I have stock exhaust with the exception of GHL mufflers on my 98 C5.
My question is regarding X or Y pipes. It appears that both the left and right side of the exhaust
are connected, which seems like it isn’t really dual exhaust any longer.
Is there more to this than I understand?

 

you need a crossover pipe to help balance the exhaust pulses from each bank... our cars come stock with h-pipes, x-pipes sound better in my opinion and do a better job of smoothing out these pulses which is probably why all the major header brands for these cars use an x-pipe design

 

Everything he said. Plus crossover pipes have been around for a long time, I've had one on every car I put duals on, starting in 1980.

 

So it increases the horsepower of the engine?
If so, by how much?

Is the sound you are referring to, on deceleration backfiring?

 

 

HP might go up 3-5 HP, nothing you'll notice.
I put a Magnaflow X-pipe on my 02's Billy Boat exhaust. It really mellowed out the burbling on deceleration, I miss that burbling.

 

You won't notice any HP gain by installing an x-pipe, but the exhaust note will be better, any drone will decrease significantly and any motor boat popping should be reduced.

 

If you want to cut it off, do it. Drive into any decent exhaust shop, they should be able to do it for about $50
The stock crossover pipe is called an H pipe, most of the aftermarket units (that flow and sound better) are X. But yes, the HP difference would be minimal regardless. I also think cutting out the H will have a minimal impact on sound TBH; if you want noticeably louder get some different cat-backs (muffler section).

 

LOL!! Altering the OEM STOCK exhaust system is pretty much USELESS. If you like or want more popping and gurgle, cut out the pipe. You will not gain any performance. It will just change the gurgling and popping out the tail pipe..

If there was a benefit to NOT having the POS "H" pipe, GM would have NOT installed it.

SOME people HATE the deceleration popping and motorboat sound. That is why the H pipe is installed. GM has to please 80 yr old grandmothers as well as 18 year olds and a compromise was made.

If you want a real performance sounding system, SAVE SOME cash and purchase one. Find a good used exhaust. Hell, there are TONS of them for sale in the C5 PARTS for SALE & WANTED Section.

NOTE!! BE very careful what you install for an exhaust system. We all like loud but if you purchase a poorly designed exhaust system that has DRONE, you will most likely put it BACK up for sale in the C5 PARTS for SALE & WANTED Section when it get on your nerves!!

Your BEST bet is to find a C5 that has an aftermarket cat back system. get a ride in the car. If you like it,, COPY IT!

ANOTHER NOTE! What ever CAT BACK system you purchase, it will will NOT significantly increase the HP/TQ output of the engine. On a GOOD DAY, you might see 10-12 HP. Some see none.

Bill

 

I installed an ebay no name brand catback exhaust and then had the exhuast shop cut off the H-pipe and I'm running true duals. Sounds much better IMO.

Here's the flyby clip:

It eventually got a smidge louder.

 

I did my first cam swap after I installed LT headers and exhaust.

1-7/8 LG Super Dupers 3 inch pipes through LG big 3 with by pass mod...


I'd love to see a video of the GHL's! One of my favorites for the C5

 

Sounds good! Any videos capturing the decel a little more? I'm curious as I always liked the snap crackle pop a bit

 

As it turns out I already have a cat back exhaust made by GHL.
I had it installed years ago, maybe 10, and I always thought it was a cat back.
I got confused



by an EKLERS catalogue when they were calling it MUFFLERS.

It’s the same design as the BORLA STINGER.
4 high polished stainless steel outlets a high polished stainless exhaust plate with a C5 LOGO.

Now all I need to do is cut that pipe off, weld the holes shut, get back firing on deceleration, a more stereo sound LIKE THE OLD CORVETTES HAD.


Left from the left 4 cylinders, right from the right 4 cylinders. After that I believe it will be ALL GOOD in my CORVETTE WORLD.

To all of you guys

Here It is, JUST WAITING TO GURGLE DOWN THE ROAD.



BLACK SUNSHINE

 

Thanks. I do not have a deceleration video, but there isn't much there IMO. I installed cutouts not too long ago and the snap, crackle, and pop is very obvious upon deceleration.

 

I see those old Corvettes at auctions and I just love that sound.
Did you remove the x or Y pipe, weld the 2 sections apart, absolutely no connection between left and right pipes? Then use an aftermarket pass through cat back system to create a very noticeable different separate sound. That would be true dual exhaust. I’m looking for opinions regarding what to do.
It seems apparent that is the way to go for what I want to create.

 

I might be going crazy, but I don't recall a X pipe anywhere on the car. The only part that crosses over is the "h." The exhaust shop removed that and there is no connection between the the pipes going from the headers to the axle back. They did weld a plate on the bottom of the two pipes so there is support. As far as getting that old throaty V8 sound like that of a SBC it will be hard to do on an LS with the way the firing order is.

 

SPOILER ALERT! SPOILER ALERT!!

ANYTHING,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, That you do to ALTER Compression or the Cam will SIGNIFICANTLY change the EXHAUST NOTE!

So,,,,, If you LIKE any of the above SOUND CLIPS,, you better have the ***** and BANK to match the MODS.

When I FIRST purchased my Stainless Works headers/Exhaust System, I BRAGGED that it had Z E R O D R O N E!!

After I increased Compression (new Heads) and installed an Aggressive cam :lots of overlap: the EXHAUST NOTE woke up. It still has a VERY GOOD Note but the drone has increased some..

The following things will effect exhaust note: COMPRESSION, CAM & TIMING!

FACT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bill

 

I think the exhaust plate adds about 40 HP. That's what they said


Seriously, that did enter my mind regarding firing order a cam lots of stuff that you guys pointed out, will make a difference in the sound.

Well, the only thing left to make true dual exhaust is removing the H pipe (think that’s what it is) with no other mods, that will be the best I can do. It is completely stock aside from the GHL cat back and cool air intake.

 

As BC said, an LS motor is never going to sound just like an old SBC. If that chop is what you seek, removing the H might get you closer, different mufflers more so.
Different firing order, smaller bore/longer stroke, mufflers at rear of car... all play a part I think.

 

CORVETTE SPECIALIST SHOP NEAR CHICAGO IL.

I called over to this place 5 minutes away that installed the GHL cat back system to ask about the cost for cutting off the H pipe.

The guy was a MR. KNOW IT ALL JAG. He had no idea what an H Pipe was, and never heard of GHL.

I hate when people that have no idea what they are talking about act like they are experts.

I’ll just go to a muffler shop as was mentioned here. I’m only saying this because if there any people that live around here a heads up and I’m SO PISSED.