Within the last 30 miles of my 800 round trip to ksyter's place, my exhaust pipe broke. It is the mid-piece between the front-Y and the cat.
Think I should just replace that pipe or the entire system?
I have no idea how old the current system is.
I was looking to find cool sounding exhaust like you can easily find for a C5 or C6 but am coming up short. Are there many options for me?
My 79 has that "fake dual exhaust". Should I convert to real dual exhaust?
Also, how hard will this be without a lift? The best I'll be able to do is put it up on four jack stands.

Adam: I recently installed a magnaflow performance dual exhaust sytem on my '76.  The system was from the manifold back.  It replaced the old "Y system including the cat and is straight duals that fit through the holes in the center cross member support.  I purchased the kit from Corvette Central and I am quite satisfied.  If you don't go duals but instead stay with the stock set up, Corvette Central has these replacements also and you might be able to buy just the piece that broke.  I chose to have the duals installed by a professional muffler shop and I am glad I did.  I watched the installation and believe without a lift and air wrench it would be quite hard, not impossible, to do a do-it-yourself job.  The install cost me $150.

[QUOTE=mcgee0311]  The install cost me $150.[/QUOTE] Great advice, and $150.00 saved a lot of spilled blood and swearing!!!

Adam, I installed the dual conversion aluminized pipes and MagnaFlow muffler kit that I bought from Corvett Central myself using four jack stands. The only tools I needed was a socket set and a saws all to remove the old system from the exhaust manifolds back. The installation was easy and I completed the total job including the removal of the old system in 4 hours with the help on one other person. $150 is well spent if you run into issues and I did spend $50 to have a muffler shop tweek the installation and place a couple of tack welds in to keep it in place.

I think your budget, work area, and tools will answer most of your question.

Obviously the single pipe replacement would be the cheapest route.

Another thing to consider is what the current system looks like. If may be slowly rotting away. The elements of time are pretty tuff on our cars. They sit for long periods of time. When we do drive them usually it is smaller trips so it is likely condensation builds up and then rust or corrosion begins to take it's toll.

Once you are able to see the current system you may be able to answer what to put on it.

I have Flow Tech Headers, SS exhaust, and Mid America OEM style replacement mufflers with SS turn downs. I like the sound out of the back (low rumble). Inside you can carry on a conversation yet hear the exhaust chambered in the headers.

Good Luck with your decision.

adam,

Hey Adam, KDADDY792008-10-06 17:26:10

I was wrong.  It is the rear Y pipe. 
This guy: http://www.parts123.com/parts123/yb.dll?Parta~ShowPicTxt~Z5Z5Z50000050q~Z5Z5Z5AARBC~Z5Z5Z51

So, I'm thinking being that I don't really have a lot of money to spend, I'll just get this one piece.  However, I'm worried that when I go to take this off, it will be rusted to the others.  Think I should try to do it myself first and if I can't get it off, take it to a pro?

Here's a picture of my broken part.

I'm curious, is the thing that the red arrow is pointing to a hanger or a clamp?  Cause the replacement part seems like it would connect directly to the cat on one side and mufflers on the other side.  But this clamp/bracket thing makes it look like there is a pipe between the cat and the Y-pipe (as indicated by the blue line).  But if this is just a hanger, then I guess it makes sense.

Think I HAVE to go with this part from Corvette Central, or could I get away with this part from AutoZone?