I've pretty much decided I want to add a Magnaflow exhaust with X pipe to my C5, the only thing that keeps me from buying one is that Magnaflow center exhaust plate. I don't like it! My question is have any of you Magnaflow owners removed the exhaust plate and cut the plate mounting brackets off the pipes? Or have any of you found an easy way to make an aftermarket Corvette chrome exhaust plate mount over the Magnaflow plate and still look good? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

Good question..I was thinking the same thing...
anyone???

 

I understand that the center plate helps keep the exhaust tips aligned but the stock exhaust doesn't have the plates and the exhaust tips remain aligned very well. I'm assuming that the Magnaflow exhaust without the center plate isn't any different in terms of structure than the stock exhaust and that you should be able to align the exhaust tips just as good as the stock system. Or is my thinking incorrect???

 

Before I go on, let me say that I no longer have any of these plates and that Magnaflow changed the spacing on the tips so they wouldn't fit on a new system anyway. You could, however, make - or have made - your own and mount it similarly to mine. The Magnaflows are heavy and I believe you would have a hard time keeping them aligned without the tie plate. Plus, you'd have to do adecent job of polishing the pipes after cutting the plate mounts off as the area might be visible after. I would try and cover the tie plate as I did below. I still have the drawings I did of the original tie palte and my custom plate. You might be able to adapt the drawing to your setup if you're so inclined.

I ran the MagnaFlow system for a year or so when they first came out in 2001 and never liked the tie plate so I made a custom bolt-on to go over the MF plate so I wouldn't have to take it off. I ended up making several more for members here who also wanted to cover theirs up with something more like a typical exhaust plate.

First, I drew it up in CAD . . .

The original Magnaflow plate


A drawing of it


Layout I did while trying ideas out.


I designed my new plate idea in CAD and made several copies.


I made it easy to install and remove.


I designed brackets to hold it on snugly.


The original MF tie plate.


And my custom.




My system right before I sold it.


I loved the Magnaflows and still regret ever selling it.

 

Patches is correct in that you need some kind of center plate to hold them straight, I love my Magnaflow and xpipe, they sound good enough that i'm willing to put up with the center plate

 

What is different about the Magnaflow system versus the stock exhaust or any other aftermarket exhaust for that matter that it requires the center plate? Is it heavier than the stock exhaust? Or is it because the system uses clamps to attach the mufflers to the exhaust pipes and they are more likely to twist versus the solid attachment of a weld? But then again most of the time clamps are used on aftermarket exhaust systems and they do not usually require the center plate. Maybe I'm completely wrong but it seems to me that Magnaflow added the center plate as an "added feature" to maintain the alignment of the exhaust tips over time. Just hoping to find somebody who has already gone without the plate to verify my thinking.

 

Dude, that looks pretty HOT!!

 

If you plan on adding headers in the future skip the X-pipe, most headers come with their own.

 

MagnaFlow has a new set of exhaust out part#16732 for rear system saw many sets installed past weekend at Carlisle.

 

I just got the new Magnaflow system installed with the Truex midpipe at Carlisle, by Corvette Central, $999. installed, show special. You can have it either way, with or without the plate, mine is without. Nice exhaust, beautiful quality, slight rumble at idle, quiet cruise, nice growl over 3K RPM's, you'll like it if you don't want to go too loud.

John

 

Damn Patches, I thought I was the only one here who drew everything up in cad before making it.

Drawing looks a little Pro/E'ish

BTW, great write-up on the Header/Gears/TC install.

 

Black 'n Tan, what Magnaflow exhaust did you have installed the 15660 or the 16732?

 

Brian, I'm not sure of the number, but it was the setup offered with X pipe
for $999. installed, at the show. Give Corvette Central a call or E-mail for details, they are a Forum sponsor and have a link on the LS of the page.
They offered me the system WITH or WITHOUT a plate. Yep it's the 16732, with the X-pipe! Icould have also had the 15660 for the same price, but I felt sans plate looks better.


John

 

I have the Magnaflow exhaust, long tube headers, Xpipe, catalytic converter simulators and flipped my magnaflow plate over.

 

Nomar- How does the Magnaflow sound with the LT headers and X-pipe? I am getting that same setup on my C5 as we speak.......what kind of headers?

 

I have the Magnaflows also. I did not use the plate they that came with the system. I made my own plate out of stainless steel. Polished it up to look like chrome. attached the C5 Logo and bolted the plate to the magnaflow flanges with stainless screws. No double sided tape for me. This thing isnt coming off. It looks great too! Much better than the Magnaflow plate. The Magnaflow system is a great sounding system. Not too loud, but still sounds mean & powerful.

 

Great ideas and suggestions!! I left my plate on and purchased just a simple exhaust plate, trimmed the sides with a band saw, and used the two sided tape. It has held up fine.



For just a bit more "rumble" I replaced the stock cats with Bassanni high flows.