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The sound resignator on my 96 is a dual inlet and duel outlet. if I were to remove the resignator, which would be the ideal replacement. True duel exhaust or run an X-pipe?
The factory resonator does a lot to quiet the exhaust. The factory mufflers will probably be pretty loud if you simply remove the resonator. An X-pipe will cut some of the noise, but I think you will wind up with lots of interior resonance.
You might be better off looking at some of the aftermarket cat-back system available. Magnaflow is good as is Corsa. B&B TriFlo is a good system too.
If you are going to remove the resonator, a X-pipe will be better for the street instead of true duals with no connector pipe. You will pick up torque with the X-pipe.
IF your in your 20's you may love the X pipe. As you grow older and wiser you may hate it. Either way your neighbors will know when you leave home as well as return. My X pipe lasted 2 days before I removed it. There is a thin line between a pleasent rumble vs obnoxious noise. Your choice!!
Being 64, I have outgrown the LOUD muffler syndrome. My last C5 (a 97) had an expensive aftermarket exhaust system on it that drove us crazy with interior drone at interstate speeds. Traded it for the Z06 titanium system with a another local C5 owner and was a happy camper. The Z06 system had a decent rumble without the excessive noise and drone not to mention the fact that the titanium system probably has a half-life of about 1,000 years therefore avoiding further expenditures on mufflers!
FYI, the factory resonator is nothing more than straight pipe though a muffler case. The tubes inside the resonator contain small holes with packing between the outer case and inner tubes/case.
I have muffler eliminators on my car and with the factory resonator it crackled and popped real bad on decel. With the x-pipe nice smooth decel with almost no crackling or popping.
Yes, I'm a 20something and yes if it is too loud, you are too old.
From: Life is just one big track event. Everything before and after is prep and warm-up and cool-down laps
Cruise-In III Veteran
Cruise-In IV Veteran
St. Jude Donor '12
when I purchased my 92 the resonator was removed and replaced with 2 straight pipes.
I liked the sound so much that when I added long tube headers I just had the muffler shop fab straight pipes from the bullet cats to the LT1 muffler cans.
I'll just meet the sound levels at the road courses for quiet hours
IF your in your 20's you may love the X pipe. As you grow older and wiser you may hate it. Either way your neighbors will know when you leave home as well as return. My X pipe lasted 2 days before I removed it. There is a thin line between a pleasent rumble vs obnoxious noise. Your choice!!
Does it mean that I will hate my X pipe? At what age that will happen?
I went to a no cat, Magnaflow straight through resonator rather than an x pipe, into a Corsa muffler set and couldn't be happier. It's quiet enough to talk and listen to the radio when cruising, but will sound off beautifully at wot. I tried it first without the resonator and just straight pipes to the mufflers, and couldn't take the drone sound. The magnaflow resonator I used has two pipes on each end so you don't lose power, yet it still keeps the unwanted noise level way down. I'm pushing air from a 383 stroker with 195 AFR heads, Hedman headers and a hot Comp's cam, yet it is still a comfortable sound level when cruising.
Thanks all for the advice. I am 35, I still like the rumble, but as my 96 vette only has 69,000 miles on it, I clearly don't drive it every day. it's my weekend car when it's not raining nor snowing. as for waking my neighbors up, That's what My Harley is for, with a set of Vance & Hines short pipes on!!!
Yes, I'm a 20something and yes if it is too loud, you are too old.
Life is too short to drive a quiet Corvette.
Define "old" Both my Corvettes are loud enough at WOT to make them noticed by the police. And I'm nearly 65.
Interior resonance is the real problem when trying to build a great sounding exhaust system. Some systems create horrible interior resonance at certain RPM's and the sound outside is nowhere near as loud.
The sound resignator on my 96 is a dual inlet and duel outlet. if I were to remove the resignator, which would be the ideal replacement. True duel exhaust or run an X-pipe?
The purpose of the x-pipe is to help balance the exhaust pulses between the two cylinder banks and provides better exhaust gas scavenging. The advantages of this is a little more performance along with a smoother, cleaner exhaust note. Will it be louder? Yes but it is not going to be a major difference.
The 3" C4 system we offer is available with a resonator or x-pipe and we have had several people switch from the resonator to an x-pipe and say they really didn't notice much if any difference sound wise. You can read more about our systems at www.bbexhaust.com or you can call us directly if you prefer.
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David Merkel
Marketing Dir.
Billy Boat Exhaust
I don't object to loud exhaust from the tailpipes. It's the resonance inside the car that annoys me. The Vette I spoke of above had so much resonant noise at 70mph with the expensive aftermarket system, you couldn't hold a conversation inside the car.
Heck, I raced formula cars and Nissans for four seasons after I retired from the Navy with no mufflers on the race cars. Between that and listening to rock music at mega-decibels my hearing leaves a lot to be desired these days.
Had a b&b on a Porsche Boxster a few years ago. That muffler resonated so badly on that car I swore I would never waste my money on your products again. It was the worst aftermarket muffler I have ever had.
Define "old" Both my Corvettes are loud enough at WOT to make them noticed by the police. And I'm nearly 65.
Interior resonance is the real problem when trying to build a great sounding exhaust system. Some systems create horrible interior resonance at certain RPM's and the sound outside is nowhere near as loud.