I am learning more about exhaust "sound" as I go along here.....I still have not had anything installed yet....still in the research stage.

Even though it will result in some Db loss, I have decided to go with a "X" pipe....It's plausible to gain some torque however....

Even though this is directed towards late model F 150's, this link offers information usable with our Torino's

http://www.f150online.com/forums/exhaust-intake-systems/428019-exhaust-guide.html

I really like the "straight thru" sound......I am seriously thinking about a pair of "sticks" from this company:

http://www.classicchambered.com/index.html

1. The cars on the TV show were not "owned" by the production company, but were leased to Spelling-Goldberg for the duration of the run. Once filming was complete, they were returned to Ford, and were then uncerimoniously (and surprising, knowing thier noteriety) prepped for wholesale, and then wholesaled to Ford dealers at an auction. California law forbade any type of engine/ drivetrain modifications that would render the factory-installed emissions systems inoperative, so they were left nearly 100% stock. This means the 1st-season cars were stock 400 2V, single exhaust cars, and the 2nd-4th season cars were stock 460-4V dual exhaust cars. 
2. Making any modifications that would result in the "Starsky Engine" sound would have entailed at the very least some exhaust system mods, but that would have been a waste of time and money anyway because... 
3. ...nearly all 2nd unit filming, the unit that films scenes that do NOT require the star actors to be present, is typically filmed "wild". In "Starsky & Hutch", this is most often any scenes involving the car, whether it is racing around or just driving by, as long as the star actors are not required for the shot. These shots are always filmed using stand-ins for the actors. On nearly every episode of "Starsky & Hutch", if there is a long shot of them just walking into a building, or even driving up in the car, getting out and going inside, it is usually done with stand-ins, as long as thier faces are clearly shown. This is very easy to spot in nearly all episodes. Additionally, filming "wild" simply means that they are not recording any sound with the film for that shot, or if they do film with sound, it is only to be used for a template later by the SDFX and foley artists when they create the entire sound track for that scene 100% in the studio while editing it all together. It is near impossible to get a good, clean sound recording while on location, especially when the show has to be banged together quickly.
4. The sounds of the car on the show sound great, for sure, but it is preposterous to think they could be actual live on-set recordings for many all-too-obvious reasons:
1. The Torinos in actuality are highway-geared, automatic trans cars. Conversely, the sound effects clearly depict a manual-transmission car, and clearly one with a very high (numerically) axle ratio...this is why the gears change so many times so quickly. This may be totally innacurate, but it definitely adds a lot of "zip" and excitemnent to the scenes of the Torino in action. To see how a little more realistically-recorded sound package sounds, watch any episode of "Nash Bridges" and his 71" Cuda. That show had 5 "Bridges" Cudas, but only one of them was outfitted with the equipment to give it the proper sound. (That car was a 440 magnum, 4-speed car). This car was used for all the "sounds" on the show, regardless of which actual car was used in the scene. Because it was a normal, highway-geared car most of the stunts were done at low RPM, and consequently all the engine sounds sounded to be at low RPM...subtly keeping the subconcious "zip" of the scene down a bit.
2. In any close up of the actors talking in the car on location, or while being trailered, they need as clean sound track as possible, with no or very little extraneous noises to "pollute" the sound recording. Once the sound editors have "locked" the dialogue, then foley artists add all the background sound, including the engine noises. Clearly, if the car had the "Starsky" sound in real life, it would have made dialogue recording quite difficult.
5. For many years, I have diligently attempted to track down just exactly what vehicle and engine combo was used for the Torino's sound effects, and my latest opinion is that there were several sources used, based on what "fit" the scene sonically. Clearly, a few of the scenes use sounds direcytly lifted from "Bullitt", as do many, many movies and TV shows. The SDFX editors probably just used whatever was in thier "library". My personal opinion is that most of the sounds came from a very high-performance, high-winding small-block race car, like a GT40 or a full-race Corvette or something along those lines. Those are certainly not big-block sounds for sure.
6. For some good examples of this, I direct you to two well-known and popular movies: Smokey and the Bandit, and Gone in 60 seconds (the original version from 1974).Both movies were released in thier original form on DVD several years ago, and both have sinve been re-released on re-mastered and stereo-modified soundtracks...which niether of them had originally. In both instances, ALL of the original car-engine noises were replaced with "improved" stereo versions. They both suck. Smokey was (for me anyway) RUINED by this...the sounds of the T/A in that movie were fabulous, and the new versions of it are flat and lifeless.