L/Ts + an existing Bassani X Ques?

Hi everyone.

My '99 4V already has a Bassani X installed on the stock manifolds. For tax-return time, I'd like to do L/Ts.

My local shop suggested (they werent totally sure) that I'd require a new X pipe to accomodate the L/Ts or they would have to cut and weld into the existing X pipe, assuming the cats aren't in the way. I had always assumed (more like hoped) that my $600 X pipe was modular and would accept L/Ts when the time was right, without modification. I really hope im not wrong :nonono:.

Does anyone have experience or advice here?? Headers + a new X pipe is outside the budget... by a lot.

L/Ts in question are the MACs. Thanks!
 
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i THINK the difference is:

On longtube Xpipes, in front of the cats, there is an elbow that shoots up and attaches to the manifolds.

This section is provided on LT headers. Essentially everything from manifold to the cats in the x pipe is how big/long the headers will be.

So where you would look for clamps and whatnot would most likely be about 1 foot (+- 6") in front (towards the engine) of the cats on your x pipe. Basically in between the cats and that elbow

If you do have a modular design, you might want to call Bassani and ask them if MAC LT's will work with a Bassani X pipe
 
There are two types of mid-pipe designs just as there are two types of header designs (or 3 if you include mid-length headers), regular mid-pipe and shorty mid-pipes. Regular mids extend up into the engine bay where they join stock or shorty headers. Shorty mids join with longtube headers underneath the car.

Usually when someone swaps to longtube headers, they have to get a new mid-pipe as well. Personally, instead og hacking things up down there in order to use your Bassani X, I'd just buy a short X and sell the Bassani to recoop some of the expense.
 
Dissappointed...

Posting my results in case someone comes across via a search.

So yeah phoned Bassani this morning and they reassured what I was reading here. My $600 X pipe wont take headers... Oops. Ill have to get another mid-pipe with corresponding headers to make everything jive the best way. My fault for not making an proper buy at the time I put the X pipe on, should have just done the headers right then and there with a different X.
 
b4 you buy go to your local exhaust shop and have them look at it. sometimes you can cut the x pipe down and flair the ends to except the l.t.s I've been down this road b4 on 94 5.0s and it worked, not sure bout the 4.6s with you set up. cant hurt to check and it will be cheaper than buying a whole new x pipe
 
you can have a local exhaust shop fix your midpipe to fit headers most of the time. But you end up spending a significant amount of money on labor for something that is usually a PITA for the exhaust shop. In the end- selling the old midpipe and getting a shorty midpipe that fits properly the first time w/o issues is much better.

I would recommend a shorty midpipe. Also if you are looking at MAC headers make sure you get a MAC shorty midpipe to go with it. Between brands there are slight variations.