Going mufflerless bad?
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Joined: Jul 2013
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Going mufflerless bad?
Ok so I got a bone stock 98 c5. I'm thinking of removing the mufflers to see if I like the sound. If I end up liking it and can tolerate it, I will order the borla straight pipes. But is driving the car without the mufflers in place be bad? Will the exhaust heat melt or burn anything? I do not want to cut them. I was just going to unbolt them the their location.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 5,278
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From: Kelowna BC
I wouldn't... but then I wouldn't run straight pipes either.
The midpipe exits at the tranny and rear suspension. I've heard of people damaging the rear leaf from doing this without turn downs.
The midpipe exits at the tranny and rear suspension. I've heard of people damaging the rear leaf from doing this without turn downs.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 8,080
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From: Toronto
Your neighbors will love you...NOT.
Are you 18, again?
You would not want to put up with open exhaust ALL the time (especially) @ 3am.
If you want to make 'noise', install some electric cutouts, to make it quiet when needed.
frank
Are you 18, again?
You would not want to put up with open exhaust ALL the time (especially) @ 3am.
If you want to make 'noise', install some electric cutouts, to make it quiet when needed.
frank
Ok so I got a bone stock 98 c5. I'm thinking of removing the mufflers to see if I like the sound. If I end up liking it and can tolerate it, I will order the borla straight pipes. But is driving the car without the mufflers in place be bad? Will the exhaust heat melt or burn anything? I do not want to cut them. I was just going to unbolt them the their location.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2011
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From: Summerville South Carolina
What they said!
Dave Shiel
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Why not just do bullets? They are very loud upon startup and full throttle but can be reasonable quiet when cruising along by the police at low speed. 
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It's not something I would do and the point above about upsetting the neighbors is a good one. I know it would be cheaper to install a set of straight pipes, but a good cat back system will give you the sound you are looking to attain.
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Instructor
Joined: May 2002
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From: Land O Lakes FL
Speaking from experience, straight pipes are quite loud even with factory cats in place. Just bought my second C5 a couple of months ago and it already had the Borla straight pipe exhaust installed. Kept the exhaust on the car for about a month to see if I could tolerate it and it did sound particularly good at times (like going under overpasses). Already had a neighbor with a very loud exhaust a couple of doors down so I don't think too many of my neighbors were particularly affected by the extra noise. Ended up removing the Borlas, the interior drone way was too much for me with the windows up and it was hard to have any kind of conversation in the car. In the end, if it's the sound you want, go for it, but I would be careful just removing the existing mufflers and running like that without anything.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2016
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From: Santa Cruz CA
Ok so I got a bone stock 98 c5. I'm thinking of removing the mufflers to see if I like the sound. If I end up liking it and can tolerate it, I will order the borla straight pipes. But is driving the car without the mufflers in place be bad? Will the exhaust heat melt or burn anything? I do not want to cut them. I was just going to unbolt them the their location.
LS motors are relatively quiet, but without mufflers stabbing the throttle is unbelievably loud. All but the most "I don't give a ****" of cops will pull you over, and you will have a lot of trouble driving in late at night, trying to avoid causing vortex explosion sort of noise. While that has it's own sort of charm...
You shouldn't do things that make you look reckless and irresponsible at the same time. I learned to drive like a cop, so I never get pulled over, despite driving north of 100mph regularly. If you're going to do something which attracts attention, do it right. Get a Borla ATAK or a B&B bullet system.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 2,258
Likes: 544
From: Appleton WI
Your car will sound like a "motorboat". The fun lasts about 30 minutes. The ringing of the ears and headache last longer. I did what you're asking about to see if I'd like cut outs. I put washers between the h- pipe and cat back then bolted back up so I didn't have to remove or worry about the mufflers. Needless to say, I removed the washers and saved my money on cut outs.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 2,297
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From: Round Rock Texas
Do a muffler bypass on the stock ones. I did and only cost 100.00. Sound like some 1k exhaust.
Now in Texas it will not pass inspection with no muffler. And yes they will check. My daughter had turn downs right before rear axle on her truck and that thing was loud! Went to get inspection and the guy look to see if it had mufflers. As long as the exhaust pipe passes passenger compartment your good.
Now in Texas it will not pass inspection with no muffler. And yes they will check. My daughter had turn downs right before rear axle on her truck and that thing was loud! Went to get inspection and the guy look to see if it had mufflers. As long as the exhaust pipe passes passenger compartment your good.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,754
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From: South Florida FL
first off, the LS isn't a naturally good sounding motor.
stock car, just mufflerless will just make it sounds like a boat.
better off with some Z06 TIs, if you want some vocal enjoyment on a budget
it's been done
stock car, just mufflerless will just make it sounds like a boat.
better off with some Z06 TIs, if you want some vocal enjoyment on a budget
it's been done
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
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From: Midland TX
I just had two neighbors down the street from me sell their homes - both said they could no longer take the sound of the Roush Mustangs and Harleys firing up at the new apartments across the street from them - said they could not get any sleep.
Fortunately, I am far enough away to where I hear "nothing" except the new Harley that a neighbor just bought across the street. My house is so sound deadened that I do not even hear the garbage truck in the alley crashing the dumpsters in the morning, but that damn Harley shakes my foundation. I feel it in bed before I even hear it! And like most Harley owners, they just sit there and throttle it until they run out of testosterone!
Fortunately, I am far enough away to where I hear "nothing" except the new Harley that a neighbor just bought across the street. My house is so sound deadened that I do not even hear the garbage truck in the alley crashing the dumpsters in the morning, but that damn Harley shakes my foundation. I feel it in bed before I even hear it! And like most Harley owners, they just sit there and throttle it until they run out of testosterone!
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,401
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From: Summerville South Carolina
What he says ina dddition to my observations
Dave Shiel
Last edited by David Shiel; Mar 20, 2017 at 12:56 AM.
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 67
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From: Windermere Florida
Ok so I got a bone stock 98 c5. I'm thinking of removing the mufflers to see if I like the sound. If I end up liking it and can tolerate it, I will order the borla straight pipes. But is driving the car without the mufflers in place be bad? Will the exhaust heat melt or burn anything? I do not want to cut them. I was just going to unbolt them the their location.
The stock H pipe in the C5 makes the car sound funny, if you want the exhaust to sound good, swap it out with an X pipe like Borla since it is a high quality bolt on part and no welding needed. A second choice would be to go with a nice set of long tube headers like LG Pro, their system usually comes with an x pipe as well, add that with a nice exhaust and you will have a mean sounding and faster (dyno tune recommended after Long tube headers install) C5 Corvette.
For the exhaust part, if you want a loud and good one, go with Billy Boat Bullets. The Borla S type, and the Corsa Xtreme exhaust also good choices.
I have the Billy Boat Route 66 exhaust on mine, it sounds slightly louder than stock but some people might not like it because it is quieter than a lot of the available exhausts out there.
Here is a video clip of my car with the Billy Boat Route 66 exhaust:
Just in case you want to hear a mufflerless C5 Vette, here is a video that I made of mine just this past week, I have since reinstalled the Billy Boat Rt 66 exhaust back on:
Some quarter passes I made recently with the C5 without the mufflers:
Last edited by Solteka; Mar 20, 2017 at 09:05 PM.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2015
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From: Nederland Texas
I have custom long tube obx racing header with custom x-pipe with straight pipes out the rear end. its loud and sets off car alarms, and actually all my neighbors love it 
But this is my weekend race car not a daily. Very loud inside even with dynotape (the sound proofing tape) all under the carpet. I would post a video, but I don't really know how
But this is my weekend race car not a daily. Very loud inside even with dynotape (the sound proofing tape) all under the carpet. I would post a video, but I don't really know how