Cheaper alternative to Cat-Back packages?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 182
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Cheaper alternative to Cat-Back packages?
I am the new owner of a beautiful 1992 corvette. It came with the 3-cone SLP intake setup. The rest of the car is entirely stock. I am interested in beefing up the exhaust sound and appearance however I am not interested in dropping over 1000 dollars for a Corsa / Borla / Magnaflow cat-back kit when all research points to the fact that cat-back exhausts on LT1 vettes do not provide much horsepower for your dollar.
Is there perhaps an axle-back kit that just comes with mufflers/exhaust tips? I want a good sound but dont want it to be overbearing or droning @ any rpm range. Is there just an off the shelf muffler I could have someone weld in the place of the stock muffler and weld on some chrome tips at the same time?
thanks for any advice or thoughts you all might have.
Is there perhaps an axle-back kit that just comes with mufflers/exhaust tips? I want a good sound but dont want it to be overbearing or droning @ any rpm range. Is there just an off the shelf muffler I could have someone weld in the place of the stock muffler and weld on some chrome tips at the same time?
thanks for any advice or thoughts you all might have.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 174
Likes: 0
From: OH/FL
Congrats on the purchase! Treat your C4 well and it will provide you many miles of happy motoring.
I have a K&N and chipped 1995 and you really won't get a whole lot of power off of the full exhaust treatment. I bought some axle-back C4 LT1 mufflers from a forum member a few years ago for a great price that sounds awesome. At times it's loud, but if your like me, other times it can't be loud enough!!!
All I had to do was take off the factory exhaust, cut the pipes behind the axle and ahead of the factory mufflers, and weld these on. R&R of the full exhaust system was the toughest part, but I didn't want to ruin the car or get a crappy weld from not having enough room.
Check the "Parts for Sale" section...there are always exhaust options for sale...
I have a K&N and chipped 1995 and you really won't get a whole lot of power off of the full exhaust treatment. I bought some axle-back C4 LT1 mufflers from a forum member a few years ago for a great price that sounds awesome. At times it's loud, but if your like me, other times it can't be loud enough!!!
All I had to do was take off the factory exhaust, cut the pipes behind the axle and ahead of the factory mufflers, and weld these on. R&R of the full exhaust system was the toughest part, but I didn't want to ruin the car or get a crappy weld from not having enough room.
Check the "Parts for Sale" section...there are always exhaust options for sale...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 5,032
Likes: 204
From: Greenwood Indiana
2021 C4 of the Year - Modified Finalist
C4 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
The stock system flows good and will support around 400 hp. 2 "cheap" ($100-$150) things you can do that will give you more rumble are install an X-pipe in place of the resonator, or muffler eliminators (straight pipe in place of mufflers).
I think the X-pipe is the better choice, because you will gain some torque and hp (and sound). With the muf. elim., you get a little hp, but lose some low-end torque. On the plus side, you get more sound and save the weight of the original mufflers.
I hope that helps.
I think the X-pipe is the better choice, because you will gain some torque and hp (and sound). With the muf. elim., you get a little hp, but lose some low-end torque. On the plus side, you get more sound and save the weight of the original mufflers.
I hope that helps.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 182
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hmmm...i gotta say i am a bit nervous about the idea of just outright eliminating the mufflers, i imagine that would make for QUITE a loud car. I really want to ditch the square tip look. is there a specific model number of flowmaster or magnaflow mufflers that i would need to order? is there a source for decent looking tips to weld on that will be the correct length? i dont want exhaust tips sticking way out too far or not far enough, that just looks ridiculous.
Team Owner
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 22,830
Likes: 13
From: Columbus Ohio
CI 3-4, 8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06-'08-'10
hmmm...i gotta say i am a bit nervous about the idea of just outright eliminating the mufflers, i imagine that would make for QUITE a loud car. I really want to ditch the square tip look. is there a specific model number of flowmaster or magnaflow mufflers that i would need to order? is there a source for decent looking tips to weld on that will be the correct length? i dont want exhaust tips sticking way out too far or not far enough, that just looks ridiculous.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 6,461
Likes: 5
From: Ypsilanti MI
Cruise-In 10-11-12 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'14
Eliminators are the way to go, they soudn great. As for appearance, I am planning to pull the whole cat back, smooth out the welds and have it ceramic coated.
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From: Tampa, Florida
If sounded great and was cheap.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 21,094
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From: Phila., PA burbs
Any competent muffler shop can weld in the muffler of your choice. All you need is a set of mufflers (whatever brand you prefer) thats 2.75" offset/inlet and 2.75" center/outlet. You really dont need corvette specific mufflers.