C4 Tech/Performance L98 Corvette and LT1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine

thinking about straight pipes

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Old Dec 15, 2008 | 10:35 AM
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Default thinking about straight pipes

Ok so here is my exhaust set up, stock manifolds, no cats, LTX pipe two aero resonators and aero turbine 2525 mufflers. I put the extra resonators and x pipe to cut down on drone which has done a pretty decent job, I love the sound on the outside but simply want to hear my radio and talk on my phone in the car. I have a limited budget so corsa is out of the question and most other brands. I am thinking of selling the aero mufflers to pay for straight pipes to replace the mufflers. Those who have straight pipes and no cats please tell me what you think. The aero is one of the loudest muffs I have ever heard do you think straight pipes will cut down on the resonance. I am tempted to just buy some stock lt1 muffs and put them back on but dont want to sound like a mouse either, however that would make a killer sleeper. thanks!
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Old Dec 15, 2008 | 10:36 AM
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also will I feel a loss in power? thanks!
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Old Dec 15, 2008 | 11:58 AM
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I also have headers and x-pipe. There is no loss in power, just a shift in the hp and tq curve. There is also no extremely bad exhaust smell. Those are two myths that get passed on a lot on this forum. With a highly modified car you should gain a good bit of hp having straight pipes vs the stock system. At 600 rpm idle the sound is not too much different than stock exhaust with muffler elim. There will be a increase in resonance. At or above 2k rpm's with throttle it is what some people would consider too loud. WOT is . It sounds like a race car. At WOT there is no better sound. IMO

Also worth mentioning is that I have a convertible which varies a lot to the coupe when it comes to exhaust sound and resonance. If you like to listen to your radio or talk on the phone you may need to invest in a much louder sound system.


Last edited by rickneworleansla; Dec 15, 2008 at 12:19 PM.
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Old Dec 15, 2008 | 12:03 PM
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Originally Posted by crazy4c4
Ok so here is my exhaust set up, stock manifolds, no cats, LTX pipe two aero resonators and aero turbine 2525 mufflers. I put the extra resonators and x pipe to cut down on drone which has done a pretty decent job, I love the sound on the outside but simply want to hear my radio and talk on my phone in the car. I have a limited budget so corsa is out of the question and most other brands. I am thinking of selling the aero mufflers to pay for straight pipes to replace the mufflers. Those who have straight pipes and no cats please tell me what you think. The aero is one of the loudest muffs I have ever heard do you think straight pipes will cut down on the resonance. I am tempted to just buy some stock lt1 muffs and put them back on but dont want to sound like a mouse either, however that would make a killer sleeper. thanks!
I've run a set of straight pipes tipped with a set of the Borla ZR1 style(which you can see directly through from end to end) mufflers myself..stock exaust manifolds but...no cats, no cross over, no extra resonators....the system is just meat and potatos and flows like mad. The set up makes great power but was very loud outside (which is good)as well as inside(drone and the blap, blap, blap...which is bad) for a few years I drove it like this and just turned the radio up a little more and figured it was a trade off for the extra flow.
A few months back I had had it with the interior drone levels and took some advice from another CF member regarding the interior exaust noise solution. I removed my exaust system and welded in about an inch or 2 of extra exaust pipe just before the mufflers to make the mufflers/muffler tip stick just a little further out the back of the car......with this extra little bit of pipe installed low and behold over 75% or more of the dreaded drone was gone. Now while driving and having a conversation at the same time I use the word "what" a whole lot less frequently.

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Old Dec 15, 2008 | 07:55 PM
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I bought my stainless duals from mid america motor works and they installed easy and they helped a ton!! I could not believe it. When these guys say exhaust is one of the biggest tpi upgrades it is true! do it and don't look back! more power better sound and better response!
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Old Dec 16, 2008 | 10:43 AM
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it seems from the responses I am getting there will be too much drone than I want. I already have drone and have insulated the car added resonators and installed an x pipe. The drone is much much less than it was but still annoys the crap outta me while accelerating. Seems I will just have to leave it as is until I can afford corsa.
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Old Dec 16, 2008 | 06:50 PM
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has anyone else used aero turbine mufflers? I mean when others talk about drone it is hard to figure out if theirs is worse than mine and vis versa. Engle- did that make the tips look funny being so far out from the back? thanks guys I really appreciate it!
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Old Dec 16, 2008 | 08:57 PM
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Originally Posted by crazy4c4
has anyone else used aero turbine mufflers? I mean when others talk about drone it is hard to figure out if theirs is worse than mine and vis versa. Engle- did that make the tips look funny being so far out from the back? thanks guys I really appreciate it!
Nope....they don't stick out that far...originally when I installed the set up they were flush with the back bottom of bumper's exaust clearance step (which is molded into the bumper cover). They only stick out about an inch or inch & a 1/2 past it now....didn't really measure when I was done extending them. Doesn't look funny at all....can't really tell I did anything visually only difference is the drone level is lower. Sounds like pologreen1 and I have the same SS straight pipe set up from MADirect...I had to rebend and weld the rear pipe section to make the Borla's work on the set up because of the different pipe sweeps. Muffler selection is key for drone relief/prevention.
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Old Dec 16, 2008 | 09:55 PM
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I have straight pipes on mine, but I have the cats, so it's got a nice sound.

I friend put straights on his w/o cats and it was VERY LOUD!
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Old Dec 16, 2008 | 10:17 PM
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I have a 1990 coupe L98 engine. I just did the swap for my exhaust. I originally just had the cats cut off and the drone was It was awful! I could barely hear my 10"600watt sub. My wife and I kept saying "WHAT". Over and over...it was a running joke...but not that funny. I decided to get 2.5" exhaust straight from the stock manifolds to the mufflers. I had the muffler shop do this and put on Dynomax free-flow mufflers. The shop did the 2.5" pipes and mufflers for $210.00. Then I started the Vette up and the most amazing thing happened. The resonance (drone) was cut by a good 50-75%. I was so happy! The love-affair was back on the burner!I will say... Do it and don't worry about the x-pipe unless you can get one for cheap and have a shop that knows exactly where to put it. Just my $.02
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