Another axle back exhaust question
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 140
Likes: 10
From: twentynine palms, CA
Another axle back exhaust question
background info:
2004 z06 50k
vararam
LG motorsports street headers 1 3/4 in ,and x pipe, (no cats) NOT INSTALLED YET.
-TUNE-
So, I'm interested in updating my axle back, I'm really trying to find a specific sound, I feel that most axle backs just make the ls6 sound like a loud motorboat at idle. and decent at higher revs, I'm wanting a more old school muscle car sound, something close to the great loud, popping, cracking of old "boom tubes" from stock cars. any suggestions? I've been looking at videos on YouTube but I feel like the majority I'm seeing have the very boring deep gurgle idle, really don't like it. I feel like the more I look the more it seems I just want a mild cam sound. but aside from that, and my ability to try and describe a sound with written words, any words of encouragement gents?
2004 z06 50k
vararam
LG motorsports street headers 1 3/4 in ,and x pipe, (no cats) NOT INSTALLED YET.
-TUNE-
So, I'm interested in updating my axle back, I'm really trying to find a specific sound, I feel that most axle backs just make the ls6 sound like a loud motorboat at idle. and decent at higher revs, I'm wanting a more old school muscle car sound, something close to the great loud, popping, cracking of old "boom tubes" from stock cars. any suggestions? I've been looking at videos on YouTube but I feel like the majority I'm seeing have the very boring deep gurgle idle, really don't like it. I feel like the more I look the more it seems I just want a mild cam sound. but aside from that, and my ability to try and describe a sound with written words, any words of encouragement gents?
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,496
Likes: 353
From: Little Rock Arkansas
My opinion...
I don't think you're going to get the exact sound you're looking for from an LS. A good portion of it is the way the LS fires and the overall package of the car. You'll usually get to the realm of either being incredibly loud (typically with accompanying drone) or not loud enough, but very rarely in between and even then you can typically always tell "it's an LS" due to how it fires.
I would think also that if you're wanting to hear all the sounds the exhaust is making you may remove the mufflers completely or install a muffler that is designed with your sound aspects in mind. An example is that there are more than a few C5s that have cherry-bomb type mufflers installed between the axle back and cross over, then the axle back is straight to tails. The only negatives I could immediately see is you'll probably for sure see more drone and again as it's an LS it's still going to have that "motorboat" type and distinctive LS sound, just a lot louder.
I don't think you're going to get the exact sound you're looking for from an LS. A good portion of it is the way the LS fires and the overall package of the car. You'll usually get to the realm of either being incredibly loud (typically with accompanying drone) or not loud enough, but very rarely in between and even then you can typically always tell "it's an LS" due to how it fires.
I would think also that if you're wanting to hear all the sounds the exhaust is making you may remove the mufflers completely or install a muffler that is designed with your sound aspects in mind. An example is that there are more than a few C5s that have cherry-bomb type mufflers installed between the axle back and cross over, then the axle back is straight to tails. The only negatives I could immediately see is you'll probably for sure see more drone and again as it's an LS it's still going to have that "motorboat" type and distinctive LS sound, just a lot louder.
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
background info:
2004 z06 50k
vararam
LG motorsports street headers 1 3/4 in ,and x pipe, (no cats) NOT INSTALLED YET.
-TUNE-
So, I'm interested in updating my axle back, I'm really trying to find a specific sound, I feel that most axle backs just make the ls6 sound like a loud motorboat at idle. and decent at higher revs, I'm wanting a more old school muscle car sound, something close to the great loud, popping, cracking of old "boom tubes" from stock cars. any suggestions? I've been looking at videos on YouTube but I feel like the majority I'm seeing have the very boring deep gurgle idle, really don't like it. I feel like the more I look the more it seems I just want a mild cam sound. but aside from that, and my ability to try and describe a sound with written words, any words of encouragement gents?
2004 z06 50k
vararam
LG motorsports street headers 1 3/4 in ,and x pipe, (no cats) NOT INSTALLED YET.
-TUNE-
So, I'm interested in updating my axle back, I'm really trying to find a specific sound, I feel that most axle backs just make the ls6 sound like a loud motorboat at idle. and decent at higher revs, I'm wanting a more old school muscle car sound, something close to the great loud, popping, cracking of old "boom tubes" from stock cars. any suggestions? I've been looking at videos on YouTube but I feel like the majority I'm seeing have the very boring deep gurgle idle, really don't like it. I feel like the more I look the more it seems I just want a mild cam sound. but aside from that, and my ability to try and describe a sound with written words, any words of encouragement gents?
YES, you can spice it up to make it like you want it BUT, it will still have the LS Engine gurgle/burble.
Bill
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 2,308
Likes: 159
From: LaGrange Park, IL IL
St. Jude Donor '13, '15
I personally have GHL Bullets and they sound fantastic, but have some drone.
Unfortunately they are no longer made.
If I had to do it again, I would probably take a real hard look at the new Borla Atak. They are loud, great deep Borla sound, and the newest lineup supposedly has no drone like older Borla Stingers did.
Last edited by imgn tht; Apr 10, 2018 at 08:15 PM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 140
Likes: 10
From: twentynine palms, CA
Lots of folks here LOVE Corsas, but I've always found them to be a bit to high pitched in the upper rpms. In fact when I hear someone describe the sound as "exotic", it should tell you everything you need to know.
I personally have GHL Bullets and they sound fantastic, but have some drone.
Unfortunately they are no longer made.
If I had to do it again, I would probably take a real hard look at the new Borla Atak. They are loud, great deep Borla sound, and the newest lineup supposedly has no drone like older Borla Stingers did.
I personally have GHL Bullets and they sound fantastic, but have some drone.
Unfortunately they are no longer made.
If I had to do it again, I would probably take a real hard look at the new Borla Atak. They are loud, great deep Borla sound, and the newest lineup supposedly has no drone like older Borla Stingers did.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,185
Likes: 641
From: Garland TX
Agreed with the firing order in making the LS not give off the deep rumble you are looking for. IMO by far an old 302 foxbody gives off that deep american muscle sound.
I have Borla XR1 longtubes with no cats matted to Corsa Extremes. I love way this sounds and the best part is I can carry on a conversation while cruising.
I have Borla XR1 longtubes with no cats matted to Corsa Extremes. I love way this sounds and the best part is I can carry on a conversation while cruising.
Last edited by Not4spd; Apr 10, 2018 at 08:45 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,185
Likes: 265
From: Virginia
Well your best bet on finding the sound you're looking for would be to spend a good amount of time on youtube. I love my Borla Atak system but if I had to do it all over again I would consider just putting a couple of electric cutouts in and calling it a day. You may need a cam to get what you are looking for, but if you've never looked into cutouts then look them up, I used to have them on my trans am and loved them.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 987
Likes: 224
From: Motor City, MI
Your tis will sound entirely different after you swap the headers and midpipe. I have long tubes with cats and tis (cam also) and I love the sound. Reasonably quiet until you press the go pedal then she wakes up. There are certainly much louder options out there but you have a nice set that flow very well. It's worth hearing them before you replace them.
And no, unfortunately, an LS will never sound like my 69 Camaro with headers and two chamber Flowmasters. If anyone can make that happen sign me up!
And no, unfortunately, an LS will never sound like my 69 Camaro with headers and two chamber Flowmasters. If anyone can make that happen sign me up!