Oh, and I meant to say that I am getting long tube headers probably next year so this exhaust should sound really good with them too. I’m not getting it all done at the same time because then it would be really expensive at one time instead of doing them seperately

 

I agree do ceramic coated. Everything under the hood will thank you.

 

3rd-ing the ceramic coated opinion. Will keep the headers hot, without radiating much heat at all. I've got several burns on my arms from thinking the car is cool enough to work on (the headers were not radiating any heat), yet when I accidentally touched them, they burned me real good. Plus, the heat they seal in will help you get to closed loop quicker, and keep you in open loop when at idle - some people's pipes cool enough that it drops into open loop

 

 

I think you better rethink your goals with this car....maintaining a stock one is expensive enough, doing mods is never cheap....it takes serious money to bring these cars back to life....you need to be thinking I need the best product available, not the cheapest....I don't think in the end you'll be happy trying to mod your c4 the cheapest way....

 

I see you referring to the Allens Chambered Exhaust as a "Muffler Eliminator". That is not entirely true. They make and offer a complete Chambered Exhaust System, it is the entire exhaust system not just a muffler eliminator. They even offered side pipes for my car if I wanted them. Too noisy for me and I have enough burn scars on my legs from Motorcycle days. The people at Allens make stock style replacement exhaust systems and pretty much anything you want.

As I mentioned before I have two Corvettes with Allens Chambered Exhaust systems. On my 1968 they connect to my long tube headers and go all the way out the rear. This system was very easy to install. The other Corvette is a C4 with it's catalytic converter, on this car the system from Allens was a Cat-back system. I ordered a high flow catalytic and installed it while installing the Cat-back system. Now I have a nice high flow catalytic converter and a nice sounding clean running car.

Trying to coat your own system with the ceramic coatings is not easy or cheap. Just buy the header with the coating. Hedman headers replaced mine after two years when spots started appearing on the headers. You can get them professionally coated for about $200 if you look around. Doing it yourself is a bad idea. It really needs to be cooked on in a oven designed for this application. If you can't afford the Coating just go to the local hardware and get yourself some Flat Black bar-b-que paint and spray the pipes as needed.

Cross overs for the exhaust are supposed to make more power, I don't have any as I love sitting in back of the car and listening to it Pop away. Again to enjoy the sound from a Chambered exhaust system you need to get out and go to the rear of the car.

In my 1968 C3 convertible driving at 70 mph with the top down I can still listen to the radio or carry on a conversation with my passenger. I love the sounds of a muscle car but not all the time. When I come home I don't offend anybody with noise, the Corvette itself gets more attention than the sound does. I like it this way for me and my Corvettes.

 

I call the Allen's eliminators because you no longer have the big muffler hanging off the back. Just the smaller chambered pipe.

 

I went with Melrose's long tube system, wad 1200 bucks all told, including the ceramic coating. That cost also included all pipes to the mufflers.

 

 

 

If you call them they'll tell you. I believe it is 2.5. Also if you call I'm sure they'll custom make a 3 inch too.

 

 

Cool. They're a great company to deal with. If you check out their website they list a bunch of available options. Should help work an idea out.

 

 

 

Are the pipes plain aluminum? Or aluminum-steel, aka Aluminized steel, or dipped steel?

Will you drive in the winter or on salty/dirty/rocky roads? If so, go for stainless. If not, the aluminum-steel will last plenty long - the stock pipes are aluminum-steel, and they've lasted ~30 years. Road salt, mud/dirt, and rocky/dusty roads can cause aluminum-steel to rust over time.

 

 

200 is pretty cheap for an upgrade to stainless. That said, if you ever need to weld it yourself, aluminum-steel welds much easier. I drive mine in rain, and the aluminum steel shows no signs of rust after one year. A few spots have shown up, but they are such light rust that a rag can wipe it off.