Is a catback needed?
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 60
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Is a catback needed?
I have a 2000 FRC that is stock cept for a cold air intake. I want to get LT headers w/ X-pipe and no cats + a good tune. I don't want to spend $1000 on a catback if all it gives is 5hp. Can I get headers and an X-pipe , keeping the stock catback, and still get the average 30 - 40 rwhp gain from these mods?
Would it still sound pretty stock since I'd be keeping the stock catback and mufflers? Or would it sound weird and unhealthy?
Would it still sound pretty stock since I'd be keeping the stock catback and mufflers? Or would it sound weird and unhealthy?
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 124,397
Likes: 287
From: .... NJ
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05 thru '19
From what I have read on the forum for those mods with the stock mufflers should be ok. Some people prefer to put on the stock Z06 Ti, you can pick them up used for $300 to $400, I say that is a good option for you and they are light weight. Otherwise most people put on cat backs for the sound and bling factor
Racer
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 332
Likes: 0
From: Lexington Mass
Most cat backs are the best part of the exhaust of a lot of "high performance" cars, its usualy constrictive things closer to the engine that should be replaced first. Doing headers and a Xpipe with no cats will make it sound plenty mean with the stock cat back, at least for me, if its not mean enough for you theres always the bypass mod.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,314
Likes: 1
From: Chicago Illinois
You will get very little gains from a catback . Most get them for sound . If you want sound you could get straight pipes a lot cheaper. I saw some on the forum for 250.00. There is also a mod to where you can take you stock catbacks to a muffler shop And they will weld a piece of pipe so it "y"s out from the inlet to the exhaust side of the pipe giving the car a rumble. Cost about 100.00. There is a thread on it somewhere.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 18,643
Likes: 14
From: Norman Oklahoma - The Only State in the Union with no Blue Counties!
Catbacks give your engine the ability to exhale better. In order to get HP from them you must also let your engine inhale better as well. The 5+/- HP you have heard about is correct w/ catback only but that number goes up by 3 to 5 times with a good intake match... but don't expect more than a seat of the pants improvement without a good tune and maybe no seat of the pants at all without the tune.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,799
Likes: 1
From: Dayton Ohio
You could always go w/ a Z06 cat-back. You'll pick up a slightly more aggressive tone (and, IIRC, a marginal flow increase) for about $400. You'll also lose about 15-20 lbs because they're titanium. They'll never corrode, and they hold their value very well.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 4,816
Likes: 132
From: Plano TX
I like my Borlas.. 22lbs weight reduction over the stock system.. another 36 lbs from changing out the heavy runflats. 28lbs on wheels... Man I can feel a seat of the pants difference from my catbacks now..
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