Better sounding Exhaust
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6th Gear
Joined: Jan 2022
Posts: 6
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Better sounding Exhaust
On my 95 I replaced the resonator with an X-pipe, & deleted the mufflers. It was louder,
but not overly loud. The cost was low at approx. 250. Is there an good inexpensive
options similar for the C5s.
but not overly loud. The cost was low at approx. 250. Is there an good inexpensive
options similar for the C5s.
No Hostility Be Happy
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 10,082
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From: South Hill Wa
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
X pipe and a "bypass" mod. If you go with the bypass mod make the bypass pipes full diameter.
Muffler delete on a C5 is obnoxiously loud IMO.
Muffler delete on a C5 is obnoxiously loud IMO.
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I agree - the bypass mod can make your exhaust sound pretty good.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 1999
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From: Rochester Hills Michigan
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2010
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From: Chandler AZ
Nobody has mentioned headers yet, there are some affordable ones that are going for $410.00 right now I think called speed engineering.
By the way my car does not have headers but a little over a year ago I bought new Borla stingers classics with 4 tips from a vendor here on Corvette Forum on a Black Friday sale, the car sounds better and is more fun to drive.
It’s said headers will make your exhaust louder on whatever mufflers you are running, looking back I could have kept the factory mufflers and installed the new headers and X pipe and it would have been less than 50% than what I payed for the Borla cat back exhaust, the sale on the Borla was 10% off and I just bought them, no regrets at all, they were $881.10 shipped to my door after the Black Friday discount.
By the way my car does not have headers but a little over a year ago I bought new Borla stingers classics with 4 tips from a vendor here on Corvette Forum on a Black Friday sale, the car sounds better and is more fun to drive.
It’s said headers will make your exhaust louder on whatever mufflers you are running, looking back I could have kept the factory mufflers and installed the new headers and X pipe and it would have been less than 50% than what I payed for the Borla cat back exhaust, the sale on the Borla was 10% off and I just bought them, no regrets at all, they were $881.10 shipped to my door after the Black Friday discount.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 4,003
Likes: 386
From: Chandler AZ
By the way about Halloween 2005 I removed my stock 1999 C5 cat back exhaust because the passenger side weld at the flange broke, where the pipe bolts to the flange on catalytic converter, was going to get it welded and reinstall but drove around with no mufflers for about 5 years.
Had just turned 28 and thought it was amazing how loud it was, years later found factory C5 cat back for sale for $100.00 off a later model 2001-2003 if I recall, that had factory chrome tips, my original were not chromed.
After more procrastination put them on with new gaskets and even though much more quite, the tone was really good, had a good deep bass sound vs loud high pitched sound, most people I knew said it was better when riding in car.
Was in Taco Bell drive through and heard the idle and thought to myself “somebody has a nice sounding exhaust” then realized it was my car as other cars left and was only one there, the exhaust sounded louder bouncing off the wall of the drive through.
The factory mufflers have good tone and sound IMO, just quite.
I guess the exhaust bypass might be the cheapest especially if you can cut holes and fabricate the new pipes in and weld it, otherwise may cost a few hundred at exhaust shop.
Had just turned 28 and thought it was amazing how loud it was, years later found factory C5 cat back for sale for $100.00 off a later model 2001-2003 if I recall, that had factory chrome tips, my original were not chromed.
After more procrastination put them on with new gaskets and even though much more quite, the tone was really good, had a good deep bass sound vs loud high pitched sound, most people I knew said it was better when riding in car.
Was in Taco Bell drive through and heard the idle and thought to myself “somebody has a nice sounding exhaust” then realized it was my car as other cars left and was only one there, the exhaust sounded louder bouncing off the wall of the drive through.
The factory mufflers have good tone and sound IMO, just quite.
I guess the exhaust bypass might be the cheapest especially if you can cut holes and fabricate the new pipes in and weld it, otherwise may cost a few hundred at exhaust shop.
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From: South Hill Wa
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Headers absolutely will wake up the sound but at an added expense. Much added. Even at 400 dollars the fantastic Speed Engineering headers still need additional work and tuning. If you're not going to tune the car there is no point other than making racket and staring at a check engine light all the time. Finding places to tune emissions related check engine lights are getting harder by the day as well. 
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