I have a stock 2004 C5 coupe. Which will give me the biggest bang for the buck, Dynatech Headers, Hi-Flow Cats, X-pipe Exhaust or, Corsa Touring Edition Exhaust System? This is my daily driver. I'm thinking about Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Run Flat tires when the OEMs need replacing to lower the road noise so I don't want a screamer except during lauch. Suggestions on best bang for buck to get more pones?

 

Headers all the way! The Corsa's wont give you any power gain. The headers will with a tune and they will sound pretty good even with a stock exhaust.

 

Cat-back exahust only does not really gain you any power, just cool sound. Headers will help the sound, plus, if you tune your car you will get more power..and Headers are good for other future mods down the road if you decide to add a blower or heads/cam.

 

Headers

 

Thanks for the input

 

Compare the flow rates of the stock exhaust to the Corsa. If you change to headers with high flow cats and x-pipe but leave the stock cat back in place you won't be getting the full value of the headers and other components because the set up won't flow or scavange much better if the exhaust has to flow into the restrictive stock exhaust.

If you can't do everything at once, I would do the cat back first and then the headers and hi- flow cats later.

I got an improvement from the Corsa Touring and the sound was great. Then when I did the headers and mid section the whole thing came alive - and the tune was great because all the components were matched for maximum flow.

You are going to have to tune it anyway to take advantage of the headers and if you don't have the higher flowing a non-restrictive cat back the tune may not get you all the power the car could make. So you wasted your money on the headers and tune.

None of this is cheap so you don't want to waste your tune $$$ by not having a full perfomance exhaust from the headers to the cat back. You will also want to change the intake to something like a Blackwing or other hi flow Cold Air Intake. You can't get any more air out or through the motor with your headers if you are not letting more air in.

The Corsa exhaust and a Blackwing CAI are a good first step mods. You can do the headers and rest of the exhaust later.

There are plenty of web sites to research about how to make your engine breath better and that is what headers and hi flowing exhausts are all about. Also remember that good sound doesn't always mean power or "fast car." There are a lot of Mustang GTs out there with a great exhaust note and "mean" sound that are slow. The Corsa Touring which I have sounds good but its not obnoxious, flows great and makes great power. At WOT it roars. Do your home work before you buy anything.

 

Improved performance or improved sound? You choose. Headers = improved performance ( and sound better too). Cat back = sound change.

I've have Dynatech Supermaxx system + tune with stock exhaust. I have significantly improved performance and the sound does change for the better.

 

Headers FTW

 

Headers then bypass mod.

 

Go with the Headers and a Good Dyno Tune. I recently had Jeff from Next Level Performance install a set of LG Street Long tubes on my '04 Convertible along with a Dyno Tune. Already had a Blackwing installed. After the install and the tune close to 340hp & 357 torque to the wheels. Still have the stock exhaust at this point.

 

Well, I went ahead and put the long tube headers, x-pipe, cat-back, and corsa touring on, ... WOW

So is a dyno tune worth the bucks? would it still be a dependable ride, (my daily driver)

 

With a tune it will be MORE dependable then it is now as they will get the A/F ratios cleaned up, not to mention it will have a lot more power.

 

Absolutely!!!

 

WELL SAID