LS1 FD exhaust setups
 

So, I have 5.7 (out of a GTO) in my FD. The car has long tubes headers mated to a Racing Beat exhaust. The headers need to come off. They just run too hot and my transmission is running too hot because of this. FYI, I have everything heat wrapped and it's still not good enough. I need some perspective on what people are running for exhaust set ups because my set up definitely has to change. Thanks in advance. Your input in appreciated.

There might be something wrong with your setup... perhaps you have some exhaust blockage post headers?
I ran spoolin performance headers and I think they were just coated - I know I didn't have them wrapped in exhaust wrap and it was a daily driver.

Anything is possible. I haven't put it up on the lift yet. I will say that it doesn't drive/sound like there's a blockage.

Have you checked to make sure you're not running too lean?

Honestly, that was what I was going to do next week before taking anything off. It's run great for so long that I didn't thing that it would suddenly change, but the more I thought about it, the more I said to myself I had better check on the motor to make sure everything is as it should be first. I had rotary flashbacks to popping motors and scared myself into making an appointment to have it looked at. LOL.

So you were onto something. My mechanic adjusted the mixture and it runs a hell of a lot cooler. However, I still need to take it to my legit tuner now, because it not stumbles at partial and full throttle, and now diesels after shut down. Not cool. Fix one issue, create another. Good news is that there's probably a middle ground to be had here. Thanks for your input on this.

I have a 5.7/T56 in my FD with long tubes. And when I first bought the car, it only had ceramic coated long tubes (unwrapped) with 3" collectors into this crappy homemade Y-pipe into a HKS Hi-Power 3". When beating on car exhaust got very hot causing transmission, transmission tunnel, firewall and floor boards to heat up to uncomfortable and scary temps. I took multiple approaches to correct this.

-Lizard Skin ceramic coated underbody (Aazing stuff look it up). Sprayed it with front subframe and engine/trans out.
-Free flowing full true dual 3in frpm headers back w/ Magnaflow stamped x-pipe and single Magnaflow muffler (dual 3in in/out).
-Wrapped ceramic coated headers

Above significantly dropped temperatures all around when beating the car. Bottom like is that LS's need to breath. If you choke them up with a single 3in exhaust they'll run hotter. Lizard skin is something you can do when engine is out. Ceramic coating AND wrapping headers should help a bit.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...cb71cc8fa.jpeg
Old restrictive Y-pipe. Dual 3" merging into a 3" lol not ideal for flow on a 5.7l

Rebuild true dual 3" w/ pipe and muffler follows
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...31ea110b70.jpg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...853b6c000f.jpg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...8d3c43766f.jpg
Muffler placement
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...9c26eee289.jpg
1988 Samurai and doggo

https://www.rx7club.com/group-buy-pr...tible-1143344/

I am going to see how this fits with an LSx setup. I hope to be able to still utilize a second muffler under the car and not just the one at the rear. It it goes well at the end of the month perhaps can get a small group buy together for both rotary and LSx setups.

Dude that's rad. Well done. The last picture is just a single tip. Did you hide the other exhaust end under the car? Sorry to just be getting back to you. Haven't been on at all.

I don't know what I was thinking before. I see what you did. Thanks. I don't think i'm going to pull the motor until at least next year so i'll take a look at freeing up the exhaust.

Hey man,

Possibly stupid question. The headers and exhaust (and even muffler) you're running here...what application are they made for? GTO? Camaro?...and it was just coincidence that they fit on the FD? I'm just wondering where to go to get this stuff.

I'm getting ready to dive into this and your set up is sick. I definitely want to do this.

Thank you.

Hey man,

Possibly stupid question. The headers and exhaust (and even muffler) you're running here...what application are they made for? GTO? Camaro?...and it was just coincidence that they fit on the FD? I'm just wondering where to go to get this stuff.

I'm getting ready to dive into this and your set up is sick. I definitely want to do this.

Thank you.

Long tube headers are from Hinson (linked below). I think Sikky makes FD LS headers as well. The rest of exhaust is custom. Do not believe anything from an F-body or GTO will "fit".

https://hinsonmotorsports.com/collec...-steel-headers

Biggest suggestion to get best sound is going true dual 3". Do not merge or Y them together. 3" off headers, 3" X-pipe, dual 3" all the way back/out to muffler. Best sound on an LS!

Good luck buddy!

That sounds right. I didn't think it would fit, but when you said magnaflow I thought maybe you bought an exact part. I have the long tubes already, I can maybe wrap them better, and I'll just drop it off at an exhaust place and go to town. Thanks for your help!!

You can always run dual 3.5” lol. Heres my homemade x pipe and headers. Never had an issue with speedbumps or driveways but always hit them at an angle as a habit.
Dont have many pics of clearance and these pics suck but you get the idea.
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...a0320a720.jpeg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...5ba26fb55.jpeg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...504766a45.jpeg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...3420e8664.jpeg