[Z06] Noob here with a question or 2.....
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
Noob here with a question or 2.....
Hey guy's,
Waiting on my 03z to arrive and have been doing some reading here. After endless months of searching for an E46 M3 to replace mine that was rear ended in Feb. a friend suggested I look into a c5 z06. After a lot of research on this forum I bought one. A lot of bang for the buck with these cars and the mods seem to be reasonable. lol. The car will be a DD (weather permitting, I also have a p/u) and I will track the car a few times a year. Now my question. I'm sure my first mod will be an exhaust. At least is was with the M. Just a little more aggressive so it's easier to rev-match not to mention the cool sound lol. Any suggestions of what brand? Not looking for "REAL loud" but louder than stock if that makes any sense. Thanks guys.........
jpac
Waiting on my 03z to arrive and have been doing some reading here. After endless months of searching for an E46 M3 to replace mine that was rear ended in Feb. a friend suggested I look into a c5 z06. After a lot of research on this forum I bought one. A lot of bang for the buck with these cars and the mods seem to be reasonable. lol. The car will be a DD (weather permitting, I also have a p/u) and I will track the car a few times a year. Now my question. I'm sure my first mod will be an exhaust. At least is was with the M. Just a little more aggressive so it's easier to rev-match not to mention the cool sound lol. Any suggestions of what brand? Not looking for "REAL loud" but louder than stock if that makes any sense. Thanks guys.........
jpac
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,281
Likes: 21
From: Orlando Florida
Aftermarket exhaust will not gain you any power in a C5, it will change the tone, though.
Personally, I would suggest headers as you will spend a little bit more but get a lot more. Headers will give you some HP as well as some growl to the stock exhaust tone.
Best place to check out exhaust tones is You Tube. Just do a search for a system such as Borla, Corsa, B&B, etc. along with C5 and you will return a lot of results.
Personally, I would suggest headers as you will spend a little bit more but get a lot more. Headers will give you some HP as well as some growl to the stock exhaust tone.
Best place to check out exhaust tones is You Tube. Just do a search for a system such as Borla, Corsa, B&B, etc. along with C5 and you will return a lot of results.
Race Director
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 15,866
Likes: 196
From: PA
I just bought an 03 z as well, exhaust is one thing I wasnt thinking of modding. As mentioned, you wont gain any hp with it. I really want to do headers and a catless x pipe, thats where the power is to be made. And those two things will definitlely change the sound of the stock exhaust. Look into the 'ti bypass' mod for the stock z mufflers. I plan on doing that to mine after I do headers/xpipe.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 5,245
Likes: 25
From: Blue Ridge Georgia
I couldn't find anyone to weld the Ti. The Borla's just sound nasty, I love them.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aehEo...e_gdata_player
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aehEo...e_gdata_player
Last edited by Paul 75 L82; Dec 2, 2011 at 09:04 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,441
Likes: 25
From: @ work in South Carolina
St. Jude Donor '08-'11-'12
I'm sure my first mod will be an exhaust. At least is was with the M. Just a little more aggressive so it's easier to rev-match not to mention the cool sound lol. Any suggestions of what brand? Not looking for "REAL loud" but louder than stock if that makes any sense. Thanks guys.........
jpac
jpac
Personally, I love my GHL exhaust. It's not loud unless I want it to be, but it sounds great either way. I don't know if you'll find anyone with GHL that isn't happy!
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 3,787
Likes: 2
From: Wildomar CA
The benefit to your Z06 is it is a manual. In the manual cars they operate at lower rpm in highway mode than autos. This means you can have a pretty loud exhaust that still sounds pretty quite at cruise and doesn't drone. Auto drivers on the other hand have to deal with a much louder exhaust note due to rpm. My Z06 is absolutely obnoxiously loud and It isn't overpowering at cruise. My vert has the same exhaust without headers and you can barely hear it inside during cruise.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,855
Likes: 78
From: Sammamish WA
WA Events Coordinator
Aftermarket Catback will just add weight! Your factory unit is Titanium and quite nice. If you want a little more sound, there are Ti welders on the board that can add a Bypass tube that will add a bit more idle and WOT sound without being annoying.
Headers are where the HP comes from....
Headers are where the HP comes from....
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 34,124
Likes: 105
From: Pensacola FL
Cat-backs are IMO a waste of money on the C5Z. The Ti exhaust sounds very nice with headers/X-pipe, whether catted or without. Add a cam into the mix and you get a nicely aggressive exhaust that is still tolerable/no drone, looks factory and doesn't add any weight. YRMV...
Pro
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 595
Likes: 40
From: Harrisonburg Virginia
My '03Z has LG longtube headers with catless x-pipe. Combined with
a Breathless intake and a tune, the car sounds great and the extra
power(although not a large amount) makes the car much more fun to
drive, with increases all through the power band. I don't think you would be disappointed with similar mods to your car.
Wayne
a Breathless intake and a tune, the car sounds great and the extra
power(although not a large amount) makes the car much more fun to
drive, with increases all through the power band. I don't think you would be disappointed with similar mods to your car.
Wayne
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,554
Likes: 3
From: pasadena in the great state of TEXAS
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 880
Likes: 0
From: Bath PA
Aftermarket exhaust will not gain you any power in a C5, it will change the tone, though.
Personally, I would suggest headers as you will spend a little bit more but get a lot more. Headers will give you some HP as well as some growl to the stock exhaust tone.
Best place to check out exhaust tones is You Tube. Just do a search for a system such as Borla, Corsa, B&B, etc. along with C5 and you will return a lot of results.
Personally, I would suggest headers as you will spend a little bit more but get a lot more. Headers will give you some HP as well as some growl to the stock exhaust tone.
Best place to check out exhaust tones is You Tube. Just do a search for a system such as Borla, Corsa, B&B, etc. along with C5 and you will return a lot of results.
LT Headers = HP and awesome sound. Keep the Ti exhaust.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 165
Likes: 0
From: Marion In
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,554
Likes: 3
From: pasadena in the great state of TEXAS
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 6,094
Likes: 3,468
From: Oswego IL
I am apparently one of the few here who thinks the factory Ti exhaust sounds like absolute dog crap. 
If you like raspy/cackly exhaust notes, keep the stock system. I prefer a deeper "hollow" sound, as close to the old "Flowmasters-on-a-5.0L-Mustang" tone as possible. I am in love with my Borla Stingers, and there is little drone when used with cats and an x-pipe. A quieter system with the same deep tone is the Bassani. Third place for a quiet system would be from Magnaflow, although they sound a little "fluttery" on deceleration, similar to the stock Ti flutter.
If you like raspy/cackly exhaust notes, keep the stock system. I prefer a deeper "hollow" sound, as close to the old "Flowmasters-on-a-5.0L-Mustang" tone as possible. I am in love with my Borla Stingers, and there is little drone when used with cats and an x-pipe. A quieter system with the same deep tone is the Bassani. Third place for a quiet system would be from Magnaflow, although they sound a little "fluttery" on deceleration, similar to the stock Ti flutter.