If you want to add a little power and gain a unique exhaust note, a cat-back exhaust system for the C8 Corvette Stingray is the answer. There are several companies that have announced cat-back offerings for the LT2. All of them offer some increase in horsepower and torque along with a more exhaust sound, with varying styles of exhaust tips from brand to brand.
A new Corvette Stingray Z51 owner who goes by “HorsePowerObsessed” recently upgraded to the cat-back exhaust system from AWE. In addition to a louder grumble, this system adds as much as 19 hp and 15 ft-lbs of torque at the wheels. Mind you, those are not peak numbers, but at points in the powerband, the AWE exhaust adds as much as 19 horsepower and 15 lb-ft of torque. He included a video of his Corvette with the new exhaust and you can check that out below.
While that may not seem like much power, keep in mind that tuning has not been unlocked for the LT2. Until tuning is unlocked, owners can only expect small gains from bolt-on parts. Fortunately, 19 wheel horsepower and 15 lb-ft of wheel torque is enough to register with the ol’ seat-of-the-pants dyno.
"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.
"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.
"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.
"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.
"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.
You must be logged in to post a comment.