Need More Rumble - Keep Same Look
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 256
Likes: 1
From: Taylorville IL
Need More Rumble - Keep Same Look
A shout out to all of the exhaust experts...
My 1994 Coupe with the fabulous six speed transmission is a total gas to drive and the reliability is second to none. It is totally stock save for an afternarket alarm that gave me fits last summer and even the Bose stereo still sounds good crankin out the head bangin' music I love. I would like a more muscular sounding exhaust note from the car, but I have not approached this because I would like to preserve the stock tips that it came with. Also, what I have seen available from the aftermarket requires cutting off the old and then installing the new.
I just do not want to start hacking up the rear tail pipes to accomplish this. So heres the question, does anyone know of a direct bolt on cat back exhaust that will give me not only a throatier exhaust sound, but retain the same stock look?? Maybe this is too much to ask, and if so, I will just keep it the way it is. Has anyone else been here before and if so, what did you do?? Thanks in advance for all the replies,
Cessnaguy
My 1994 Coupe with the fabulous six speed transmission is a total gas to drive and the reliability is second to none. It is totally stock save for an afternarket alarm that gave me fits last summer and even the Bose stereo still sounds good crankin out the head bangin' music I love. I would like a more muscular sounding exhaust note from the car, but I have not approached this because I would like to preserve the stock tips that it came with. Also, what I have seen available from the aftermarket requires cutting off the old and then installing the new.
I just do not want to start hacking up the rear tail pipes to accomplish this. So heres the question, does anyone know of a direct bolt on cat back exhaust that will give me not only a throatier exhaust sound, but retain the same stock look?? Maybe this is too much to ask, and if so, I will just keep it the way it is. Has anyone else been here before and if so, what did you do?? Thanks in advance for all the replies,Cessnaguy
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,556
Likes: 13
Racer
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 363
Likes: 0
From: Peabody MA
The only modification to my car is longtube headers, no cats. The car looks completely stock and sounds PERFECT. It's nice and quiet until you step on it and then you hear some pure American muscle! I highly recommend longtube headers, catless midpipes, and stock the rest of the way back.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,139
Likes: 482
From: H-Town Texas
Well, you can look to the aftermarket for a full cat back set up. They are available from Borla, Corsa, Magnaflow, and I think Billy Boat. If dropping $1,200 to $1,500 isn't an issue for you, this would be the way to go, as these are designed to hook right up to the stock cat pipes.
Or you can start hacking. How much 'rumble' are you looking for? You can go with Magnaflow rear mufflers, they have LT1 tips available.
search on here using "exhaust" and you'll see an exhuastive amount of threads on this subject. Though, I might suggest that if keeping the car stock is the plan, stay with the stock exhaust to avoid some of the pitfalls you are about to read about if you do a search.
Or you can start hacking. How much 'rumble' are you looking for? You can go with Magnaflow rear mufflers, they have LT1 tips available.
search on here using "exhaust" and you'll see an exhuastive amount of threads on this subject. Though, I might suggest that if keeping the car stock is the plan, stay with the stock exhaust to avoid some of the pitfalls you are about to read about if you do a search.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,768
Likes: 33
From: Van Steel Corvettes
St. Jude Donor '12-'13
That's exactly want I went after myself. I just went down to the local exhaust shop. Ordered up two magnaflow 3" cats (the actual reason for the exhaust mod), x pipe and a pair of magnaflow mufflers. Just told them I wanted to keep the stock look and to reuse the stock tips. I really like want I got!
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 205
Likes: 1
From: Dayton Ohio
A shout out to all of the exhaust experts...
My 1994 Coupe with the fabulous six speed transmission is a total gas to drive and the reliability is second to none. It is totally stock save for an afternarket alarm that gave me fits last summer and even the Bose stereo still sounds good crankin out the head bangin' music I love. I would like a more muscular sounding exhaust note from the car, but I have not approached this because I would like to preserve the stock tips that it came with. Also, what I have seen available from the aftermarket requires cutting off the old and then installing the new. I just do not want to start hacking up the rear tail pipes to accomplish this. So heres the question, does anyone know of a direct bolt on cat back exhaust that will give me not only a throatier exhaust sound, but retain the same stock look?? Maybe this is too much to ask, and if so, I will just keep it the way it is. Has anyone else been here before and if so, what did you do?? Thanks in advance for all the replies,
Cessnaguy
My 1994 Coupe with the fabulous six speed transmission is a total gas to drive and the reliability is second to none. It is totally stock save for an afternarket alarm that gave me fits last summer and even the Bose stereo still sounds good crankin out the head bangin' music I love. I would like a more muscular sounding exhaust note from the car, but I have not approached this because I would like to preserve the stock tips that it came with. Also, what I have seen available from the aftermarket requires cutting off the old and then installing the new.
I just do not want to start hacking up the rear tail pipes to accomplish this. So heres the question, does anyone know of a direct bolt on cat back exhaust that will give me not only a throatier exhaust sound, but retain the same stock look?? Maybe this is too much to ask, and if so, I will just keep it the way it is. Has anyone else been here before and if so, what did you do?? Thanks in advance for all the replies,Cessnaguy
Hope that helps!
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 73,568
Likes: 33
From: Somewhere in Mo
St. Jude Donor '09-'10, '14
That's exactly want I went after myself. I just went down to the local exhaust shop. Ordered up two magnaflow 3" cats (the actual reason for the exhaust mod), x pipe and a pair of magnaflow mufflers. Just told them I wanted to keep the stock look and to reuse the stock tips. I really like want I got!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 7,706
Likes: 485
From: Everett WA
C4 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
The only modification to my car is longtube headers, no cats. The car looks completely stock and sounds PERFECT. It's nice and quiet until you step on it and then you hear some pure American muscle! I highly recommend longtube headers, catless midpipes, and stock the rest of the way back.
The long tube headers through the stock exhaust really sound great!!
Pro
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 672
Likes: 2
From: Cheltenham, England
So whats the advantage of long tube headers on an LT1?, as far as I understand the stock headers etc, are about as good as you can get, surly its way easier to fit a good catback system rather than headers if its the "soundtrack" your after , and you can see the results from the outside! 
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 12,221
Likes: 446
From: Overland Park Kansas
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (appearance mods)
C4 of Year Winner (appearance mods) 2019
I think it's foolish to eliminate the CATs. You pollute more and don't gain THAT much. CATs have been successfully installed and refined since the 70's. By the invention of the LT-x engine, they were pretty-well engineered. It's one reason you don't see HUGE gains (or as big of gain) on LTs versus L98 engines -- when installing headers.
That resonator in the belly and/or the stock mufflers are the easiest and cheapest place to start. Either remove the center resonator (in lieu of an x-pipe) and/or drop the stock mufflers. I would suggest in the installation of 2.5" glass packs in place of the rear mufflers, then have them weld-on your stock tips. Or...chrome tips.
Aftermarket mufflers are way overpriced and often create drone. Glass-packs (or even chamber pipe) isn't as likely. I think you can throw in glass packs and an x-pipe for $150 installed. Go looking at aftermarket catback prices to see how good a deal that really is.
That resonator in the belly and/or the stock mufflers are the easiest and cheapest place to start. Either remove the center resonator (in lieu of an x-pipe) and/or drop the stock mufflers. I would suggest in the installation of 2.5" glass packs in place of the rear mufflers, then have them weld-on your stock tips. Or...chrome tips.
Aftermarket mufflers are way overpriced and often create drone. Glass-packs (or even chamber pipe) isn't as likely. I think you can throw in glass packs and an x-pipe for $150 installed. Go looking at aftermarket catback prices to see how good a deal that really is.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 34,988
Likes: 515
From: Riverside County Southern California
Co-winner 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
2018 Corvette of Year Finalist
2017 C4 of Year
2016 C7 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '20
If you want obnoxious rumble/drone buy Magnaflow system or mufflers. 
If that is not enough go Flowmaster delta 40.
If that is not enough go Flowmaster delta 40.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 256
Likes: 1
From: Taylorville IL
Great replies!! Thanks to all. So far I like what Vinnie and Shakedown have suggested. Borla sounds like a good alternative, but I really want to keep the same tips. Call me wierd, but when I drive the car I want people to KNOW that I have a straight shift transmission in the car. Those that are educated with the C4 will know it is a six speed. Nothing obnoxious, just a little more rumble and a statement going down the road. Nice video, Shakedown, sounds about what I am looking and hearing for. Vetteoz suggested eliminating the cat itself. Does this open it up any, and will it be louder?? Exploring all options at this point.
Racer
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 363
Likes: 0
From: Peabody MA
Eliminating the cats will make it louder, but I'm not sure if it will make it louder in a good way. I can assure the car will sound AWESOME with just longtube headers with catless midpipes. And the best part is it's still quiet when you want it to be. Not to mention that it adds about 10-15 rwhp. Totally worth it, even though the installation cost (if you don'd do it yourself) is more than a catback.
I bought Exotic Muscle longtubes, mild steel ceramic coated. They're not bad, but if you have the money get stainless ones from Stainless Works.
It's great when people ask me what exhaust I have and I proudly pop the hood and say "stock catback, just some headers...."
I bought Exotic Muscle longtubes, mild steel ceramic coated. They're not bad, but if you have the money get stainless ones from Stainless Works.
It's great when people ask me what exhaust I have and I proudly pop the hood and say "stock catback, just some headers...."
Drifting
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,839
Likes: 390
If you can afford it, go with Corsa. There were just too many comments/complaints that I've read online about interior drone noise when at certain speeds. The Corsa cat-backs were the first mod I installed after buying my stock '91 three years ago. I've been very happy with them. 