Question about Power effects exhausts:

Is the pipe leading to the resonator 2 3/4", same as rest of sys?

Do you guys who have PE or know a lot about it think that it is BETTER performance wise than stock resonator w/ mandrel bent muffler elims (straight pipe)???

--About to get A PE sys, hoping it will at least perform as well as what I have now.

 

I think that you'll like the system. Unfortunately, the L98 application doesn't have the resonator so I can't answer your first question, but I am using the PE on the 396, so the system is definitely capable. The adjustability of this system sets it apart from most of the others in my opinion. Good luck with the PE.

Ron

 

THE PE SYS IS THE BEST IN MY OPINION ......BUT the cost makes them a luxury more than a necessity.......the original exhaust pipe on my LT1 is 3" pipe......after driving my car awhile I notice the PE where bend because of my driving habits ......hitting speed bumps and such.....and I love to drive with the PE wide open love the sound...with that said If I had to do it over again knowing what i know now ...I would have kept my original exhaust ....cut out the cats and put in less expensive muffler eliminators ....and had the same benifits as the straight thru PE!!!!! ;)

 

I heard PE on an LT1 once, and I loved the sound.

Hopefully within the next month I'll have my own set.

 

I just got back from Charlotte checking out my 396 car and the PE on a stroker SBC is unreal. It sounds like a big block animal. I've never regretted the luxury price of this system as the grins I get when hearing it made it well worth the money.

Ron

 

You can't tune muffler eliminators or straight pipes. The sweetest thing about the PE is the fact that you can tune it for those days that you just want the car to be quiet.

Ron

 

The y-pipe is 2 3/4 and so are the rest of the pipes. I believe that's the inner and not outer diameter but can't remember for sure.

I bought the PE four yrs ago. They still look great even though my vettes have been my daily drivers for all 4 yrs. Driven 365 days a yr even in snow.
I originally ordered the 1991 L98 part number which is the mufflers, y-pipe and small adapter/connector to stock L98 resonator for my 1991 vette.
The sound was great with the flaps wide open. Kind of too quite fully closed.
I installed a Random Tech cat and that made it louder even with the flaps shut.
I sold the 1991 vette and bought an LT4. I simply unbolted the PE from my 91 and installed the stock system back on. To install the same PE on my stock 96 LT4 was really easy. You don't need the PE resonator, it's not worth the extra cost ($430). You simply measure where the cut needs to be done near the resonator on the stock pipes. I removed the L98 y-pipe adapter that I installed when I had it on my 91. The y-pipe then can slide right on snuggly.
Then install and tighten the provided band clamps.
The PE company told me it was not a good idea to install it this way as it may slide out. I'm here to tell ya, no way is it going to slide out. So the system cost me $839 when I bought it four yrs ago. That's the L98 part number. I always laugh at post in regards to whining on how the PE's are way too much money. $839 is compatible to any other system out there. I could care less for a resonator section regardless of what exhaust system we are talking about. You are better off customizing once you get past the y-pipes anyways.

Oh and I can't stand the sound of cut off mufflers with a pipe added. It reminds me of any Chevy V8 vehicle with a broken exhaust.

Side note: The flaps do make a difference in regards to power output and sound. With the flaps closed you can feel the engine is more torqy at lower rpms. Open you get higher rpms and HP. I take advantage of this in auto Xing, daily driving and drags.

HereÂ’s a short writeup I did. write up comparing the PE and some others like just mufflers, the B&B Triflo, Flow master, etc.
The following info was taken from an article in Corvette Fever June 1998 issue.
Exhaust shoot out! By Jim Van Dorn
Dyno results on stock Grand Sport LT4.
HP/TORQ
Stock:
299/307
BB Triflow catback 3-inch:
310/310
Dynomax mufflers only:
304/310
Borla Corvette Challenge cat back 2 3/4 inch:
304/309
Flowmaster cat back 2 1/2 inch:
306/309
Power Effects cat back 2 3/4 inch:
299/308 - flaps in closed position
311/313 - flaps in open position
As you can see the is very little difference between them all especially when you consider cost.

Some interesting comments they had were, "Borla teamed with Doug Rippie Motosports in developing their Corvette Challenge cat-back 2 3/4 inch system. Rippie's original request for the larger-diameter pipe was made when he fitted his mega-horsepower former Lemans engine (600+hp) to a production ZR-1. Rippie later related "We found the 3-inch system was great for horsepower, but (it) lost torque. The 2 3/4 inch system was the best of both worlds.
I have an issue with the above. If that's true why is it the the Triflow 3-inch tested pushed 310 torq and the Borla pushed 309torq. Could it be that they are really refering to how the max torq moves to a lower rpm with the 2 3/4 and moves up higher in the rpm's for the 3-inch? Is this possible?
I can feel a difference in low end torq if i closed the flaps on my PE system. Feels like it has more but maybe it's just available sooner.

They also tested sound levels at 70mph cruise, at idle, interior sound. Let me know if this interest anyone and i'll start a new post with the results. What's interesting is that they don't mention resonance at all. I'm thinking the Cruise @70mph sound level test would be as good indication of how loud the resonance is.
Stock 94
Triflow 107
Dynomax 96
Borla 100
Flowmaster 97
Power Effects 100(Closed) 103(Open)<this turns it into a straight pipe, you can see inside the exhaust.
107 DB is loud for most folks.
For me open headers use to be not loud enough for a track car but that would be too much for a street driven car.
So bigger is better for horsepower in a modified car I would think. When you have such a high level of power I don't think it makes much difference if you lose let's say 10-20ft pounds of torq for a street car.

Sorry if this is too much info.

:D


[Modified by ConeKLR, 12:58 PM 12/31/2003]

 

wow. The pe pipes are really solid. You sure you did not run over a couple of cinder blocks at 90mph. :lol:
It would take a lot to bend them.

 

What effect does all this have on emissions? I don't want to put anything on my car that will make it fail our Illinois emissions test.

 

My 89 passed Ohio emissions with a PE system, Random technology cat, and long tube TPIS headers. You should be fine with just the exhaust.

Ron

 

Cat back systems do not have any effect on emissions. You are not tampering with any of the emissions stuff.

 

Youll pass emissions, catbacks have no effect on sniffer tests.

 

If in Illinois they use a probe into the tailpipe like they do on the Missouri side, make sure you open up the flap or the technician won't be able to insert the probe all the way in.. :jester