Factory Cat back with Hooker Headers
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 3,204
Likes: 4
From: Midland Georgia
St. Jude Donor '06
Factory Cat back with Hooker Headers
I finally got an over dose of resonace a few weeks ago. The set up on my car was Hooker Super Comp Headers flowing into a First Generation B&B 3" Cat Back.
The good
Looks
Stainless Steel shined up nice and lasts forever.
Engine had little to no back pressure
Great Sound at WOT
The bad
RESONANCE!!!
Women would not get in the car!
Excessive Sound at idle!
Excessive sound in the midrange of rpms.
Could not mount a Cross Frame under the car.
I wanted to solve this problem without spending $1000 to $1500 on the exhaust system.
Thankfully another forum member recommended that I consider gong back to a factory LT1 Cat back exhaust. Thanks to Mr Peabody!!!
Friday I removed the B&B and re-installed a factory LT1 Cat Back. No Catalytic converters (For now) and left the longtube headers in place.
I am very pleased with the results!!! Total Cost was $130 for a used LT1 factory catback, Welding, and Black 500 degree ceramic paint.
The GOOD
-Nice sound at idle, not too loud, but everyone knows the engine under the hood is modified!!
-It roars at WOT!!! It is kind of like waking up a monster! 3000 to 5000+ rpms sounds great!!!
-Quiet in the cabin. I can listen to the radio or converse with the passenger.
-No more headaches.
-Cheap to do aside from the cost of the headers.
-Those great looking LT1 exhuast tips
-Fitment was perfect (Surprise, surprise!!)
THE BAD
-Maybe lost a little HP+/-??
-A return to the factory look. I like the look personally, some don't.
Maybe those GM engineers knew what they were doing. I hope this helps someone with an exhaust issue.
The good
Looks
Stainless Steel shined up nice and lasts forever.
Engine had little to no back pressure
Great Sound at WOT
The bad
RESONANCE!!!
Women would not get in the car!
Excessive Sound at idle!
Excessive sound in the midrange of rpms.
Could not mount a Cross Frame under the car.
I wanted to solve this problem without spending $1000 to $1500 on the exhaust system.
Thankfully another forum member recommended that I consider gong back to a factory LT1 Cat back exhaust. Thanks to Mr Peabody!!!
Friday I removed the B&B and re-installed a factory LT1 Cat Back. No Catalytic converters (For now) and left the longtube headers in place.
I am very pleased with the results!!! Total Cost was $130 for a used LT1 factory catback, Welding, and Black 500 degree ceramic paint.
The GOOD
-Nice sound at idle, not too loud, but everyone knows the engine under the hood is modified!!
-It roars at WOT!!! It is kind of like waking up a monster! 3000 to 5000+ rpms sounds great!!!
-Quiet in the cabin. I can listen to the radio or converse with the passenger.
-No more headaches.
-Cheap to do aside from the cost of the headers.
-Those great looking LT1 exhuast tips
-Fitment was perfect (Surprise, surprise!!)
THE BAD
-Maybe lost a little HP+/-??
-A return to the factory look. I like the look personally, some don't.
Maybe those GM engineers knew what they were doing. I hope this helps someone with an exhaust issue.
Last edited by jakers; Mar 29, 2008 at 11:10 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 3,651
Likes: 10
From: Apple Valley MN
I'm just finishing up putting SW long tubes on my LT4 - I'm keeping the stock exhaust, too. It's in great shape, I'm just gonna freshen it up a bit and repaint the mufflers. I like the factory look, too.
