Muffler Change?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,648
Likes: 1
From: Denham Springs Louisiana
Muffler Change?
I've always heard that the Corvette already has a good exhaust system. Still, I see a lot of members who get new cat back exhausts. How much more power do you really get from the cat back system? I also realize that some people change it out for the sound. My question is... can I benefit in the sound or performance field with just a muffler change? If so, what is the preferred brand? Thanks in advance for the suggestions! :thumbs:
Bench Racer
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,201
Likes: 15
From: Palm Beach Gardens FL
St. Jude '03 thru 14,'25
Re: Muffler Change? (TorchRedXCVI)
Sound is a matter of choice. Search the archives and you'll find more than you can stand to read. As for performance, the CF consensus seems to be the major brands of catbacks are all good for 10-15HP with a basicly stock engine. However, a while back I did some research on this and posted a few questions and it seems the LT1/LT4 exhaust is not that bad (definitely better than the L98) and that generally speaking, two-thirds of the performance gains comes from the respective mufflers and not the aftermarket pipes. Here are a few old threads of mine to get you started:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=752805
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=767188
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=752805
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=767188
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 3,833
Likes: 0
From: Orange County California
Re: Muffler Change? (TorchRedXCVI)
The stock exhaust system is pretty good. But the stokc mufflers are not very good. Sure they are quiet, but they have too many chambers that will restrict the airflow. Get rid of them and put something with better airflow on. I have no data to prove it, but it seems like the theory of straight through design works the best to me.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,214
Likes: 0
From: Miami FL
Re: Muffler Change? (TorchRedXCVI)
I have also heard that the stock LT1/4 exhaust system is pretty darn good. The pipes are huge! I think the flow advantages to the aftermarket systems are mainly in the mufflers. However you do get the nice stainless steel with the after market systems. Maybe some aftermaket system offer a weight advantage? I'm sure the restrictions on the stock sytem are the exaust manifolds, cats, and mufflers. So long tubes and good free flowing mufflers should outperform a catback.
[Modified by TOO_HOTTVETTE, 9:36 PM 4/21/2004]
[Modified by TOO_HOTTVETTE, 9:36 PM 4/21/2004]
