peaches93Z71]

Hey guys, I'm looking at at redoing my entire exhaust system from headers to tips. I have an in dea of what I want but I need some advice on couple things.

First off: 1993 k1500 tbi350 extended cab.

My plan is to run shorty headers, 2.5" true duals (no y pipe), dual high flow cats, 2.5" dual mid pipes into a dual in dual out flowmaster super 44, dual mandrel bent tailpipes out the corners with 4" angle cut stainless tips.

Ok, so I'm unsure about what is involved with running pipes off of headers. Will an exhaust shop be able to do that, or will I need to buy pipes with flanges to mate up with the headers? Also I know that when running true duals, it's best to put an x pipe, but will running a single muffler serve the same purpose? And lastly, will a single super 44 dual in dual out be louder than 2 super 44s side by side that are single in single out?

Hopefully that all made sense.

 

[Constantine]

The commonly available shorty headers are designed to replace the factory manifold as a bolt in solution. So, in turn, they actually are made to fit the factory style exhaust flange and piping.
Imo, if going through all the trouble of replacing everything, I would step up to a mid length header... It's been awhile since I had a K truck but I think long tube was hard to find for them.
Anyway, mid length, and check out the ultimate tbi mods...
The mid lengths usually just accept regular 2.5" exhaust tubing in a manner that any exhaust shop can install.

Now, I'm actually doing similar on a 92 model C truck.
Can't say that the 2in/2out muffler is as beneficial as a true X pipe, but... that's the route I'm going, 2.5" from a set of mid lengths to the bumper with the 2in/out muffler in the middle somewhere.
Also, I'm not utilizing a converter.
If I were, I'd actually go 2.5", a proper Y to 3" then the high flow converter, a 3" in to dual 2.5" out muffler.

In my experience, a single muffler is louder than a pair of mufflers.
My experience only includes trying this with flowmaster 40 series on a vortec tahoe.
And then my much later model daily with a 6.0L, went with a single magnaflow in the end and is much more loud than 2 were.

 

[Peaches93Z71]

Ok, so are mid length headers called something different? I can't seem to find anything except shorties and long tubes. Also, you mentioned that if you were using a cat, you would do a y pipe, single cat, 3" single mid pipe, and then dual tail pipes after the muffler. Is there a specific reason this would be better than true duals with dual cats?

The commonly available shorty headers are designed to replace the factory manifold as a bolt in solution. So, in turn, they actually are made to fit the factory style exhaust flange and piping.
Imo, if going through all the trouble of replacing everything, I would step up to a mid length header... It's been awhile since I had a K truck but I think long tube was hard to find for them.
Anyway, mid length, and check out the ultimate tbi mods...
The mid lengths usually just accept regular 2.5" exhaust tubing in a manner that any exhaust shop can install.

Now, I'm actually doing similar on a 92 model C truck.
Can't say that the 2in/2out muffler is as beneficial as a true X pipe, but... that's the route I'm going, 2.5" from a set of mid lengths to the bumper with the 2in/out muffler in the middle somewhere.
Also, I'm not utilizing a converter.
If I were, I'd actually go 2.5", a proper Y to 3" then the high flow converter, a 3" in to dual 2.5" out muffler.

In my experience, a single muffler is louder than a pair of mufflers.
My experience only includes trying this with flowmaster 40 series on a vortec tahoe.
And then my much later model daily with a 6.0L, went with a single magnaflow in the end and is much more loud than 2 were.

 

[Constantine]

Here is a random set of mid lengths:

Hedman Hedders 69470 Hedman Street Headers | Summit Racing

Free Shipping - Hedman Street Headers with qualifying orders of $109. Shop Headers at Summit Racing.

www.summitracing.com

Most of your real modern day high flow converters have a weight rating that they will support per vehicle now.
Seems like at some point in the past they were rated by cfm flow... but I could be mistaken, anyway....
Most okish variations support atleast up to a 6.0L engine per converter.
2 of them is overkill, but that's my opinion.
It's your ride sir, do as you wish with it.
Besides that, can't really tell you what your truck does or doesn't need in this department.
But, a set of headers with an included y pipe going into a single cat and muffer would over all simplify the exhaust setup 100% and one converter will support the flow rating... or so they advertise.
Keep us posted on what you decide.... throw up some pics of the finished setup.

 

[Peaches93Z71]

Here is a random set of mid lengths:

Hedman Hedders 69470 Hedman Street Headers | Summit Racing

Free Shipping - Hedman Street Headers with qualifying orders of $109. Shop Headers at Summit Racing.

www.summitracing.com

Most of your real modern day high flow converters have a weight rating that they will support per vehicle now.
Seems like at some point in the past they were rated by cfm flow... but I could be mistaken, anyway....
Most okish variations support atleast up to a 6.0L engine per converter.
2 of them is overkill, but that's my opinion.
It's your ride sir, do as you wish with it.
Besides that, can't really tell you what your truck does or doesn't need in this department.
But, a set of headers with an included y pipe going into a single cat and muffer would over all simplify the exhaust setup 100% and one converter will support the flow rating... or so they advertise.
Keep us posted on what you decide.... throw up some pics of the finished setup.

Thank you you for the advice! I'll be doing some research and talking to some shops here soon. Hopefully I can decide on a setup lol. It will probably be after December by the time I can afford to get the work done but I'll definitely post pics on here once it's done!