[Z06] Catless X Pipe
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Racer
Joined: Jul 2014
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Catless X Pipe
Im torn between the corsa or borla. I like loud and want to make power out of going catless w a retune. The corsa is $100 more so price not really a problem between these two. I have kooks headers and a ghl exhaust. Any help and opinions?
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Racer
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Acct Suspended APR 2026 by request
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2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
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did your longtubes not come with an x-pipe already?... if not I would probably get in contact with kooks and buy theirs as it will likely be an easier install than mixing up brands with a different x-pipe... if you already have an x-pipe with cats in them it may not be worth the money to switch , or you could always hollow out the ones on your car... are you n/a or boosted?... on an n/a car you will likely only pick up a few hp by removing the cats, on a boosted application I would recommend removing them due to less restriction and since boosted cars tend to run richer at wot they will burn the cats out fairly quick anyway
Last edited by StingrayRebel; Mar 28, 2015 at 12:48 AM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2014
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did your longtubes not come with an x-pipe already?... if not I would probably get in contact with kooks and buy theirs as it will likely be an easier install than mixing up brands with a different x-pipe... if you already have an x-pipe with cats in them it may not be worth the money to switch , or you could always hollow out the ones on your car... are you n/a or boosted?... on an n/a car you will likely only pick up a few hp by removing the cats, on a boosted application I would recommend removing them due to less restriction and since boosted cars tend to run richer at wot they will burn the cats out fairly quick anyway
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I would just pull the x-pipe and hollow the cats out instead of buying a new one, saves you money and still looks like the car has cats for inspection purposes if that matters in your area
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2007
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From: Sunniest city on Earth
Buy the Kooks offroad X-pipe, bolt it in where your catted Kooks X-pipe is, then sell your old one
Make sure you get the one for your headers, since Kooks redesigned their headers not too long ago and I don't know if the X-pipes are the same
Why are you making this complicated? Those standalone X-pipes from Corsa and Borla are designed for guys with stock exhaust manifolds, not longtubes.
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2014
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This is why i am asking the questions!! I just pirchased a Z and am curioua about parts...it came w kooks headers, i can see it enscripted on the top of em. X pipe was told was kooks too but i cant be positive. I know they are catted so want to go catless. I used to have an sti so this car is completely new to me so sorry for the questions.
Here is the bottom of the car
Here is the bottom of the car
Last edited by stilambo07; Mar 30, 2015 at 07:21 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 5,278
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From: Kelowna BC
Simple; either get a replacement catless Kooks mid-pipe, have an exhaust shop replace the cats with thru-pipes, or gut the cats in there.
No idea what an sti is; considering your moniker, assuming it's a Lambo.
STI, found what it is, yikes, not a fan. So what is the Lambo about, have one also?
No idea what an sti is; considering your moniker, assuming it's a Lambo.
STI, found what it is, yikes, not a fan. So what is the Lambo about, have one also?
Last edited by grantv; Mar 30, 2015 at 12:31 PM. Reason: Car info
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 431
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Simple; either get a replacement catless Kooks mid-pipe, have an exhaust shop replace the cats with thru-pipes, or gut the cats in there.
No idea what an sti is; considering your moniker, assuming it's a Lambo.
STI, found what it is, yikes, not a fan. So what is the Lambo about, have one also?
No idea what an sti is; considering your moniker, assuming it's a Lambo.
STI, found what it is, yikes, not a fan. So what is the Lambo about, have one also?
Thanks for the advice...that is what i shall do.
Le Mans Master
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From: Kelowna BC
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2014
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From: MA
STI's are nothing to scoff at, if I didn't need the room a WRX or STI would be my DD vs. the truck I currently drive.
Have you driven an American V8 w/ no cats? Particularly one as short as the C5Z w/ windows so damn close to the exhaust? It WILL smell and it'll smell bad, it won't get you any measurable power until you start getting into FI or bigger motor etc., I know...I've done it before.
Just making sure you know what you're getting into - gonna get headaches from the fumes @ stoplights
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I still don't see why you don't just take your x-pipe off and hollow the cats out, it will cost you nothing... much easier than spending a few hundred bucks on a new x-pipe and going through the hassle of selling the old one for less than what the new one costs, just doesn't seem practical to me
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 5,278
Likes: 539
From: Kelowna BC
I agree w/ swapping out the X pipe for Kooks offroad, you'll be able to sell yours and shouldn't have to come up w/ much extra $$$ to get the offroad X.
STI's are nothing to scoff at, if I didn't need the room a WRX or STI would be my DD vs. the truck I currently drive.
Have you driven an American V8 w/ no cats? Particularly one as short as the C5Z w/ windows so damn close to the exhaust? It WILL smell and it'll smell bad, it won't get you any measurable power until you start getting into FI or bigger motor etc., I know...I've done it before.
Just making sure you know what you're getting into - gonna get headaches from the fumes @ stoplights
STI's are nothing to scoff at, if I didn't need the room a WRX or STI would be my DD vs. the truck I currently drive.
Have you driven an American V8 w/ no cats? Particularly one as short as the C5Z w/ windows so damn close to the exhaust? It WILL smell and it'll smell bad, it won't get you any measurable power until you start getting into FI or bigger motor etc., I know...I've done it before.
Just making sure you know what you're getting into - gonna get headaches from the fumes @ stoplights
As for the STI, I know of their performance possibilities, I just think they're... as nicely as I can say; not attractive for my taste (and not fond of the sound either). My Z06 is my DD; love my drive to work and home every day!
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2014
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I still don't see why you don't just take your x-pipe off and hollow the cats out, it will cost you nothing... much easier than spending a few hundred bucks on a new x-pipe and going through the hassle of selling the old one for less than what the new one costs, just doesn't seem practical to me
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,243
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From: Loveland CO
if you have the ability to unbolt the pipes you can do it your self with a jack handle or long pry bar or something.. not too hard.. if its a metal cat inside then might need a air chisel or a hole saw.. not hard to do. most muffler shops cant remove or gut out cats legally so might not be able to have it done anywhere.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,285
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From: MA
I said before I think its a dumb idea to run without cats - you're not going to gain much if anything, it'll smell like ****, and it can get you a ticket and/or cause you to fail inspection - now, if you STILL want to get rid of that piece, then you either need to take it off and be patient to get it sold and take proceeds to buy a matching/fitting offroad/catless X pipe, or swap it for an offroad X pipe w/ someone who has already learned they're lesson running catless, or lastly unbolt it and bring it to a local scrap yard and get paid cash for it (the cats should be worth $100 or so...realistically tho they're not worth much because they're hi flo low catalyst) and then go buy a matching X pipe.
You could unbolt it and drive without cats OR an X pipe - loud, hot, and smelly as hell and demand some shop fab up an "H" pipe and weld it place where your catted X was.
That'll REALLY make you a neighborhood favorite lol!
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,168
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From: Sunniest city on Earth
It is illegal in nearly every state to run without cats, so most muffler/exhaust shops aren't going to do that unless a) they're hacks, or b) you know them.
I said before I think its a dumb idea to run without cats - you're not going to gain much if anything, it'll smell like ****, and it can get you a ticket and/or cause you to fail inspection - now, if you STILL want to get rid of that piece, then you either need to take it off and be patient to get it sold and take proceeds to buy a matching/fitting offroad/catless X pipe, or swap it for an offroad X pipe w/ someone who has already learned they're lesson running catless, or lastly unbolt it and bring it to a local scrap yard and get paid cash for it (the cats should be worth $100 or so...realistically tho they're not worth much because they're hi flo low catalyst) and then go buy a matching X pipe.
You could unbolt it and drive without cats OR an X pipe - loud, hot, and smelly as hell and demand some shop fab up an "H" pipe and weld it place where your catted X was.
That'll REALLY make you a neighborhood favorite lol!
I said before I think its a dumb idea to run without cats - you're not going to gain much if anything, it'll smell like ****, and it can get you a ticket and/or cause you to fail inspection - now, if you STILL want to get rid of that piece, then you either need to take it off and be patient to get it sold and take proceeds to buy a matching/fitting offroad/catless X pipe, or swap it for an offroad X pipe w/ someone who has already learned they're lesson running catless, or lastly unbolt it and bring it to a local scrap yard and get paid cash for it (the cats should be worth $100 or so...realistically tho they're not worth much because they're hi flo low catalyst) and then go buy a matching X pipe.
You could unbolt it and drive without cats OR an X pipe - loud, hot, and smelly as hell and demand some shop fab up an "H" pipe and weld it place where your catted X was.
That'll REALLY make you a neighborhood favorite lol!
I looked into it for a couple minutes at one point
If it fits the new-style Kooks headers, buying his used pipe could save somebody else a few hundred dollars on their header install