Question for all you experienced C5 gurus. I'm experienced in the early Corvette (first three generations), but not beyond that. I just bought my first C5 at Corvettes at Carlisle this year ( '01 6spd convt.) and am investigating exhaust. Has anyone taken the random technology X pipe, or a similar true crossover pipe, and joined it with a B&B, or Corsa system from there on back? I'm looking to eliminate the downgear burble, but keep the aggressive exhaust note. Plus, the Random Tech peeps claim more torque, which isn't a bad thing either.

 

I don't claim to be a "guru" or "expert" by any stretch of imagination, but I have had a little experience with this issue.

I put a Corsa Pace Car Tigershark system on our 2000 MN6 convertible immediately after buying it. It was louder than stock, but not as loud as the Corsa on our departed `96. Some months ago I succumbed to the peer pressure here on the forum and installed a West Coast Corvette X-pipe. The x-pipe did tone down the popping on decel, but did not totally eliminate it. Before the popping was almost obnoxious, now I love the sound. However, the x-pipe also mellowed the exhaust tone and made it somewhat quieter.

All-in-all I think the x-pipe is a good thing.

 

Didn't know about the West Coast version. See, that's why this forum works! With the stock exhaust on my '01 now, there is popping on decel, although you don't really notice it so much because the exhaust is so quiet. Would you do the Corsa again if you had it to do over?

 

Absolutely!! Others in our club have Borla Stingers and SLP, which both sound great, but we chose the Corsa for two reasons.
1. No drone.
2. Quiet at cruise (any speed).
My wife is very sensitive to the drone of some systems and they give her a headache in just a few miles. And we can carry on a conversation, listen to the stereo, or talk on the cell at cruise speed.

 

I have Bullets with no x-pipe and love it. There is some popping and gurgling, but i like it and so does my girlfriend. Here is a video I made. I have had them 1 week. By the way the video quality isn't the best!!

http://www.onetruemedia.com/shared?p...edium=text_url
Tim

 

Isn't technology a wonderful thing....

 

I can tell you that my exhaust is stock (03 Z06) except for a Bassani X-pipe which I added to eliminate the burble/motorboat sound. It did just that and the car sounds completely different.

 

An x-pipe will smooth out and tone down the popping, but it'll still be there. It'll be close if it makes any real difference volume-wise to the exhaust, but the tone will change slightly.

More torque?

Have a good one,
Mike

 

I agree...I put on the Corsa X-pipe in front of our Corsa Indy's and had the same resuts. No performance increase and still burbles on deceleration...dissapointing results for around $350.

 

Yeah, but isn't there a difference in the X pipes? The factory has an H pipe that only has about 1/2 inch of actual crossover, whereas the Random Tech or the Magnaflow has a true crossover, that one of them states "like Nascar", for more torque yadda yadda yadda. Some of the other aftermarket X pipes might not have enough crossover? I dunno, just thinking out loud and trying to research what to buy for mine.

 

i have a question...i have a z06 exhaust on my 98 coupe.what x-pipe is out there i can just bolt on? i'm technically challenged...so the simpler the better for me......thanks for any advice....

 

I just installed a Magnaflow X-pipe, (true cross-over) with a set of B&B Bullets for my 2000. The X-pipe does smooth out the sound but my system is not overly loud because it still has factory Cats, (big difference). You will not get rid of exhaust burble completely - hence the beauty of more horsepower!

If you are going to change your mufflers and aren't going to put headers on anytime soon, buy a pipe for $250.00 and be done with it. Most header systems come with a X-pipe so you may want to take that into consideration. I'm not changing that anytime soon.

Install of X-pipe is very easy if you have a hoist. The back end is flanged for direct connection to you muffler system, (stock or aftermarket). The front is designed to slide over your existing pipe coming from the manifold, (once you measure it and cut it). You can use your existing hangers for the stock H-pipe on the X-pipe. The only modification I did different is that most x-pipes give you a cheap u-bolt to use in the front connection - throw that out - it hangs down way too low and will rust solid! I spent $25.00 and bought 304 stainless steel muffler straps to completely seal up the front connection. My B&B system came with good quality muffler straps for it's installation, (each side is a two part installation).

 

Where did you buy the good muffler straps?

I'm hearing good things about the X pipes, and I was pretty close to buying the pipe and putting the Corsa Pace Car cat-back system behind it. I may still do this, but I'm still gathering opinions / information etc. I'm not going with headers or cats anytime soon. My take is that the stock system is too quiet, unless I run it up through the gears. When I downshift, and let the engine slow the car, there is some cackling, not bad because the stock system is quiet, but I don't want to accentuate this with an aftermarket system.

 

I bought the muffler straps locally from a national franchise shop called "Carline Muffler." You should be able to buy the straps locally as well, (I'm sure mine were manufactured in the U.S. but I don't have the packing anymore).

 

I put a Corsa Pace Car system on my 04' and also a Borla X pipe. The car is an automatic, but there isn't any popping even if I downshift it.
Both the Corsa and the X pipe came with all the quality hardware and gaskets to install it. On one my other C5 I paid Car X to install the cat back and Borla. They charged 100.00 to do it. David

 

Well I appreciate your help, guys. I try to go about things with a little knowledge going in, and CF is a great way to gain that knowledge. As I said, the first three generations are my strength; C5s are new to me, but I sure am enjoying this ride!