“X” Marks the Spot: A Look at MagnaFlow’s Tru-X Crossover Pipes

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Looking for a simple, power-building upgrade for your dual exhaust system? Look no further than this MagnaFlow Tru-X crossover. Unlike a conventional H-pipe style balance tube that merely balances exhaust gas between each bank of the exhaust system, the Tru-X actually allows the exhaust cross over from one side to the other. That promotes better cylinder head scavenging, removing exhaust gas faster and allowing fresh air and fuel into the combustion chambers sooner. That means more horsepower and torque.

Like virtually everything that MagnaFlow makes, the Tru-X crossovers are made from high-quality stainless steel. The crossovers are available for dual exhaust systems with 2 1/4-, 2 1/2-, and 3-inch pipe. Most Tru-X crossovers have a 2 1/2- x 4-inch center core; the 3-inch crossovers have a 3- x 5 3/4-inch core.

Ford got smart and installed an honest-to-goodness H-style crossover pipe on the 2005-10 Mustang GTs. That means it’s a no-brainer to upgrade the factory system with a MagnaFlow Tru-X crossover setup. You can choose from three upgrades: a Tru-X replacement for the stock H-pipe that is 50-state emissions legal, a fully welded crossover pipe with a Tru-X and dual catalytic converters (shown), or a crossover pipe without converters. The last two options are for off-road use only. MagnaFlow also offers 49-state-legal crossovers for 2011-12 Mustang GT 5.0Ls as well as setups outifitted with catalytic converters for the Shelby GT500.

Fox-body, SN95, and New Edge Mustangers can get Tru-X crossover pipes with or without catalytic converters too. Most are designated for off-road use only, MagnaFlow does offer 50-state legal crossover pipes for 1986-93 and 1994-95 GTs and Cobras. You can also get the Tru-X crossover separately for other Mustang models. It fits after the factory cats to maintain emissions legality.

If you own a C6 Corvette, you can get a MagnaFlow MagnaPack cat-back system complete with a Tru-X crossover pipe. The system adds 12 horsepower and a solid 11 foot-pounds of torque, but it’s the sound that will be the thing that impresses the guys at the track and the valet kids at the restaurant. The MagnaPack system is also available for 2000-2004 C5 Corvettes.

MagnaFlow's American Muscle exhaust systems are designed for 1960s and 1970s muscle- and ponycars and are built to optimize exhaust flow for each specific application—and of course that means a Tru-X crossover is included. Most American Muscle systems are available with 2 1/2-inch tubing (for stock or mildly modified small block V8s up to 400 horsepower) or 3-inch tubing (hotted-up small blocks and big blocks up to 800 horsepower). The system shown here is a 3-inch system for 1964-67 Chevelles and other GM A-bodies.

MagnaFlow also offers 2 1/2 and 3-inch systems with Tru-X crossovers for 1970-72 Dodge Challengers and Plymouth Barracuda and ’Cuda. MagnaFlow has American Muscle systems for Camaros and Firebirds, 1965-70 Mustangs, and GM X-bodies (Chevy Nova, Olds Omega, Buick Apollo, Pontiac Ventura) too.

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It’s funny how a couple pieces of steel tubing can affect a vehicle’s performance. Yessir, get that exhaust system right and you’ll be rewarded with more power, better throttle response, and a great sound. Get it wrong, and all you’ll have is a car that runs like a slug and sounds like one, too.

Fortunately, there are companies like MagnaFlow to make sure your car won’t fall into the slug category. From mufflers and catalytic converters to complete cat-back exhaust systems, MagnaFlow has the stainless steel pipes you need to free up horsepower and get the deep performance growl that sends tingles down your spine.

One bit of tubing that makes a performance difference all out of proportion to its size is the crossover pipe. MagnaFlow makes one called the Tru-X crossover. But before we get into the particulars on the Tru-X, a lesson is in order.

Why Use a Crossover?
The primary function of a crossover is to equalize the flow of exhaust gas between each side of a dual exhaust system. By equalizing the flow between the pipes, the exhaust system can remove exhaust gas from the engine more efficiently. Exhaust pulses between opposing cylinder banks are smoothed out as well. The net result is a more efficient scavenging of exhaust gas from the cylinder heads, which pulls a fresh air/fuel charge into the engine quicker. And that means more power.

Crossovers come in two flavors. The H-pipe, or balance tube, connects each side of a dual exhaust system with a straight piece of tubing. This allows exhaust gas to move between the pipes, equalizing flow and backpressure between the two sides of the system.

The other type of crossover is the X-pipe. Instead of using a straight cross-tube to connect each side of the exhaust system, the X-pipe literally allows each side to cross over to the other. The advantages of the X-pipe include better exhaust scavenging and improved exhaust flow balance between the pipes.

(If you are interested in comparing X-pipes and H-pipes, learn more here.)

Why the Tru-X is Better
MagnaFlow’s Tru-X crossover does the X-pipe concept one better. It features gently radiused transitions that actually optimize the exhaust pulses moving through the system instead of just balancing them. That improves exhaust gas scavenging from the cylinders, which translates into more horsepower and torque.

The Tru-X pipe’s exhaust pulse optimization also improves noise cancellation—the ability to take opposing sound wave pulses in the exhaust and make them “cancel” themselves against each other—to lower exhaust decibel levels and improve the system’s overall tone.

Like virtually everything MagnaFlow makes, the Tru-X crossover pipes are mandrel-bent from stainless steel—one will probably outlast the rest of your vehicle. The Tru-X is standard equipment on many of MagnaFlow’s exhaust systems, and is also available by itself in 2 1/4-, 2 1/2-, and three-inch diameters. Try one out on your next dual exhaust system and see for yourself why X marks the horsepower spot!