Funny you should mention that.
I talked to a muffler shop today about that same thing. Heres the deal....
We discussed a complete 2.25" dual exhaust for the car.
WE decided that the O2 would still only need to read off of one of the pipes. we discussed several options. we did a little measuring. And here is the conclusion......
complete 2.25" from manifold back to just before the crossover at the sway bar. At that point it would dump into a 3" pipe, or 2.5". The balancing pipe would be resolved by "siameasing" (X PIPE) the 2 pipes at a point to be deteremined later. we thought possibly just behind the shifter linkage. looks like this..... <a href ="http://www.geocities.com/jrose_78154/crudedrawing.jpg"> CRUDE DRAWING </a>
please excuse the ugly paint shop work.

Most noted was the extrem amout of noise that this system would create. He said he had done a camary like this and it worked out very well. He also noted that by no meand would it pass emmissions. Like DUH! lol.
Any way not including your choice of muffler; the total labor and parts would be.... drum roll please........
$250.
Also note that some special hangers would need to beplaced on the system and the addition of flex pipes would bring this to a $325 dollar job. not bad considering the work involved.
I could talk him down a bit but that was the first price out of his mouth. BTW this was a MIDASS muffler shop. I bet a mom and pops muffler shop would be cheaper.And as always there are better ways to have it made. my Concern is that only one O2 would ony be reading one cylinder bank. Not sure if I'm sold.

 

I've split my pipes and I have .02 to add. Like the idea, but your not getting the "dual" thing your wanting. And running two pipes into one muffler, why waste your time? How about this? Leave the front (at the engine) as it is, one pipe. That way you get both sides read by the O2! Put your glass pack back at the oem spot along with the converter, that will take you to about the center of the front seats. Then, split the pipe running 2" or 2 1/2" pipe, there is enough room down the center of the car for this, just barely, I'd stay with 2". Then, run one side in the oem position, the other between the gas tank and the spare tire well and bring them out even. It will be a little loud, mine was, and still is, but you will pass emissions. Mine sounds like a little V8. And pipe can be run between the gas tank and spare well, mine had to go in peiced together in two or three peices, its tight, but it can be done and will give you true duals. And by bringing the front pipe back further with the converter, etc, you eliminate the need for a crossover and will use less pipe. Mine cost me $210 at a mom and pops that cuts converters off! Midas wouldn't even talk about duals with me.

 

so basically you did this:

y-pipe->cat->glasspack-+->out
+->out

I was considering that, and it would be much easier than cutting out half the freaking tirewell, but a couple questions. how is the clearance where the glasspack is located?? any noticable power loss or gains?? and one last do you have any pics?(at least of how it looks from the rear!) but that sounds interesting nonetheless, I bet its pretty loud though, if its anything like the old 5.0 stangs with the 3" pipes thats a little too much for me!!


[Edited by DA-MAX on 01-05-2001 at 08:43 PM]

 

I don't have pics. I had "duals" (split) for only about a year and cut off the pipe that ran between the tank and the spare well. I did this because I have no converter and no muffler, I needed to add some restriction and a regular muffler won't fit on the driver's side, you'll need a small one, they're expensive. But, the glass pack just works as a resonator, the stock max's have one here, so there's plenty of room for it. I noticed gains on the high end which is to be expected, and losses on the low end, expected, but the low end losses were not significant that I could tell. I need a muffler though, but, it's really not that loud. Equivilant of a V8 sound level, just not as good. It's sound good though, not like these 4bangers that sound like a lawn mower!

 

off that idea I'm thinking about my since abandoned dual exh. project, I bet I could fit a small 4" round canister muffler under the spare tire well and weld it in place, then the only probs would be rear clearance! it might work if I don't lower the car, hmmm....I'm gonna measure that out tommorow, only thing that worrys is leveling the stock position muffler on the right with the new one and if there would be any SIGNIFICANT power loss! damn I wish I had a dyno in my backyard!

 

Sorry but running the stock exhaust and splitting it after the cat is not true duals. In my oppiniion that is as stupid as looking at those ugly neons that run a splitter in thier exhaust to make it look like they have duals. A true dual exhaust runs a muffler and a cat off of each manifold. The idea that Mr Rose had with the x pipe would be a good idea if he used to mufflers and never brought them back together. And I know from looking at the bottom of the car myself that there will need to be some customizing of the spare tire compartment to make the 2 exhausts come out even. Its not worth it to run a dual exhaust unless you are pushing 300hp. You will lose your backpressure and you'll find out after all that work that your car will be slower.