1978 Corvette Exhaust
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 13,190
Likes: 3
From: Johns Creek GA
1978 Corvette Exhaust
After MANY years of the car being barely driven (only started enough to keep everything running well), it is finally time to get this thing in shape. One of the things I have always wanted to do to her is to get her sounding like a Corvette. It still has the stock exhaust system on it (so Cats and all), but it is time to get her sounding better.
Suggestions? I like an aggressive sound, but not to the point of my ears bleeding.
Many more things on tap, but mostly in the restoration area to get back in good looking shape.
Suggestions? I like an aggressive sound, but not to the point of my ears bleeding.
Many more things on tap, but mostly in the restoration area to get back in good looking shape.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,664
Likes: 162
From: columbia city in
the way i would do it is replace the cat you have now with one that is less restrictive then the factory one.that will help it sound better .then i would put on a set of name brand mufflers that you like .if your state does a visual cat check they want to see one cat not two ,even if it does a better job.check your local codes first .
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 13,190
Likes: 3
From: Johns Creek GA
Good info, thanks....thankfully, GA has no CAT requirement on cars more than 25 years old. I have no emissions inspections or anything on her any longer in order to keep her registration active, thank god.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 13,190
Likes: 3
From: Johns Creek GA
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,113
Likes: 35
From: LaUgH, mOrE!
I installed the Corvette Central Dual exhaust early this spring and it fit well. I just cut and dropped the old exhaust. The new dual will need a center dual hangar that CC sells, too. Call them up about this, if you decide, and they'll tell you what hangar you need.
The website is here.
It sure helps to do this with the whole car on a lift or blocks, and with a buddy helping.
Enjoy.
The website is here.
It sure helps to do this with the whole car on a lift or blocks, and with a buddy helping.
Enjoy.
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Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,593
Likes: 103
From: Southern Indiana
Usually you need offset in and center out with 2.5 inch in and out and the exhaust shop will fab up the pipes to hook it all togather.
Summit has them.
ALso if the price is too high, there are Flowmaster knockoff all over ebay and to mention "Thrush welded mufflers" are really cool also i have ran them and they sound just like flowmasters.
Summit has them.
ALso if the price is too high, there are Flowmaster knockoff all over ebay and to mention "Thrush welded mufflers" are really cool also i have ran them and they sound just like flowmasters.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,227
Likes: 670
From: Northeast
This is the system I installed on my 78 L82 4spd, if you have a 4spd there is special hanger to buy:
http://www.parts123.com/parts123/yb....Z5Z5Z50000050G
If you are looking for additional hp get some shorty headers also.
Click here for a drive away listen, c3 magnaflow:
http://www.corvettecentralexhaust.co...hp?view=323122
You should Google flowmasters and read what guys have to say about the drone.
Good luck.
http://www.parts123.com/parts123/yb....Z5Z5Z50000050G
If you are looking for additional hp get some shorty headers also.
Click here for a drive away listen, c3 magnaflow:
http://www.corvettecentralexhaust.co...hp?view=323122
You should Google flowmasters and read what guys have to say about the drone.
Good luck.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,593
Likes: 103
From: Southern Indiana
If you are looking for additional hp get some shorty headers also.
Click here for a drive away listen, c3 magnaflow:
http://www.corvettecentralexhaust.co...hp?view=323122
You should Google flowmasters and read what guys have to say about the drone.
Good luck.
Click here for a drive away listen, c3 magnaflow:
http://www.corvettecentralexhaust.co...hp?view=323122
You should Google flowmasters and read what guys have to say about the drone.
Good luck.
I just installed long tube headers on my vette and its the easiest thing you can do to a vette that involves hand tools and maybe a sawzaw that gains the most HP.
Read Hotrod, Car Craft and any other rag and you will see the big boys run Flowmasters and I don't think they would choke their engines down with junk mufflers.
Last edited by Tim H; Sep 10, 2011 at 09:24 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,227
Likes: 670
From: Northeast
"give the car more gas or let off a little to stop it".
So you admit there is a drone and the driver has to give it the gas, let up on the gas, give it the gas let up on the gas. Who wants to drive like that?
"exhaust shop will fab up the pipes". Doesnt sound like hand tools and sawzal.
OP was looking for sound. I am well aware of what needs to be done for HP. Post up your dyno and dragstrip times, before and after, so the OP can know what to expect from your suggestions. Also, post reference that shorty headers are useless, that they provide no extra hp.
This is the easiest way. If he doesnt like this sound then ask for more suggestions. Post a video of your Flowmasters as it will help the OP.
So you admit there is a drone and the driver has to give it the gas, let up on the gas, give it the gas let up on the gas. Who wants to drive like that?
"exhaust shop will fab up the pipes". Doesnt sound like hand tools and sawzal.
OP was looking for sound. I am well aware of what needs to be done for HP. Post up your dyno and dragstrip times, before and after, so the OP can know what to expect from your suggestions. Also, post reference that shorty headers are useless, that they provide no extra hp.
This is the easiest way. If he doesnt like this sound then ask for more suggestions. Post a video of your Flowmasters as it will help the OP.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,062
Likes: 103
From: Southeast, Tennessee
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '26
'agressive means different things to different people. i like agressive also, i went with the baffled system that mid america sells. it is effectively a sidepipe system that runs under the car in true duals, but without actual mufflers or resonators, it is about as 'agressive' as you can get. to me it sounds like a corvette should.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,593
Likes: 103
From: Southern Indiana
"give the car more gas or let off a little to stop it".
So you admit there is a drone and the driver has to give it the gas, let up on the gas, give it the gas let up on the gas. Who wants to drive like that?
"exhaust shop will fab up the pipes". Doesnt sound like hand tools and sawzal.
OP was looking for sound. I am well aware of what needs to be done for HP. Post up your dyno and dragstrip times, before and after, so the OP can know what to expect from your suggestions. Also, post reference that shorty headers are useless, that they provide no extra hp.
This is the easiest way. If he doesnt like this sound then ask for more suggestions. Post a video of your Flowmasters as it will help the OP.
So you admit there is a drone and the driver has to give it the gas, let up on the gas, give it the gas let up on the gas. Who wants to drive like that?
"exhaust shop will fab up the pipes". Doesnt sound like hand tools and sawzal.
OP was looking for sound. I am well aware of what needs to be done for HP. Post up your dyno and dragstrip times, before and after, so the OP can know what to expect from your suggestions. Also, post reference that shorty headers are useless, that they provide no extra hp.
This is the easiest way. If he doesnt like this sound then ask for more suggestions. Post a video of your Flowmasters as it will help the OP.
Your already over thinking the whole thing to the point of its going to take a $1000 system to satisfy you.
Good luck with your project.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 5,948
Likes: 72
From: Oxford MA-----You just lost the game!!!!
I have heard several people say that you get a nice sound from just removing the mufflers and running straight pipes. Apparently, the cat keeps the sound volume down to a reasonable level. Don't have any experience with it myself, but it's something to think about, probably be able to do it pretty cheap.
Scott
Scott
