I've been researching which exhaust would be best for my car. It appears that there are 3 parts of an aftermarket performance exhaust system:
1)Headers,
2)Off road X or H pipe,
3)muffler/tips.

From what I understand Headers have little to do with note/sounds, then X or H pipes have a little more, and finally the muffler/tips dictate mostly what your exhaust is going to sound like. Will any header match up with any offroad X or H and will any offroad X or H match up with any muffler/tips if they are all made for a c5?

I'm really in need of exhaust system 101, I know a lot about engines but for some reason I can never completly grasp the concept of what all exhaust parts/systems will match up and work together (i'm old school and used to just dumping the exhaust somewhere after the headers, so i've never in my life paid any attention to exhaust systems other than headers).

There is also "cat-back" exhausts which uses your stock cat and is the rest of the piping all the way to the back of the car.

What I want the most for my c5 is the lowest/deepest rumbling at idle possible that is somewhat loud and continues to be low/deep and get louder when I rev it. I don't like the nasty crackling sound that I hear some of the cars having when they shift/let off the throttle I think that sounds awful.

 

I have the LG Long tube headers with X-pipe and SLP loudmouth exhaust. In my personal opinion that sounds the best. I was looking for a louder than stock exhaust and the SLP's gave me that. The crackling sound that you hear can be solved by the X-pipe, which is suppose to smooth the flow. This setup is low and deep, but maybe too loud at full throttle than some people would like. I tried to get a set-up to sound like the mustang cobras with flowmasters, but from what I have heard, that it is impossible to duplicate that sound on a vette. Hope that helps you out a bit.

 

I put the Magna-flow cat back system on my C5, this system takes care of your X pipes as well as your mufflers and tips. In my opinion it sounds just fine, course I want to be able to carry on a conversation with or without the top on so I wanted more "Muscle" sound but not so much that I would have to turn the radio all the way up to listen to music. Borla, corsa and Bobby B all make cat back systems for the C5. Ecklers or Mid-America sell all of em. Look them up on line. You can go to Magna-flow website and listen to their exhaust system installed on a C5.

 

Here is a look at my Magnaflow tips. The volume and low note is just right WITHOUT the X-pipe.

VETFVER

 

In my case, LT headers made my idle quieter, but WOT louder. As for the rest of your setup, B&B PRT's are much quieter at idle than WOT, plus you can add an X pipe to reduce cracking/popping. This should give you what you're looking for. Removing the cats will make it sound deeper, but it'll also be much louder all around.

 

Let me ask a real stupid question here, I see more and more of it on here when we talk about exhaust systems. Isn't removing the "CATS" from your exhaust system ILLEGAL IN ALL 50 STATES for street cars - guys not talking about track worthy autos here.

 

I had mine all done in stainless steel. Kooks 1 7/8" headers, 3" stianless steel X pipe, Borla straight pipes which steps it down to 2 1/2" and single exit tips. I am running straight pipes with no mufflers or cats. I do have GMMG style chambered mufflers on there now, it sounds deeper, a tiny bit quiter and a slightly higher rpm.

http://videos.streetfire.net/iPlayer...1-32577B2C18CE

Yes removing cats is illegal in all 50 states. They are a federal law even in the areas without smog/emmissions testing.

LT headers will make it quieter at idle louder at WOT. The extra tubulence at idle on stock manifolds is what makes it louder.

Any X pipe will give you more torque, it is the perfect equilizer. It also makes your car sound like it revs much higher rpms.

Also adding a cam will effect how your exhaust sounds, and heads will make the exhaust louder.