Next exhaust question...
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jul 2020
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From: Texas
Next exhaust question...
I asked earlier about making my Borla S Type II louder. I asked about deleting the cats and most said it wouldn't make it much louder. Is it a waste of time and money to add headers just for sound improvement? Thanks!
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If you add headers and remove the cats it will make ANY axleback system significantly louder. My car started out with the original borla s type (the strait through design). When i added headers and eliminated the cats, it was louder than i ever could have expected it to be. It sounded like a monster truck at a monster jam event. It sounded great....from the outside. It was way to loud to drive and had enough drone to rattle your fillings out. I then swapped the axleback for an old corsa pace car set (non strait through). My new combo is perfect. Impressive cold start, but still quiet enough to creep through the neigbirhood. When you get into the throttle it will scream louder than any car your running next to on the highway (wink,wink).
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 548
Likes: 132
From: Texas
If you add headers and remove the cats it will make ANY axleback system significantly louder. My car started out with the original borla s type (the strait through design). When i added headers and eliminated the cats, it was louder than i ever could have expected it to be. It sounded like a monster truck at a monster jam event. It sounded great....from the outside. It was way to loud to drive and had enough drone to rattle your fillings out. I then swapped the axleback for an old corsa pace car set (non strait through). My new combo is perfect. Impressive cold start, but still quiet enough to creep through the neigbirhood. When you get into the throttle it will scream louder than any car your running next to on the highway (wink,wink).
Zen Vet Master Level VII
Joined: Mar 2016
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From: Southlake, TX
If sound is what you are after, the best bang for your buck will be to replace the mufflers with straight pipes. The cats will have a slight sound dampening effect but the straights will be loud-- real loud.
No Hostility Be Happy
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Just say no to shorty headers.
You can easily add cats to any long tube setup to avoid the smell and at least do a small part for the air we breath.
Yes as stated earlier. Adding longtubes even with a pair of small cats will be noticeably louder than stock manifolds.
You can easily add cats to any long tube setup to avoid the smell and at least do a small part for the air we breath.
Yes as stated earlier. Adding longtubes even with a pair of small cats will be noticeably louder than stock manifolds.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
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Absolute truth in the last 2 posts. I bought some shorties from LPE years ago, they were 1-3/4" Billy Boat stainless. They did help a small amount, about .2 of a second in the 1/4 mile. But LTs can knock off .4 or even 1/2 second with supporting mods. All shorties really did for me was add $600 (in 2004 $$) to my long term exhaust expenses. They are mighty hard to sell, too. I think I got $250 for them, so I guess they actually added $350 ($600-$250). BUT, I did my own install, and shorties had to be bolted on, then taken back off when what I REALLY should've bought to start with arrived. Bottom line: DON'T BUY SHORTIES. Also, DONT BUY 1-5/8" LTs, either!! Those are what the Gen 1 SBC used for years, yet I still run across posts where guys have the 1-5/8". LS heads breathe much better, and need larger tubes, 1-3/4" minimum, or the engine will be somewhat choked at 6,000+rpm.......
Team Owner
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From: Bonita Springs, Florida
I had Kooks Long Tube headers (ceramic coated), Kooks X-Pipe with high flow green cats on my last C5 and the fit, sound and performance increase were all great but expensive. Minimal difference in the sound until WOT with Magnaflow Performance Series exhaust but deepened the tone.
My 2 cents.
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Zen Vet Master Level VII
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From: Southlake, TX
Your install difficulty for the free shorty's will be pretty much the same as long tubes. Adding the shorty's will really not give you much of anything and long tubes will really make a difference for your sound and power objectives.
If you feel like a wrenching project (which I understand) then absolutely go for it.
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Burning Brakes
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From: Raleigh Suburbs
Like others have already mentioned, going straight pipes is your best bet, as well as cost effective, to increase volume.
Great shorties are worthwhile for *minimal gain/flow/volume, on a much smaller scale than longtubes, because of design, particularly for CARB compliance (no alternative), particularly with exponential modifications (adds up).
Great shorties are worthwhile for *minimal gain/flow/volume, on a much smaller scale than longtubes, because of design, particularly for CARB compliance (no alternative), particularly with exponential modifications (adds up).
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2020
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If you can get the shorty's for free I'd say try them. Worst case your out a few hours and the price of some gaskets.
I don't think you will get the sound increase you want out of them but they should alter the sound coming out of them, from the different design and materials.
If you just want a high noise level, the straight pipe suggestion is the way to go. But you may get some annoying droning at different RPMs while driving.
I don't think you will get the sound increase you want out of them but they should alter the sound coming out of them, from the different design and materials.
If you just want a high noise level, the straight pipe suggestion is the way to go. But you may get some annoying droning at different RPMs while driving.
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Pro
Joined: Jun 2022
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From: NW OH
A silly proposition. 2001+ manifolds are basically cast iron "shorties" compared to the 97-99. Even z06 is the same part? But if they could hook up to the engine and cat pipe (looks like it might work) of a 97-99 only the dipstick and air pipe would be off?
Would that give any power or sound improvement? People are giving those later manifolds darn near free.
Would that give any power or sound improvement? People are giving those later manifolds darn near free.
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2020
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I'd still say try the free shorty's and see what you think. It should deepen up the exhaust sound some.
I am not sure you financial situation or mechanical ability. If money is no object go crazy. But for free shorty's if you can install them yourself, the install is likely to be sub $50.
exhaust manifold gaskets, air injection gaskets, maybe valve cover gaskets, new collector gaskets would add another 50ish if even needed and a seized O2 sensor or a broken plug wire would add to the cost but that would happen with whatever header you go with.
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2020
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A silly proposition. 2001+ manifolds are basically cast iron "shorties" compared to the 97-99. Even z06 is the same part? But if they could hook up to the engine and cat pipe (looks like it might work) of a 97-99 only the dipstick and air pipe would be off?
Would that give any power or sound improvement? People are giving those later manifolds darn near free.
Would that give any power or sound improvement? People are giving those later manifolds darn near free.
There is no way I would pay the $1000 plus that some of the shorty headers and going for currently but if you can get them for free like the OP or deeply discounted I would run them. Easy install, lighter than cast, look nice and minor performance boost.
Zen Vet Master Level VII
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From: Southlake, TX