Well it is officially time to take my baby off the road for the winter.  Today the weather turned nasty.

If your car is an automatic, you can swap the trans crossmember for an earlier one that does have the holes. Imma thinking they still had the dual holes in the crossmembers until '78.

My 79 has dual holes but I have a manual trans. I just bought a Pypes dual stainless x pipe exhaust system on ebay, they recomended one of these double hump crossmembers for your year, i'd be cool if you can pick up a stock one, then it would look like it belonged on the frame. I've seen the shorty cats around, I think Jegs? I got a screaming deal off of ebay under 500, but they said it was a one time promotional auction. I can update you some pics of the install when it's done. Are you going to run hedders as well?

79rebuild2007-11-30 23:14:23

I am also changing engine and tranny on my 82. I'm leaning toward the ZZ383 in front of a Tremec 5. Keisler sends a double hump X member with the kit.

[QUOTE=79rebuild]

My 79 has dual holes but I have a manual trans.[/QUOTE]

Yes...but...can you unbolt it from the frame?

The auto cars had removable trans xmembers...the four-spds were welded.

I don't know when they stopped using the dual hole xmembers...78 was just a guess.

I checked the Mid America catalogue (www.mamotorworks.com). They have a True Dual Exhaust system made for "80 - '82s. No crossmember swap necessary. This system does not address the issue of cats, though.

[QUOTE=Adams' Apple] [QUOTE=79rebuild]

My 79 has dual holes but I have a manual trans.[/QUOTE]

Yes...but...can you unbolt it from the frame?

The auto cars had removable trans xmembers...the four-spds were welded.

I don't know when they stopped using the dual hole xmembers...78 was just a guess.[/QUOTE]

I had a true dual system bent up for the '81. First I tried the '80-'82 true dual system from Mid America. Nothing lined up. Had to go to a muffler shop and have the pipes tweaked. I junked the system after unsuccessfully trying to adapt full length headers.

Sarge812007-12-01 16:31:41

Martin, I would have to say that looks like a pretty good standard to follow for the dual exhaust set up, very nice Darryl! What kind of cat's are those?

Amazing feedback from everyone.  I really appreciate your help.  Can the crossmember be unbolted without having to lift the body off the frame?  If so that sounds like the way to go.  From the picture of the 81 exhaust it is hard to tell if the crossmember was replaced though.  If it was not replaced then why bother with the crossmember because it looks really clean.  I guess I am just a little concerned with the clearance to the ground.