Factory exhaust question
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,160
Likes: 171
Factory exhaust question
I have google imaged for a pic of the stock exhaust and couldnt come up with any good pics. How is the factory exhaust setup. Headers to xpipe with cats to axle back? Heres the reason I ask. I bought the Borla muffler delete axle back. I know its gonna be loud so I am thinking of keeping the cats to quiet it down a little. When I buy longtubes, do I also buy an xpipe and will those all bolt up to the factory cats?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 6,835
Likes: 302
From: Columbia SC
I tried to copy a picture of the stock exhaust but could not figure out how to get it into this post. With that said, you have manifolds that then bolt to the center piping, which in turn bolts to the tail pipe section with mufflers. The center section has the cats in it. The center section is not an X-pipe but does have a cross over between the left and right piping. If you put in headers you will need a new center section unless you want to do some significant piping mods and then the center section piping will/should be smaller in diameter than the header exit. You may not be able to then make the OEM cats fit in the space since the long tube headers are longer. If you go with headers you should get the center section designed for headers. They can be designed no cats or high flow cats. Most people like the high flow cats since it helps prevent the smell of fuel and still are very good high performance pieces.
You also need to consider if the header center section will be the same size as your Borla section. Much to consider.
You also need to consider if the header center section will be the same size as your Borla section. Much to consider.
Last edited by dadaroo; Feb 6, 2014 at 11:37 AM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,243
Likes: 5
From: Loveland CO
Stock Exhaust manifolds bolt to a H-Pipe which have the cats in them. If you are doing Headers, then you will want a new Mid-pipe (will have a X built in) with or without cats (your choice, you can order either way) and then that will bolt to either stock mufflers or aftermarket mufflers. Now you can run shorty headers and replace the stock "H" with a aftermarket "X". that will retain your factory cats and midpipe. then you can change the mufflers if you want. Alot of guys run Catted Xpipe with LT headers and stock C5 Z06 Ti mufflers (Titanium), sounds good and performs great. should be able to find videos on here or youtube.
Stock LS1 Manifolds:
Stock Cats & H-Pipe
Stock Mufflers with Axle pipes:
Stock LS1 Manifolds:
Stock Cats & H-Pipe
Stock Mufflers with Axle pipes:
Last edited by RedZMonte; Feb 6, 2014 at 11:51 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,645
Likes: 65
Stock Exhaust manifolds bolt to a H-Pipe which have the cats in them. If you are doing Headers, then you will want a new Mid-pipe (will have a X built in) with or without cats (your choice, you can order either way) and then that will bolt to either stock mufflers or aftermarket mufflers. Now you can run shorty headers and replace the stock "H" with a aftermarket "X". that will retain your factory cats and midpipe. then you can change the mufflers if you want. Alot of guys run Catted Xpipe with LT headers and stock C5 Z06 Ti mufflers (Titanium), sounds good and performs great. should be able to find videos on here or youtube.
Stock LS1 Manifolds:
Stock Cats & H-Pipe
Stock Mufflers with Axle pipes:
Stock LS1 Manifolds:
Stock Cats & H-Pipe
Stock Mufflers with Axle pipes:
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,243
Likes: 5
From: Loveland CO
If you dont quite like how it sounds with the borla straight pipes, borla also makes a little add on piece to clean it up and tone it down a little. It is a small muffler with a "X" Built in to smooth out the sound. The "X" will clean up the sound and make it a little smoother less motor boaty sounding.
Borla 60061:
Borla 60061:
Last edited by RedZMonte; Feb 6, 2014 at 03:34 PM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,160
Likes: 171
Thanks for clearing that up everyone. Now, to make sure I got this straight, I could get long tube headers, connected to the Borla xpipe with resonators, to the Borla axle back that I already have, correct? Cats deleted.
The Borla xpipe is just that right, a replacement xpipe but with resonators?
The Borla xpipe is just that right, a replacement xpipe but with resonators?
Last edited by ascastil; Feb 6, 2014 at 08:59 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 6,835
Likes: 302
From: Columbia SC
Thanks for clearing that up everyone. Now, to make sure I got this straight, I could get long tube headers, connected to the Borla xpipe with resonators, to the Borla axle back that I already have, correct? Cats deleted.
The Borla xpipe is just that right, a replacement xpipe but with resonators?
The Borla xpipe is just that right, a replacement xpipe but with resonators?
PS: Also, don't assume all headers that "fit" your car engine will have the exit flanges in the right spatial dimension to mate up with the Borla system center section you want. It could be too high, too low, too left, or too right, or a combination.
Designed and custom built many exhaust systems for my cars and friends.
Last edited by dadaroo; Feb 7, 2014 at 12:31 PM.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,243
Likes: 5
From: Loveland CO
Agree ^^^^^^^^^^^^
What headers are you considering? If you are running shorty headers then it will bolt to the stock cats/hpipe, then you can run the borla X pipe (resonator or just pipe) and attach your borla straight pipes.
If you run Long tube headers then....
You need to decide what headers you are going to run then from there we will need to know if the headers you have are going to have a Midpipe (X pipe with or without cats) before you can say yes or no. Some brands sell just the headers without a mid pipe, if thats the case it will require a shop to "ADAPT" it to your stock exhaust (not hard to do). if you buy some with a midpipe it will bolt up to stock catback (or aftermarket) because it will have flanges in the stock location.
If you have the borla exhaust pipes now, I say install them and see how they sound to you... if its too Loud or raspy for your liking then that may help you decide what you are going to do upfront. Keep in mind LT headers will make them a little louder and deeper sounding.
S
What headers are you considering? If you are running shorty headers then it will bolt to the stock cats/hpipe, then you can run the borla X pipe (resonator or just pipe) and attach your borla straight pipes.
If you run Long tube headers then....
You need to decide what headers you are going to run then from there we will need to know if the headers you have are going to have a Midpipe (X pipe with or without cats) before you can say yes or no. Some brands sell just the headers without a mid pipe, if thats the case it will require a shop to "ADAPT" it to your stock exhaust (not hard to do). if you buy some with a midpipe it will bolt up to stock catback (or aftermarket) because it will have flanges in the stock location.
If you have the borla exhaust pipes now, I say install them and see how they sound to you... if its too Loud or raspy for your liking then that may help you decide what you are going to do upfront. Keep in mind LT headers will make them a little louder and deeper sounding.
S
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,160
Likes: 171
I was thinking Kooks long tubes. Just need a way to get them to connect to the Borla xpipe I guess if thats an option. Ive gotten a true dual exhaust made for my Fbody with long tubes, maybe a good shop can get these to connect together somehow.
I hated the small exhaust tips and pulled the trigger on the muffler deletes, now I gotta quiet them down, lol.
I hated the small exhaust tips and pulled the trigger on the muffler deletes, now I gotta quiet them down, lol.