Exhaust help
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
Exhaust help
C5 vert stock. Want more HP and better sound. Considering installing AFE 54-10902 CAI. Is this and ok unit to install? Also not sure if I should go with headers or exhaust system.
Need help with this decision. What are pros and cons for each. What is best bang for buck (best value/sound/HP). Live in Canada so shipping could pose a problem.
All help will be very appreciated.
Thanks
Need help with this decision. What are pros and cons for each. What is best bang for buck (best value/sound/HP). Live in Canada so shipping could pose a problem.
All help will be very appreciated.
Thanks
Last edited by DreamVetteC5; Jan 26, 2015 at 03:23 PM. Reason: Wrong part
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 21,325
Likes: 3,840
From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
Before getting too involved with advice... Everyone wants more horse power and better sound, but everyone wants it cheap...
So before going into a good CAI or exhaust system. you have already limited yourself with concerns about shipping cost..
So the question is , what is your budget, because a CAI, headers and full cat back and tune can be very expensive( 3500/ 4000 dollars parts and labor ) plus shipping, so why go there if you only want to spent 500 dollars.
So before going into a good CAI or exhaust system. you have already limited yourself with concerns about shipping cost..
So the question is , what is your budget, because a CAI, headers and full cat back and tune can be very expensive( 3500/ 4000 dollars parts and labor ) plus shipping, so why go there if you only want to spent 500 dollars.
Last edited by Evil-Twin; Jan 26, 2015 at 03:46 PM.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
Sorry my mistake. Should have made myself clearer. I have found a AFE 54-10902 CAI for $199.
Not sure whether to go headers or exhaust system (cat back or axel back).
Probably not going to do both headers and exhaust. Just want to know which I should do and what product is the best bang for buck.
As for shipping, not the cost but the logistics.
So any and all advice is welcome. Is the afe CAI a good one at $200 or not
Not sure whether to go headers or exhaust system (cat back or axel back).
Probably not going to do both headers and exhaust. Just want to know which I should do and what product is the best bang for buck.
As for shipping, not the cost but the logistics.
So any and all advice is welcome. Is the afe CAI a good one at $200 or not
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 5,278
Likes: 539
From: Kelowna BC
Yep, need a budget. I'm also in Canada, so will try and watch your reply.
Example of Canadian buying right now with the exchange rate being what it is; I just got Texas Speed headers without x-pipe (doing my own thing). $479 and $40 for the O2 wires quickly turned to ~$968 with shipping and duties, another $84 for taxes.
So when you set your budget, keep this in mind...!
I originally thought about building and marketing my own headers for us poor Canadian buyers. When I saw TSP prices I thought, nah, can't really compete. Now that I have the full bill (and the flanges are warped causing me to get them milled), I would think again if I didn't already have $1052 CAD into these $479 headers.
P.S. Where are you located?
Example of Canadian buying right now with the exchange rate being what it is; I just got Texas Speed headers without x-pipe (doing my own thing). $479 and $40 for the O2 wires quickly turned to ~$968 with shipping and duties, another $84 for taxes.
So when you set your budget, keep this in mind...!
I originally thought about building and marketing my own headers for us poor Canadian buyers. When I saw TSP prices I thought, nah, can't really compete. Now that I have the full bill (and the flanges are warped causing me to get them milled), I would think again if I didn't already have $1052 CAD into these $479 headers.
P.S. Where are you located?
Last edited by grantv; Jan 26, 2015 at 04:05 PM. Reason: Location Q
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 5,278
Likes: 539
From: Kelowna BC
The intake is only going to give you an intake sound, the rush of air in. And you will barely hear it if you do an exhaust. IMO in order of increase in sound:
Mufflers
Cat removal
Headers
Intake
For power increase headers would be #1; maybe 30-40 with a tune. After that they should all net around the same power gain I'd think, maybe 5-10 per change.
$1200 will get you headers if you DIY most of it. Or you can do mufflers and air intake for less. Consider Ti mufflers off a Z, usually $400 or so and most people like the sound.
Mufflers
Cat removal
Headers
Intake
For power increase headers would be #1; maybe 30-40 with a tune. After that they should all net around the same power gain I'd think, maybe 5-10 per change.
$1200 will get you headers if you DIY most of it. Or you can do mufflers and air intake for less. Consider Ti mufflers off a Z, usually $400 or so and most people like the sound.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 5,278
Likes: 539
From: Kelowna BC
Yes, they will fit.
Check the C5 for sale section, there's always a set on there somewhere.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...i-exhaust.html
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...st-norcal.html
The mufflers will be an easier task, so long as you can get the back end up, WAY up. Either that or back up to a loading ramp (without driving over) and do it there, saw pictures of somebody here do that...
Headers, a lot more work. Most people spec ~10 hours. I'm slow, and doing it spanned over the winter, so will see if that is true. So far about 1 1/2 -2 hours and I have only removed the H-pipe and full AIR system including pump and tubing, plus spark plug wires.
Header brands, seems the more you spend the better they fit perhaps. My TSP units have to have the flanges milled. I work in a steel shop so my cost will be lower. But honestly would have a hard time recommending them from my own experience. The XS power units seem to have a following at around $850 with x-pipe. From there head on up to LG ($1200 US?) or even ARH ($2000 US?).
Check the C5 for sale section, there's always a set on there somewhere.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...i-exhaust.html
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...st-norcal.html
The mufflers will be an easier task, so long as you can get the back end up, WAY up. Either that or back up to a loading ramp (without driving over) and do it there, saw pictures of somebody here do that...
Headers, a lot more work. Most people spec ~10 hours. I'm slow, and doing it spanned over the winter, so will see if that is true. So far about 1 1/2 -2 hours and I have only removed the H-pipe and full AIR system including pump and tubing, plus spark plug wires.
Header brands, seems the more you spend the better they fit perhaps. My TSP units have to have the flanges milled. I work in a steel shop so my cost will be lower. But honestly would have a hard time recommending them from my own experience. The XS power units seem to have a following at around $850 with x-pipe. From there head on up to LG ($1200 US?) or even ARH ($2000 US?).
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