FAQ: The Exhaust Thread

Yes, the downpipe connects the rear manifold to the cat converter. Research over the years suggests the downpipe is the most restrictive part of the Riviera's exhaust system (W-Body cars have a U-bend, but we don't). The replacement downpipe for your application is 3" dia. Hogan makes a pretty good one:

https://rivperformance.editboard.com/t1142-hogan-downpipe

Thanks.
While I have the engine out, and if in budget, I'd like to do what I can to improve.

hasanyone tried the f bodytyle exhaust on their riviera

denim wrote:

Thanks.
While I have the engine out, and if in budget, I'd like to do what I can to improve.

Downpipe is a great way to gain a little midrange power, and to let other breathing mods do their thing for some added top-end. Relatively invisible mod, for an affordable price. From what I hear, it's a noticeable increase, also a KR reducer.

highwaywarrior wrote:

hasanyone tried the f bodytyle exhaust on their riviera

Not that I know of, but I think someone has done a single exhaust. Maybe you'll be the first to try this!

Hey guys, ive had ZZP's 3 inch shorty DP hanging out in my guest room for about 11 months now, and ill eventually get to putting it on, but now i want to know is, to you guys with it, how did you do the rest of your exhaust? I want to run the DP to a gutted stock cat, back to the original piping to some new mufflers, the back end isnt a big deal.. but the dp to cat, do i have to move the cat towards the rear to fit or does it bolt right up?

Here's a pic finally of my new tinted tailight job with running lights, and funilly enough, I accidentally left out the marker lights while diagnosing it and it turns out if they dangle, it lights up the exhaust perfectly lol. It's probably illegal though

Apologies for an obvious question, but why illuminate your exhaust? Perhaps as a proud owner of one lacking holes? Can it be more attractive than the voluptuous Riv body? Does it do a song and dance? Did mufflers suddenly become sexy?
Please, tell me why a stock exhaust system should be highlighted, especially the Riv's? You know, even a new one will shortly look like crap if you're in anything but warm, dry weather. And then even chrome is challenged.

denim wrote:

Apologies for an obvious question, but why illuminate your exhaust? Perhaps as a proud owner of one lacking holes? Can it be more attractive than the voluptuous Riv body? Does it do a song and dance? Did mufflers suddenly become sexy?
Please, tell me why a stock exhaust system should be highlighted, especially the Riv's? You know, even a new one will shortly look like crap if you're in anything but warm, dry weather. And then even chrome is challenged.

I don't intend on leaving illuminated, and you can see the
At my exhaust is hanging really low because my hangers dry rotted and when I put 1200 degree high heat enamel on it to repaint it, they fell apart. I need new ones. Anyway its easy to keep my tips a near perfect chrome finish by polishing it once a week when I clean my wheels. I don't want my lights like that but I thought it was interesting by it looking like that from me forgetting to put them back in. I hate the stock side markers. I also hate how far the stock bumpers stick out and that's why I like my exhaust showing. It distracts the eye from the jutting bumper that sticks half a foot out of the body in your face. You're right at the Riv has a great body curve but the car has a good amount of flaws like a weak transmission, being front wheel drive others would agree on, a retarded long wheelbase, bumpers that stick out way too far from the body, ugly marker lights, headlights slightly the wrong shape to really make the body look how it deserves to look and the fact they look just wrong with the slats blocking anything interesting, then there's the one thing that bothers me most, with body lines and a shape like the Riv has, the hood is just far too plane. It needs its own lines to make the eyes fooled into not thinking you're driving a boat and flushed bumpers like sqrivi has really helps with that.

So the answer to your obvious question is the fact that it takes away from the fact the rear bumper sticks out in your face and completely betrays the nice curves the body has on my car. Not only that but I like the fact my cat-back is actually good enough never to upgrade. It's like the only part period on my car that I can say is worthy of a label of performance, otherwise until I have more than my crappy 200hp, and huge suspension upgrades amongst other things, nothing about my car is performance yet

I believe the bumper design was subject to safety standards requiring lights and other parts to continue to work after a low speed impact, hence the overhang.

That seems odd now having today's bumpers crumble in much more though. Has safety changes dramatically for the requirements since?

It's a trade off. From what I know, there are 3 factors: safety, integrity (design), and repair cost. Safety means how well the bumpers perform in a crash test. Integrity means how well the bumper is integrated with the styling of the car. Repair cost is the bill after a minor collision.

Safety must be at a high standard. That's one of the points for having a bumper. That standard is supposed to be getting higher. The point is, cars can't just have bumpers that look awesome. They have a specific purpose.

Design integrity seems to be improving for most cars, with bumpers becoming less visible amongst the other body styling elements. Regulations passed after the Riv was produced enabled auto makers to design bumpers more flush to the body, while still preserving the safety regulations.

As a result, collision repair costs have gone up severely over the past decade. There's a saying with some manufacturing companies - anything can be accomplished or manufactured, for a price. This cost (what the market is willing to pay) is what drives levels of quality with most products. On top of cost concerns, safety regulations must be met. What used to be an exposed bumper that could be replaced for $200 became integrated as part of the body starting in the late '80s. By the time the Riviera was made, bumpers were starting to disappear. By today's standards, sure the bumpers seem to stick out, but back then they were considered invisible. But they were also more expensive to repair after an impact. After 2003 or 04, new regulations encouraged much more integrated designs, but they can cost thousands to repair when damaged.

Have been thinking of potentially changing out the stock tips for a dual staggered oval set for awhile. These are just about the only ones I can find in stainless instead of chrome but do you think they're too big dimensionally? They're marked for trucks and suv's haha
http://www.magnaflow.com/02product/shopexd.asp?zone=main&id=11007

They look like the same size as my single oval exhaust tips.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/jex-por512ss

Kinda what I've been looking for. I love the size and shape of the stock tips but would love to see them as staggered duals. I think it'd look pretty mean. Just don't wanna overdo it

Mine might be a hair to large. I do scrape them once in a while pulling into steap areas.

After looking at your setup, which is really nice might I add, beautiful car, I don't think I'd do much better, especially where I live haha I'll try and contact magnaflow to see if there's a smaller variant available...fingers crossed

Corey, where did u get the power from?did you hook up the lights for the exhaust straight to the battery?

I looked at Summit racing and they only list one different one that just has a smaller inlet, but the same size outlet it appears (in Magnaflow). Might have better luck in a different brand too. Mine are made by Jones Exhaust. Or if you can get them tucked up in the rear bumper more than mine are.

Yeah. Having a hell of a time finding this configuration in stainless (chrome will last a few months here) but I'll keep searching the good search. Haha there's a natural dip in the bumper to lineup into so I'll try to get as flush top and back as I can. Part of why the staggering in that tip appealed to me

Probably only going to find 2.5 or 3 inch outlets. Might get lucky and find 2.75. I was doing all of this searching too when I came up with my configuration

No joke haha maybe I'll just have to find a good exhaust guy to customize whatever I bring him. Yay, more money

It wasn't to bad. I can be picky so I had to find what I liked for myself too.

Frankly I'm almost considering just using the tips I linked but having them sit somewhere in between stock placement and flush with the bumpers edge. Far enough to be more noticeable and menacing than the stock tips but still sleeper-style and understated. Measured correctly it would also alleviate the rear clearance issues too to some extent I think

Oh and just a warning, expect me to harass you about your A-pillar gauges at some point, that's something else I've been intending on doing since day one

Sounds like you have a plan in the process. Should look good when you get it done. That's fine about the A-Pillar

Has anyone polished the OEM exhaust tips or have a pic of what they look like brand new? Is it possible to get these things shining?
Thinking about picking up bowl of this and rubbin em down. Any other suggestions to get a nice finish on the tips?