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How much louder are headers?

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Old Nov 8, 2006 | 09:08 AM
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Default How much louder are headers?

Assume you've already got a middlin-loud catback, in my case a Z06 Ti. How much louder would a set of longtube headers make the car?

Which would be louder, going to headers on the Ti cats, or keeping the stock manifolds and going to a louder catback, like B&B Bullets?

With headers, is there much volume difference between metal matrix cats and offroad pipes?
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Old Nov 8, 2006 | 09:43 AM
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With the setup I have there isn't much difference at idle and regular driving isn't much louder. WOT is considerably louder and has a good rasp when the RPM's drop between shifts.

I have a buddy with the same header package as me but with bullets and it's way too loud for my likeing...
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Old Nov 8, 2006 | 10:17 AM
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The Z06 Ti's are kinda loud with headers, but it's a different kind of loud....not annoyingly loud, like with a lot of aftermarket exhaust. With headers, the Ti's just sound....mean. It's a sound you just have to hear for yourself to appreciate it.
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Old Nov 8, 2006 | 10:34 AM
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Originally Posted by Gannet
Assume you've already got a middlin-loud catback, in my case a Z06 Ti. How much louder would a set of longtube headers make the car?

Which would be louder, going to headers on the Ti cats, or keeping the stock manifolds and going to a louder catback, like B&B Bullets?

With headers, is there much volume difference between metal matrix cats and offroad pipes?

If you would like, you can check out our website. We are currently uploading video's of different exhaust setup's so you can compare...

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Old Nov 8, 2006 | 11:13 AM
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Default website?

what is your website?
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Old Nov 8, 2006 | 11:14 AM
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Ti's are quiet with or without headers. The difference in volume will be minimal if you add headers.

Remove the cats and it's a whole new world of noise. But the Ti's will still kill most of the volume.
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Old Nov 8, 2006 | 11:49 AM
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Originally Posted by CMYC5GO
The Z06 Ti's are kinda loud with headers, but it's a different kind of loud....not annoyingly loud, like with a lot of aftermarket exhaust. With headers, the Ti's just sound....mean. It's a sound you just have to hear for yourself to appreciate it.
Here are two videos with headers and Ti exhaust. The first is with a mild cam. The second is with heads.

The car was louder than I expected after the headers. On the highway it was loud enough to be annoying so I installed the insulation in the rear half of the car. That made a huge difference and it no longer bothers me.

http://www.comp-soln.com/Chips_C5-lowres.mov
http://www.comp-soln.com/AfterAFR205.mov

From the outside at idle the car is noticably louder, but it sounds good and is not so loud that it gets a lot of attention. Same from a drive by. That changes once you accellerate hard - it gets very loud and attracts a lot of attention (not all good).

Hope that helps.
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Old Nov 8, 2006 | 12:09 PM
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having header's,do have have lot of maintenane,or adjustment issues.
Nelson.......................don't want the hassles, Nelson
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Old Nov 8, 2006 | 12:23 PM
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Originally Posted by drace99
what is your website?
There is a link in my Signature...

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Old Nov 8, 2006 | 12:35 PM
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Originally Posted by Willfulone
There is a link in my Signature...

Peace
Chip
Chip,

As you know (cause you guys helped me choose)---I want the BB Bullet set for my 99---wil you be selling them yourself or just linking to the BB site? I know they are a supporting vender but so are you and I'd rather throw the orders that I can (no matter how few they may be) at you.

Thanks
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Old Nov 8, 2006 | 12:36 PM
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Originally Posted by EnglandGreen
Ti's are quiet with or without headers. The difference in volume will be minimal if you add headers.

Remove the cats and it's a whole new world of noise. But the Ti's will still kill most of the volume.

HI EG---how's the car comin???
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Old Nov 8, 2006 | 12:50 PM
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2003 coupe
I started with stock manifolds and a Ti cat back, 2-gutted pup cats and two factory cats- sounded better than stock but not noisy.

went to LG long tubes, random tech cats and the Ti-sounded better all around and much better at full throttle.

had a bad cat, pulled the cats and ran it without them for about 3 months-now this was by far the best sounding setup, idle and easy driving were acceptable, full throttle was mean, got good comments on sound.

i am back to RT cats, long tubes and Ti cat-back this should be acceptable sound level-probably quieter than B&B bullits without headers but raspy, no drone
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Old Nov 8, 2006 | 01:28 PM
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Originally Posted by btchn99
Chip,

As you know (cause you guys helped me choose)---I want the BB Bullet set for my 99---wil you be selling them yourself or just linking to the BB site? I know they are a supporting vender but so are you and I'd rather throw the orders that I can (no matter how few they may be) at you.

Thanks
You have a PM

Peace
Chip
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Old Nov 8, 2006 | 02:04 PM
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Originally Posted by Willfulone
You have a PM

Peace
Chip
Back at ya...
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Old Nov 8, 2006 | 03:15 PM
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Have the GHL Magnums , and got those before the headers.The headers and high flow cats step it up a notch and its noticeably louder but sound s Greeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaatttt....
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Old Nov 8, 2006 | 03:46 PM
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Originally Posted by EnglandGreen
Ti's are quiet with or without headers. The difference in volume will be minimal if you add headers.

Remove the cats and it's a whole new world of noise. But the Ti's will still kill most of the volume.
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Old Nov 8, 2006 | 04:38 PM
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The biggest impact on the exhaust volume on the C5 is what cat-back portion you have. Bullets with stock manifolds, will be louder than the TI's with headers.

Now that said..some cat-back exhaust like the Borla Stingers, Bullets, SLP Loudsmouths, will become insanley loud with Headers.

It's all in the cat-back and to some degree if you run cats, or no cats.

Sound clips are fine, but keep in mind you are going to still have no idea how loud INSIDE the car is, which is what concerns most.

Try and listen to someone's car live. Lastly, when you are listening to a Sound Clip, or a live car for that matter..... pay CLOSE attention to what other Mods that car has,,,,, Superchargers, Cams, Heads etc. etc will significantly effect the way the car sounds.

I had SLP loudmouths with Longtube headers on my stock motor, PERFECT for me, loved it, then I added a Cam, and it changed the whole dynamic of the sound and I ened up switching the cat-back. The SLP's with the Cam made my car sound to raspy, almost like a Harley.

Good luck Sorry for long post, but , Been there, done that, have the T-shirt.
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Old Nov 8, 2006 | 05:07 PM
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I'd also like to add, what is TOO loud? What's just fine to a twenty-something with the base cranked up on hip-hop may be insanely loud to a fifty-something that is pretty happy with the sound of some GHL Magnums.

I agree. You need to listen in and out of a car equipped like you want or as close as possible to it. Find a large Corvette club nearby and go visit.
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Old Nov 8, 2006 | 05:14 PM
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Originally Posted by FrankTank
The biggest impact on the exhaust volume on the C5 is what cat-back portion you have. Bullets with stock manifolds, will be louder than the TI's with headers.

Now that said..some cat-back exhaust like the Borla Stingers, Bullets, SLP Loudsmouths, will become insanley loud with Headers.

It's all in the cat-back and to some degree if you run cats, or no cats.
Great post, most informative.
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Old Nov 10, 2006 | 09:44 AM
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Originally Posted by Gannet
Great post, most informative.


The people here helped my choose Bullets for my car but my husband started looking for headers for my car---however---it sounds to me like I will not need headers just the Bullets. I want it loud but i would prefer not to blow the rest of my speakers trying to heart he music over the exhaust---so headers right now seem to be a non-necessity for the sound I want..I love the information you can find on here...
Thanks
Lori
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