Just how restrictive are stock catbacks?
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,706
Likes: 2
From: Valrico Florida
Originally Posted by Patches
Some good suggestions above. I'll weigh in with some of my trial-and-error experience that may or may not help.
I first installed Magnaflows w/ x-pipe at ~500 mi. Excellent V8 baritone. Low volume compared to most aftermarket systems. No resonance with my otherwise stock setup. The Magnaflows are very heavy but thequality is top notch.
I added FLP headers. Mild increase in volume but mostly a sharp, more defined exhaust note.
Added S2 heads and 229/229/112 cam along with VaraRam intake. Very significant increase in volume along with the requisite lope . However, the volume increase was not quite at the levels I expected.
So I swapped the Magnaflows for 2-tip Borla Stingers. Sounded like Saturday night at the track. Very loud, aggressive and in-your-face. Very cool but now I was unable to start the car between 10PM-10AM in my quiet subd for fear the local gendarmes would rain down upon my home. The Stingers are lightweight and look and sound badazz but you gotta' want the badboy sound. No quieting these things with h/c. I loved this setup but it was just too much for me to realistically live with. Plus, the resonance was brain-splitting. What is weird is my wife loved the sound and said she didn't notice the resonance.
Finally swapped the Z06 Ti's in place of the Stingers. Then I added a set of QTP cutouts. So now, I can "have it my way" - either stealth as I creep through the subd late at night or way beyond what the Stingers were on the highway or country backroads where the cows ignore me anyway. Plus, the resonance is almost non-existant.
I've noticed lots of folks back peddling into the Ti's or something milder lately after doing top-end motor work. As I learned, you need to watch what you ask for - you might just get it.
Best of luck in your search.
I first installed Magnaflows w/ x-pipe at ~500 mi. Excellent V8 baritone. Low volume compared to most aftermarket systems. No resonance with my otherwise stock setup. The Magnaflows are very heavy but thequality is top notch.
I added FLP headers. Mild increase in volume but mostly a sharp, more defined exhaust note.
Added S2 heads and 229/229/112 cam along with VaraRam intake. Very significant increase in volume along with the requisite lope . However, the volume increase was not quite at the levels I expected.
So I swapped the Magnaflows for 2-tip Borla Stingers. Sounded like Saturday night at the track. Very loud, aggressive and in-your-face. Very cool but now I was unable to start the car between 10PM-10AM in my quiet subd for fear the local gendarmes would rain down upon my home. The Stingers are lightweight and look and sound badazz but you gotta' want the badboy sound. No quieting these things with h/c. I loved this setup but it was just too much for me to realistically live with. Plus, the resonance was brain-splitting. What is weird is my wife loved the sound and said she didn't notice the resonance.
Finally swapped the Z06 Ti's in place of the Stingers. Then I added a set of QTP cutouts. So now, I can "have it my way" - either stealth as I creep through the subd late at night or way beyond what the Stingers were on the highway or country backroads where the cows ignore me anyway. Plus, the resonance is almost non-existant.
I've noticed lots of folks back peddling into the Ti's or something milder lately after doing top-end motor work. As I learned, you need to watch what you ask for - you might just get it.
Best of luck in your search.
Wise words..
Racer
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 250
Likes: 0
From: Tampa Florida
Really good feedback, Patches! 
Adding to his I'm running a fairly hot naturally aspirated setup pushing 420 at the wheels. For exhaust I'm running TPiS Headers, Random Technologies X-Pipe & Cats (Had to gut them, though) and the GHL's w/Bulls Eye Tips. The sound is as nasty as it gets. I'm running a very hot cam to boot and this thing wakes up the dogs for blocks. The GHL's look and sound great but loud as heck! I'm now considering another CatBack setup before the Home Owners Association serves me notice.
Good Luck!
Adding to his I'm running a fairly hot naturally aspirated setup pushing 420 at the wheels. For exhaust I'm running TPiS Headers, Random Technologies X-Pipe & Cats (Had to gut them, though) and the GHL's w/Bulls Eye Tips. The sound is as nasty as it gets. I'm running a very hot cam to boot and this thing wakes up the dogs for blocks. The GHL's look and sound great but loud as heck! I'm now considering another CatBack setup before the Home Owners Association serves me notice.
Good Luck!
