You’ve got questions. We’ve got the answers—the Summit Racing tech department tackles your automotive-related conundrums. This week, we’re discussing how bending exhaust pipes affects vehicle performance.

 

Q: My 1973 Dodge Dart Sport has a 340 cu. in. engine and I want to give it a dual exhaust system. My local exhaust shop can bend the pipe but they don’t make mandrel bends. Will this hurt my Dart’s performance?

A: Mandrel bending maintains a consistent inside diameter along the entire length of the bend. Other methods, like crush bending, will deform the pipe or tube, causing ripples or indentations that restrict exhaust flow, and that’s bad for performance. Generally speaking, mandrel-bent exhaust pipes flow better than crush-bent pipes, especially around tighter bends. Luckily, Flowmaster has a mandrel-bent stainless steel exhaust system that’s perfect for your Dart.