Y-Pipe Question

[Dante]

I have a couple questions about my y-pipe. All the other y-pipes I have seen the ones where the drivers side primary dumps into the boxy cat at the end of the passenger side primary at a 90 degree angle.

 

The primaries on my '83 GL 4WD Wagon come straight back from each exhaust port, then merge at about a 40 degree angle on the drivers side of the car. There is what appears to be a very skinny cylindrical cat (about 2.5-3" x 16") right after the merge and another slightly larger one a little further along. Also, one of my primaries has what looks like the perforated air cooling jacket. The other one has obviously been repaired (welded) so both sides may once have had the perforated cover.

 

Here are my questions:

 

1. Is this a stock setup?

 

2. Would replacing the y-pipe in front of the first cat be worthwhile? I'll be replacing everything behind the merge/collector with a 2" high-flow cat, pipe and "turbo muffler", but the size of the primaries and the angle at which they merge on my car doesn't look bad. I've been cautioned against going much larger than stock on the primaries anyway...

[northguy]

I would hate to be presumptious, but I have to assume you are talking about the vehicle in your signature. Is that correct?

[Dante]

Yes. I edited the original post accordingly. Thanks.

[Dante]

Bump.

 

Sorry if this is a stupid question. I am waiting for my '83 FSM. The '81 FSM I have shows the y-pipes merging at 90 degrees in the boxy front cat on the passenger side. Again, mine joins at 40 degrees on the drivers side just beyond the centerline and dumps into the front cat right after the collector. Is that normal for '83s?