3.6 heat tube removal (?)

[Mike Feinstein]

Thinking about trying a Triad exhaust setup on my 3.6 conversion. I believe it will not allow the aluminum heat tube to stay in place.

1. Is that true? If so...
2. What's involved in removing the aluminum heat tube?
3. What's needed to re-plumb with flex-tubing?
4. Any reason not to skip the re-plumb all together and just live without heat (not a big deal for most of the year here in Atlanta)?

Anything else I'm overlooking?

[MuffinMan]

You are correct, there is no room for the stock aluminum heat tube with the Triad muffler. You can either rig something up like I have, or go with no heat. Here's the solution my shop used:

[Mike Feinstein]

Rob,

How would you describe the "volume" of your system? I've heard the Triad sounds "good", but I'm also shooting for something a bit quieter than my current setup (quite loud).

Thanks,

[MuffinMan]

Volume is very subjective, but I'd consider it "medium". It's pretty throaty and has a nice growl, but it's very liveable on the street. I have video from the track last week, but there was too much wind buffeting and not enough foam on the mic, so it's all distorted. I may be able to find a clip down pit lane that's usable, before the wind kicks in. I'll see what I can come up with.

[MuffinMan]

Okay, I just listened to the audio on my latest clips, and it sucks. You don't get a good sense at all for how loud the exhaust is. I'll try to make time to take some old-fashioned camcorder video on the street, sometime this week.

[MuffinMan]

As previously mentioned, the audio is pretty terrible in this video. Nevertheless, videos are always fun to watch, so I figured I'd throw this one out there. It is from Watkins Glen last week, at the Tracquest DE. I was hanging back to get video of a friend in 1991 C2 turbo that has mild power tweaks and a completely wigged-out suspension. I am a horrible video editor, and I know nothing about video compression, so my file is huge. Nevertheless, here is my 51mb (sorry) video at Watkins Glen.

[rattlsnak]

You dont want to go without heat, trust me, ive done it, you dont realize how much you use it. (like at R/A in Nov, 20degrees, and you are going 130mph with all the windows down!) As much money as your spending on this, have you thought of just going with a GHL or such setup? Mine is quite loud with the Maxflow also.

[CBRacerX]

I've had very good results with the Timins/McNeil "Happy Crab". See this thread I got crabs this weekend!

You can keep the heat as is!

No affiliation, just like the product.

Chris

[Mike Feinstein]

I exchanged e-mails with Dave from Triad. He says he's tweaked his jig and believes the system will fit with the heat tube in place. Apparently the early versions were very close, and he believes hes gained enough space to make it fit. Only problem is that I have Gillett flanges and he's only made systems for Bischoff. I may consider sending him my stock cat to use as a template.