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You can go to carlile and find a pair and you can shipped them back right there or if you drove there with a truck also try corvette salvage yards back in the days i was buying them at bloominton gold for $100 t0 200 a pair as they were taking them off there cars selling them for $400 they boys in club called me ti joe i sold 14 pairs in a two year period
You can go to carlile and find a pair and you can shipped them back right there or if you drove there with a truck also try corvette salvage yards back in the days i was buying them at bloominton gold for $100 t0 200 a pair as they were taking them off there cars selling them for $400 they boys in club called me ti joe i sold 14 pairs in a two year period
And "back in the day" bread was 20 cents. These systems are now recognized as being more valuable and because they're over 20 years old, much more rare. Ce la vie - such is life... If you want it you have to pay...
I have the original mufflers from my 03 Z06. The car has 23K miles on it and I am not sure when PO swapped them but they are in perfect condition. I can be talked into letting them go for a good price to a forum member. I am in NH.
And "back in the day" bread was 20 cents. These systems are now recognized as being more valuable and because they're over 20 years old, much more rare. Ce la vie - such is life... If you want it you have to pay...
they're more valuable *only* because they're rare.. but rare doesn't always mean better ..there are far, far better, modern after market exhaust systems out there.
"back in the day," (back in the early 2000's) the reason we did this swap was because the z06 exhaust was decent, sounded OK, was made out of Ti (which is overrated I think .. you saw weight savings, but if the 30 pounds really mattered, you really just needed to get more power) , and was CHEAP. That was the big deal-- you could get a decent, BRAND NEW cat back for a fraction of the cost of an after market set up. People who had z06's were ripping these out left and right. I picked up mine for $300, vs. over $1,000 for an aftermarket setup... I've kept it mostly for nostalgia reasons (and with headers and a super charger/cam, the exhaust is plenty loud). This forum was littered with z06 cat back for sale.
You can get really high quality after market cat back systems starting at around $800. With a z06 cat back-- which now have around 20 years on them -- AND pushing over $600 for a set, I just don't see how they're worth it... you're getting a mediocre system that's two decades old for almost the cost of a brand new modern system.
they're more valuable *only* because they're rare.. but rare doesn't always mean better ..there are far, far better, modern after market exhaust systems out there.
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That's not really true. If you do your research, you will find that the the stock Z06 catback makes within 4 HP of the very best catback systems that are made for the C5. As far as performance and weight are concerned, the Z06Ti is actually amongst the best out there. As far as sound is concerned, that is VERY subjective. Really the only reason to swap out a stock Z06 exhaust for an aftermarket exhaust is the sound. Although, even there the stock system is a good option as it has absolutely no drone at any RPM. With all that said. JMG2 is correct that back in the day, one of the big draws for non Z06 owners was that they were cheap. I picked mine up a few years ago for about $300.00. I'm super glad that I did though. I could afford an aftermarket option. However, given the way my car is setup, any aftermarket option would have either had drone, or would have been louder than I wanted it to be (or both). Like JMG2, I have a supercharger. I will be adding headers at some point as well. The really fantastic thing about the Z06 Ti exhaust is that it has a nice sound, but is reasonably quite when driving through neighborhoods and such, but then gets very loud at WOT. I don't want my car to be loud all the time. It's the same reason I love my supercharger. The cars drives just like normal when I want it to, but will then go like a bat out of hell when I want it to. I want my exhaust to sound normal when I'm just driving around town, and then scream only when I want it to. It's really all about what you want I love my Z06 exhaust! It gave me improved performance, lighter weight, nicer tips, and the sound that I wanted.
So I talked with a nice gal from LKQ yesterday. We have some good news and some bad news.
The good news, they are willing to truck this system up north via their own network. The better new is the price is even cheaper than the Ebay ad.
The bad news, if you look at the pictures they posted the left hand muffler assembly is clearly BENT from the crash. It's probably bent right where the pipe goes into the muffler body or along the tube that goes up over the axle.
I think I can fix it but I'm not positive.
The nice thing about dealing with LKQ is they don't make you commit to buying something. If you inspect it in person and don't like it no big deal.
We shall see. I am still in an I'll believe it when I see it mood lol.
That's not really true. If you do your research, you will find that the the stock Z06 catback makes within 4 HP of the very best catback systems that are made for the C5. As far as performance and weight are concerned, the Z06Ti is actually amongst the best out there..
Again, that may have been a relevant conversation back in the day -- and certainly is the conclusion I came to, for all the reasons you said. Back then, it was almost a no-brainer -- you're getting a practically brand new high performance cat back system for a fraction of the cost of a new one.
But that isn't the calculus anymore. You're comparing an at least 20 year old exhaust to a brand new cat back system. IF you could still get them for $300, then maybe it's still a good deal, but as the prices creep up towards $600, I just can't see this as a wise move. A $600 20 year old cat back with God knows how many miles vs. a brand new modern system starting at around $800? Not even a close comparison in my mind.
and there are some really impressive modern exhausts out there--- one of the major downsides to the c5 cat back is the almost right angle the exhaust takes near the wheel wells. There are new systems that eliminate this, putting small in line mufflers ahead of the axel, and giving an almost straight run out the tail pipes. The z06 exhaust can't compete with more modern set ups like that, especially when you start factoring in things like forced air / cams /etc. I'm actually really considering doing a swap-- can't force more air in without getting more out.
I have the original mufflers from my 03 Z06. The car has 23K miles on it and I am not sure when PO swapped them but they are in perfect condition. I can be talked into letting them go for a good price to a forum member. I am in NH.
Originally Posted by bc6152
If you want it you have to pay...
bc, you seem to be pretty close to DanA. I think you should make that deal and get to drivin!
Again, that may have been a relevant conversation back in the day -- and certainly is the conclusion I came to, for all the reasons you said. Back then, it was almost a no-brainer -- you're getting a practically brand new high performance cat back system for a fraction of the cost of a new one.
But that isn't the calculus anymore. You're comparing an at least 20 year old exhaust to a brand new cat back system. IF you could still get them for $300, then maybe it's still a good deal, but as the prices creep up towards $600, I just can't see this as a wise move. A $600 20 year old cat back with God knows how many miles vs. a brand new modern system starting at around $800? Not even a close comparison in my mind.
and there are some really impressive modern exhausts out there--- one of the major downsides to the c5 cat back is the almost right angle the exhaust takes near the wheel wells. There are new systems that eliminate this, putting small in line mufflers ahead of the axel, and giving an almost straight run out the tail pipes. The z06 exhaust can't compete with more modern set ups like that, especially when you start factoring in things like forced air / cams /etc. I'm actually really considering doing a swap-- can't force more air in without getting more out.
You do certainly have a valid point of old vs brand new. However, as I mentioned in my post, the Z06 Ti turned out to be exactly what I wanted. Newer Borla systems sound fantastic, but are louder than what I consider ideal for me. Corsa systems are also louder than I want, and are a higher pitch than I prefer. Just about any other system is going to have at least some degree of drone (especially since I have an automatic). I find drone to be completely unacceptable. That leaves me with the Z06 Ti.
Certainly condition is important, and (while MUCH harder) it is still possible to find Z06 exhausts that are low mileage, and in great like new condition. I do 100% agree with you that if you're just looking for cost saving over aftermarket, the Z06 exhaust is nowhere near as attractive as it used to be. However, if (like me) it's everything that you want, then it's worth the added cost. Just my $0.02.
You do certainly have a valid point of old vs brand new. However, as I mentioned in my post, the Z06 Ti turned out to be exactly what I wanted. Newer Borla systems sound fantastic, but are louder than what I consider ideal for me. Corsa systems are also louder than I want, and are a higher pitch than I prefer. Just about any other system is going to have at least some degree of drone (especially since I have an automatic). I find drone to be completely unacceptable. That leaves me with the Z06 Ti.
Certainly condition is important, and (while MUCH harder) it is still possible to find Z06 exhausts that are low mileage, and in great like new condition. I do 100% agree with you that if you're just looking for cost saving over aftermarket, the Z06 exhaust is nowhere near as attractive as it used to be. However, if (like me) it's everything that you want, then it's worth the added cost. Just my $0.02.
yup, all good :-)
Maybe I should unload my set -- I only have about 20k miles on them, and I could use a little more flow :-)
though they do sound pretty good with the cam and headers
If I was going to do a cat back today, I'd go with something that eliminates the almost right angle the exhaust has to take to exit the muffler.
Something like this ... and at $1,300, not a heck of a lot more expensive than the frel'n $800 people are asking for Z06 exhaust (I can't believe they're that much .. for 20 year old exhaust!!))
..and if OP is REALLY stuck on Titanium exhaust, and willing to pay for it, there is an outfit still making them -- not sure how good they are but ....here they are
(IIRC, back in "the day," almost all the major manufacturers were making ti exhaust for the c5... shame)
bc, you seem to be pretty close to DanA. I think you should make that deal and get to drivin!
Come on up! I'll give you a good deal on them. I was really just keeping them in case I want to return to stock but I have said that about almost every car part I have changed on all my cars and it never happens. I end up giving them away to new owners.
No doubt that would get you more flow, but especially with your setup, it would be LOUD! I also don't think the sound quality would be anywhere near as good. Of course, that's all extremely subjective. If you like the way a straight pipe exhaust sounds, go for it. My one piece of advice would be to hold onto your Z06 exhaust for at least a few months after the swap. That way you can swap back if you get tired of the straight pipe.
No doubt that would get you more flow, but especially with your setup, it would be LOUD! I also don't think the sound quality would be anywhere near as good. Of course, that's all extremely subjective. If you like the way a straight pipe exhaust sounds, go for it. My one piece of advice would be to hold onto your Z06 exhaust for at least a few months after the swap. That way you can swap back if you get tired of the straight pipe.
TI"s
