new to gm need help
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 111
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From: Georgetown TX
im looking into buying a used uncatted mid pipe off of a 04 zo6 will that bolt right onto my stock manifolds? i just want to add some growl to the car for now since its so cheap. so how restrictive is the stock catback on my c5? i would eventually go to long tubes and go to an X
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 4,933
Likes: 30
From: San Rafael CA
im looking into buying a used uncatted mid pipe off of a 04 zo6 will that bolt right onto my stock manifolds? i just want to add some growl to the car for now since its so cheap. so how restrictive is the stock catback on my c5? i would eventually go to long tubes and go to an X
1) stuff like removing the cats, going to an X-pipe, whatever, will not change your engine's performance. Will it change the sound ??? Very definately. I have yet to see ANYONE show a change of more than 5 HP by changing exhaust parts, and that "change" is easily within the "margin of error" on a dyno.
2) GM Powertrain has spent 100's of MILLIONS of dollars "tuning" the LSx engine for use in the Corvette, trucks, and other GM vehicles (Monaro). If you had said, 20 years ago, that a small block engine with an OHV layout could get 30 MPG on the freeway, produce +400 HP, be virtually pollution free, and have a 200 THOUSAND mile (or higher) service life ..... you'd have been locked up as a lunatic. BOTTOM LINE ... you are not gonna get 20 HP ... or 30 HP more out of these engines "for a few bucks" ..... you want HP .... you're gonna pay for it. It will either cost direct dollars (heads and cam), in driveability and comfort, in service life, in fuel mileage/pollution control .... or some combination of them.
People like EnglandGreen are the experts ... people that tell you that the MSD wires or the coolant bypass tube for the Throttle Body will gain you (pick a number) 5 ... 10 ... 30 ... 50 HP are just clueless.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
There are 10-15+ different exhaust systems for C5s out there READY TO BE INSTALLED. They ALL claim massive HP increases. BS
You be lucky to see 10 HP. Purchase exhaust systems for SOUND QUALITY only!!!!!! Find another C5 with an aftermarket exhaust system that you really like and COPY IT if you like it!
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 4,933
Likes: 30
From: San Rafael CA
If all you want to change is the sound of the car, look at changing out the muffler system. If you want a mild change, the Z06 Ti exhaust is a good choice. If you want a more radical sound, there are many systems out there ... Corsa, B&B, Magnaflow ..... whatever ....
Removing your cats will do nothing other than ....
* Make the car VERY loud
* Make the car smell of unburned hydrocarbons
* Break the law
* Make the car hard to sell in the future
I'm constantly amazed at how many people think that getting rid of the cats will "improve" the vehicle ..... it is plain and simple a STUPID thing to do.
