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Replace Exhaust from head to toe. Question.

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Old Jun 8, 2009 | 12:33 PM
  #1  
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Default Replace Exhaust from head to toe. Question.

I'm trying to price a full exhaust system. I want my vette to sound mean. I realize it won't lope with the stock cam, but I'm pretty sure it could still sound pretty nasty.

I think the exhaust breaks down like so...

Headers ---> X pipe ---> High flow Cats ---> Muffler ---> Tips

Did I miss anything? Is my order wrong?

I'm trying to price a full system From headers to Tips, but I want to make sure I include everything I'll need for the switch.

I realize everyone has their favorite brand, does anyone have reviews, or their personal input on what exhaust system they liked?

I'm trying to collect opinions on what the top 4 or 5 systems would be, so I could try to hear them and decide what I like best.

Thanks for the input.
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Old Jun 8, 2009 | 12:54 PM
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Default Billy Boat Performance Exhaust systems

B&B PRT Exhaust System with Quad Round Tips Corvette C5 1997-04.


All Billy Boat Performance Exhaust systems for the C5 and C6 come complete with mounting hardware and are direct replacement for stock exhaust systems. Attention to detail in manufacturing means easy installation. No machining. No down time. Just a faster, better sounding, better looking and more muscular Corvette right out of the box.

All Billy Boat Performance Exhaust products are hand built using aircraft quality T304 stainless steel, backed by a lifetime warranty against rust, corrosion or burn through and a two year warranty against materials and workmanship.
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Old Jun 8, 2009 | 01:03 PM
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Your going to get 50+ different opinions and there all going to be correct! Your absolute best route is to find people in your area that have aftermarket exhaust and if you like the sound,,,COPY IT! Ride in the car and make sure you hear it on the highway, around town and when the car is crusing at normal highway speeds in overdrive.

Opinions, sound clips and words on a website will NOT tell you what you want to know. You have to expierence the sound.

Finding a system that is loud is easy. Finding one that is LOUD and does not have an ANNOYING INTERIOR DRONE is another. If you pick one that has bad drone,,,,you will be selling it and finding another very soon... Yea, yea,,i know,,,if its too loud your too old. Like I said previously, loud is Ok...DRONE is BAD!!

I personaly have a complete STAINLESS WORKS 3" system and really like it. It is moderately loud and has little or no drone on the ZO6 engine with headers. I just did a heads and cam install last year and the exhaust is NOTICEABLY LOUDER and has a little more drone than it did prior to the MODs. See what I mean about expierence it copy it. That means engine mods also.

Hope this helps
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Old Jun 8, 2009 | 01:13 PM
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don't forget your band clamps..... and your exhaust manifold gaskets
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Old Jun 8, 2009 | 01:16 PM
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Originally Posted by Bill Curlee
Your going to get 50+ different opinions and there all going to be correct! Your absolute best route is to find people in your area that have aftermarket exhaust and if you like the sound,,,COPY IT! Ride in the car and make sure you hear it on the highway, around town and when the car is crusing at normal highway speeds in overdrive.

Opinions, sound clips and words on a website will NOT tell you what you want to know. You have to expierence the sound.

Finding a system that is loud is easy. Finding one that is LOUD and does not have an ANNOYING INTERIOR DRONE is another. If you pick one that has bad drone,,,,you will be selling it and finding another very soon... Yea, yea,,i know,,,if its too loud your too old. Like I said previously, loud is Ok...DRONE is BAD!!


I personaly have a complete STAINLESS WORKS 3" system and really like it. It is moderately loud and has little or no drone on the ZO6 engine with headers. I just did a heads and cam install last year and the exhaust is NOTICEABLY LOUDER and has a little more drone than it did prior to the MODs. See what I mean about expierence it copy it. That means engine mods also.

Hope this helps
Spot on
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Old Jun 8, 2009 | 01:21 PM
  #6  
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Originally Posted by LightFighter_GXP
don't forget your band clamps..... and your exhaust manifold gaskets
I realize everyone is going to have their own opinions of what sounds good and what doesn't.

I'm not 100% sure what parts I need to look at replacing.

Example:

A kit says it comes with long tube headers, and high flow cats... ok, so I still need an X pipe, mufflers and tips?

Does that make sense at all? What are a list of parts that are needed to fully replace the exhaust system... I need to make sure the kits come with gaskets, and band clamps....ect.

I just read about a lot of kits, and know what parts I need to replace based on what they come with, so I'm sure I'm missing something.

Thanks for the feed back guys!
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Old Jun 8, 2009 | 01:44 PM
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Default exhaust

When you buy your headers, stay w/ their brand of x pipe and get the hi flow cats from them too. Now all you need is the cat back system. This c/back system, can be of any of your choice. It will bolt up to your other pipes. I would stay w/ a 1 3/4" headers, being that a 1 7/8inch system is much harder system to squeeze in. Hope this helps, and good luck.
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Old Jun 8, 2009 | 01:49 PM
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You need to buy two things.... a header "kit" and a catback system. The header setup will come with evertything from the heads to the catback... they generally are comprised of headers, x-pipe w/ or w/o cats, mid-pipes. Then you'll buy a catback which hooks up to the bits you just installed. Most aftermarket catbacks come in multiple pieces whereas the oem ones are one piece with no joints.
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Old Jun 8, 2009 | 04:29 PM
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Originally Posted by Pchild
I'm trying to price a full exhaust system. I want my vette to sound mean. I realize it won't lope with the stock cam, but I'm pretty sure it could still sound pretty nasty.

I think the exhaust breaks down like so...

Headers ---> X pipe ---> High flow Cats ---> Muffler ---> Tips

Did I miss anything? Is my order wrong?

Looks like I'll be first to comment on the layout. Here's how the correct order goes:

Headers ---> high flow cats ---> x-pipe ----> Mufflers (optional)--->tips.

If you want mean, get the Borla Straight pipes. I've got em and swear by them. They're loud, cheap, and lighter than mufflers. They're not overly loud if you're not revving your motor. You can creep around apartments and quiet neighborhoods at night if your rpm is below 2000.
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Old Jun 8, 2009 | 04:31 PM
  #10  
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Originally Posted by bumble-z
When you buy your headers, stay w/ their brand of x pipe and get the hi flow cats from them too. Now all you need is the cat back system. This c/back system, can be of any of your choice. It will bolt up to your other pipes. I would stay w/ a 1 3/4" headers, being that a 1 7/8inch system is much harder system to squeeze in. Hope this helps, and good luck.
Thanks for the info. That helps alot.

So you can mix and match Header Systems and Catback systems.

I like the sound of the B&B PRT from what I've seen. I need to meet some corvette owners with this installed =P
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Old Jun 8, 2009 | 05:20 PM
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Originally Posted by Pchild
Thanks for the info. That helps alot.

So you can mix and match Header Systems and Catback systems.

I like the sound of the B&B PRT from what I've seen. I need to meet some corvette owners with this installed =P
The B&B and Borla choice was painful for me. Sometimes I still wonder what my catback would sound like if I put in a B&B or SLP Loudmouth.

But I'm happy with what I have. I like the whine of the Borla a little more than the rumble of the B&B.

On the bright side, I plan on going with the LG Pro headers and they're made by the same manufacturer. So it should sound great.
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Old Jun 8, 2009 | 05:58 PM
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In 2003, I bought my LG long tube pro's, x pipe, Hi flo cats , for my 03 Z 06 , LG suggested the hi flows, after the x pipe. I had also bought the 3" adaptor pipe to eliminate the cats. I took the cats off after the first year and installed the by pass pipes. Good luck w/your decission.
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