I hear about the "X Pipe" being added to exhaust systems all the time. I have a 2002 C5, stock LS1 with 6 speed except I added a Air Raid Carb Legal, Dry/Cold air induction and the B & B Bullet exhaust system through stock manifolds. Is the X pipe thing something that would help performance a little or not worth the time?

Also thinking about going to C6 Z06 shocks with a C6 Z51 Anti Rollbar and metal end links. Thoughts? Thanks guys,

Coach P

PS

 

The X pipe will be a slight performance booster, and also smooth out your engine idle by balancing the scavenging from the motor evenly from both banks. It helps to draw ( pull ) exhaust gases from the combustion chamber allowing the motor to adjust for a better fuel mix. it changes the exhaust note slightly...

the shocks and sway bars and end links are good upgrade but it will add a slightly harder ride. less roll in a turn. and better handling but the trade off is a harsher ride.

 

Do you think that is a good choice on shocks, sway bars and end links or would you recommend something else? I want it still driveable but maybe a little less sway, a little better on the corners.

And with regard to the X Pipe, do you think it is worth doing or more $ than its worth? Thanks

Coach P

 

Although it isn't an apples to apples comparison, adding headers and x pipe to my z06 made the car so much nicer to drive for me. It actually seemed quieter at cruising RPM's and much smoother at idle.

Personally, I wouldn't do an x pipe with the stock manifolds. I would just wait until I could do headers and a tune along with an x pipe, but if you never plan on going that far with the mods an x pipe isn't a bad choice.

 

Paul, yopu may not know me ,but I try to give information as if you were my Son or my daughter.
Now, I can not see inside your financial portfolio. eg. some people are so tight with a buck, they are willing to save 5 cents on a gallon of gas, and put regular in their high compression LSX motor.
Some people are so tight assed, it would take a 2,000 horse power tractor to pull a needle out of their ***.

I have been around C5 corvettes since 1995, two years before launch.. I saw them in the womb so to speak, and help to deliver them.

I have both the Xpipe and the upgraded, sways, shocks, and end links.
you will notice the ride is harsher, but not too harsh, and you will notice that if you live in a state that has clover leaf on and off ramps, you could take those clover leafs at a much more aggressive pace, which is fun and you are not breaking the law.. a Handling upgrade is worth the money if you play with the car.

The other thought is this... most of us one owner members space out our upgrade so the experience can be rejuvenating.. meaning, if you do subtle things over time the car remains exciting.

If you feel you can afford these things, and you want to make this car your own, then you wont be throwing your money away.

I hope this helps
Bill aka ET welcome to the forum

 

So Bill, you like the ZO6 shocks and Z51 Sway bars with metal end links or do you recommend some other set up?

 

Headers are specifically designed tubular bends to help the engine breath better. because the headers job is to pull exhaust gases from the engine, thus clearing the cylinder for the next mix of fuel and air. Pulling all of the exhaust gases from the motor before the exhaust valve closes makes for a completely empty chamber to fill. While some header cost 600 dollars, most will go for the more expensive and very reputable manufactures.
The Xpipe works in the same way, but not as aggressively.. both are designed to pull ( scavenge ) (draw )not just accept the exhaust gases the piston pushes out, before the valve closes.
for many Headers and a tune will give that seat of the pants energizer, but then it becomes as, a matter of fact. You can always go fast. there are people here who have spent upwards of 30 K because the go fast bug hit them.

My recommendation is to take baby steps until you see what this stuff is all about.

 

Paul, if I didn't like them, I would have something else on the car...not being smart.. here..
I have had the Corsa Indy Pace car system on my car for 15 years, I could sell that system tomorrow for 700 dollars and buy something else..
that system owes me nothing.. Its on my car because I like it.. same with those shocks and sways and end links. they are there because I like them.. at least I accept the trade off...My C5 is just a toy... just for fun.. the tighter handling makes the toy more fun. I know the ride has been slightly compromised but its not a 2.5 ton Lexus.

 

I went with an x-pipe not long after I installed a B&B Route 66 catback system on one of my C5s. I was getting so much resonance and popping from the system that it was unpleasant to drive but the x-pipe cured at least 95% of those problems. I still had the stock manifolds on the car so it can help.

Do a search on C6 Z06 shocks and sway bars - you should find plenty of threads in that topic.

 

Headers are a baby step, Bill.

I'm just saying, $300 for an x pipe and $500 for a tune doesn't make sense to me for the 5 horsepower gain. 20-25 horsepower from headers and a tune barely makes sense considering you'll be spending upwards of $1000-1500.

I tell people all the time, the gain from headers is pretty similar to the gain you get from driving with a full tank of gas to driving on empty. The increase in sound quality is almost as significant as the increase in performance.

 

There is absolutely nothing wrong with the factory stuff, the shocks and sway are less robust but they can go 100K , early year C5's had plastic end links, nothing wrong with them either except they can break. You see, when the C5 was built, there were certain high priority tasks and focus; Deliver on time, stay within budget, avoid the gas guzzler tax, make it lighter. Any revisions to existing designs had to effect weight, budget or delivery. These plastic end link were design to shave off weight, if we could design one of the 6,000 parts that go into a C5 and make it lighter, cheaper and faster and still insure a measure of design reliability,we got a star on our forehead.

Bill aka ET

 

everyone looks at things through different prescription glasses.. For example, I don't have headers on my car.. I could afford to buy them , but I don't need them. Many people can barely afford to buy a C5 today even knowing that almost anyone with a job , even at McDonalds can afford one.. but lets look at it through a newbies eyes.. a Good set of long tubes with cats, needed in many States,1500 dollars, install, 200 dollars, tune 450/500. total. 2200 dollars. LIke I said some people can't afford to put the right gas in their car. Are headers a good bang for the buck with a tune? absolutely. C5's come from the factory with a very rich tune, its a safety issue. just a tune on a stock car can yield 10 /15 HP. depending on your altitude.

I think Paul is just looking to get his feet wet, not jump in to his waist.

the Xpipe and the suspension stuff wont be a waste and would still work if and when he wants to take the next step.. a 200 dollar investment.

the guy just bought the car and you are asking him to throw another 2200 dollars into it.. Now if the guy said I want more power I have the money and where should I start, I would ask how much money he wants to spend and be the first to recommend headers and a tune. If the guy had 2500 to spend , that's the place to spend it. if the guy had ten grand headers and a tune will still be in that mix but with heads and a cam if he had 15 grand adding a procharger to the previous would be the way to go..

Not everyone is a go fast guy.

 

I went with XS Power headers with high flow cats and x-pipe and a mail order tune (150) and it was under 1000 dollars and worth every penny !!!

 

I am an old guy, I wear my pants up to my nipples and my cologne of choice is Aqua Velva. I would have to wear a diaper at my age, if I had a go fast car...

 

He asked for opinions and I told him, to me it wouldn't be worth it to put an x pipe on when headers aren't that much more. $2200 is wayyyy high for headers when quality used headers and x pipe can be had for $600-$800.

Like I said before, if you don't ever plan on going any further with the car then go ahead and do it. To me there isn't any gain to be had with just the x pipe. I'm in the group of people who makes very little money with a corvette. I'm not going to spend my money on a mod that makes a marginal improvement. To each their own though!

 

I went with xs power headers and had a dyno tune. Worth every penny and I was almost under $1000 since I got such a good deal on the headers themselves. I'll take 25 horsepower for $1000 long before I take 5 horsepower for $400.

 

 

Is the Pace equivalent to the new Sport? I was leaning toward the Extreme but after talking to Chip at CCA he gave me the same advise that you did about it being pretty loud all the way around.

 

I went with the x pipe along with the corsa sport cat back. To me it made perfect sense to smooth out the exhaust burble and improve the flow, and yes...make the car stop sounding like a motor boat at idle.

 

The Sport is the exact same design as the Indy pace car. the Extremes are about ( subjective because I never measured them ) are louder then the Sports by a noticeable amount. But only when you put your foot in it..at WOT. at cruise there is no drone. or any drone at any RPM range.

Here is a problem that I've seen .. initially everyone wants their car to sound like a race car you hear at the drags... everyone smiles and says its cool, we all love the smell of Nitro at the drags, but we wouldn't want to smell it every day, or have to listen to open headers as a steady diet.

You will love the Extremes, but for many it get old fast... there is a certain relationship between loud and obnoxious, with age..

I would highly recommend the Sports as a good choice without the fear of thinking you made a mistake. I've had mine for 14 years and I was not disappointed once with the sound of my car, in fact it is sweet music every time I take it out,... I could sell them tomorrow for 700 dollars, and buy something else. To me the sound is perfect. it sound mature not childish in its note.

Bill aka ET