LS7 Manifold on LS3
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 187
Likes: 4
From: Austin TX
LS7 Manifold on LS3
I have been reading quite a bit on here about installing LS7 exhaust manifold/cats/h-pipe on a LS3. My '08 is a daily driver and wanting to keep it tame but love the throatier/almost choppy idle. The car currently has a B&B Fusion exhaust and love the sound for the most part, but thinking the Z06 exhaust might roughen up the idle a bit.
I love the burble of the stock h-pipe and don't want to lose that, but was wondering what the LS7 exhaust manifold would do for my current setup? From my research, the h-pipe is what keeps the burble/popping on decel, do all C6 Z06s have h-pipes or do some years have x-pipes?
I'm trying to keep the cost down, which is why not looking into cams or longtubes.
I love the burble of the stock h-pipe and don't want to lose that, but was wondering what the LS7 exhaust manifold would do for my current setup? From my research, the h-pipe is what keeps the burble/popping on decel, do all C6 Z06s have h-pipes or do some years have x-pipes?
I'm trying to keep the cost down, which is why not looking into cams or longtubes.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 187
Likes: 4
From: Austin TX
Does anyone have any links where I could hear a comparison of the factory LS3 exhaust system and LS7 exhaust into LS3 mufflers, preferable NPP?
Aftermarket works too. I'm basically trying to gauge if it is worth adding it to my BB Fusion. I'm not so much after the performance gains as I am the sound.
Aftermarket works too. I'm basically trying to gauge if it is worth adding it to my BB Fusion. I'm not so much after the performance gains as I am the sound.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 15,344
Likes: 4,009
From: Texas
Sound will be about the same, perhaps a touch louder. People make the swap for two main reasons...
- GM parts so they pass visual inspection in states like CA that have strict rules
- Add 12-15 rwhp without a tune, more with a tune
If you want more power than above and you want the car to be noticeably louder, then you need to go to headers and bullet cats.
Going to the 3" Z system is not going to "roughen up" the idle.
The x-pipe will retain the burble and popping during decel (I must admit I like the sound on my '13 which has the x-pipe
)
- GM parts so they pass visual inspection in states like CA that have strict rules
- Add 12-15 rwhp without a tune, more with a tune
If you want more power than above and you want the car to be noticeably louder, then you need to go to headers and bullet cats.
Going to the 3" Z system is not going to "roughen up" the idle.
The x-pipe will retain the burble and popping during decel (I must admit I like the sound on my '13 which has the x-pipe
)
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 187
Likes: 4
From: Austin TX
Yeah I'm not really wanting to have a tune done on it,which the more I read into longtubes was mandatory. A little more volume at idle is what I'm wanting, but I found a comparison video that had the fusion exhaust with and without headers and got me rethinking longtubes. They almost completely negated the difference between open/closed positions of the valves in the mufflers.
I'm thinking the Z06 manifold will just slightly alter what I have currently and be relatively inexpensive to boot. All while keeping factory appearance and functioning equipment.
I'm thinking the Z06 manifold will just slightly alter what I have currently and be relatively inexpensive to boot. All while keeping factory appearance and functioning equipment.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 187
Likes: 4
From: Austin TX
For you guys that have done this mod, does your muffler shop alter the Z06 mid pipe to allow the axle-back exhaust to still bolt together? I am not wanting to cut up the Fusion exhaust, in case I don't care for the LS7 parts, I want to be able to install my factory manifolds and mid pipes.
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
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 15,344
Likes: 4,009
From: Texas
For you guys that have done this mod, does your muffler shop alter the Z06 mid pipe to allow the axle-back exhaust to still bolt together? I am not wanting to cut up the Fusion exhaust, in case I don't care for the LS7 parts, I want to be able to install my factory manifolds and mid pipes.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,548
Likes: 15
From: Paris TN
For you guys that have done this mod, does your muffler shop alter the Z06 mid pipe to allow the axle-back exhaust to still bolt together? I am not wanting to cut up the Fusion exhaust, in case I don't care for the LS7 parts, I want to be able to install my factory manifolds and mid pipes.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 187
Likes: 4
From: Austin TX
My dad knows a good muffler shop and I'm gonna see if they can reduce the back end of the Z06 mid pipe to bolt to my current axle-back exhaust. If they can't, or it's going to be too difficult for them, I'm going to contact one of the speed shops in the area and see if they have a set of mid pipes off a base C6 that I can cut the end and flange off and take that to the muffler shop to reduce to. From several threads I have read, it seems that base mid pipes are basically trashed when putting anything aftermarket on, so I'm hoping to get them for next to nothing from a shop that puts on aftermarket exhausts.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 187
Likes: 4
From: Austin TX
Do any of you know a link or sound clip of ls7 exhaust manifold, cats and mid pipe on a ls3? I would really like to hear a before and after. Assuming I put the Z06 exhaust parts in front of my BB Fusion, I will try to make a quality before and after for future reference.
