I'm torn here on which path I want to take.

Path 1 I would love to put on Sport Cats (looking at the Fabspeed set due to their customer support and no CEL guarantee) and potentially the Fabspeed stainless x-pipe (no mufflers).
Path 2 is going with Eventuri CAI and the Paragon Stainless X-pipe exhaust (with paragon sims) and stock cats.
Path 3 is getting Eventuri CAI and Fabspeed sport cats and leaving the stock exhaust on.
Path 4 is going with Eventuri CAI and the Fabspeed X-pipe (with sims) exhaust and stock cats. Haven't heard any videos of the Fabspeed X-pipe alone, all the videos seem to have sport cats as well.

Curious on the communities thoughts on this. I do like the idea of chaining the Fabspeed sport cats and x-pipe together (with the simulators) for more harmony since it's both the same company.

For the price, the Paragon X-pipe is great, and seem to have great customer support. I did see a few videos where it's actually more quiet than the stock exhaust, but I assume at higher RPMS it wakes up. Again this is from what I've seen on videos but that's always hard to gauge.

My main goal is sound and pitch, and no CEL (the few people that have the Fabpseed sport cats apparently have not had CEL issues). I like the stock exhaust note alot, I just want it louder and more aggressive on drive, the startup sound with stock exhaust is great. Functionally I don't care to keep valves, every single drive I have done has been in track mode or Z Mode. Sticking with stainless due to the climate I live in for the exhaust.

Thanks

 

You write, you like the stock exhaust note.
For convenience, removing the rear bumper only once can be desirable.
You seem set to install a CAI at one point.

My vote: Path 3

My experience with cats was a nice tone improvement, not "loudness".
Heat blankets/ shields, I'll state, are necessary when installed on a C8.
Other co-members may comment on Dyno graph power delivery changes.
I did not notice any power changes, and again, just a nicer tone.

Good luck with your decision.

 

Eventuri
Ported TB
High flow cats

If after spending time with this combo you are not satisfied with the exhaust note then explore other options. High flow cats will amplify the sound and provide more pops and bangs.

 

I would ditch the Eventuri, have you seen the amount that has to be removed just to clean the filters? No need to reward that foolish lack of engineering. Sub in a Halltech, Corsa other similar brand if you must but there doesn't look like a ton of gain in the air box. There will always be possibility of a CEL with aftermarket cats.

 

If you would consider Milltek high flow cats I have a brand new set I never got a chance to install. PM if interested.

 

As someone who has done virtually every modification combo under the sun on these cars, option 3, 110%. HF Cats and Intakes are the best ROI on these cars.

OEM exhaust is pretty much straight through with the valves open so there's not a ton to be gained from swapping that out, unless you're after weight savings by deleting valves/going Ti.

HF Cats will add more volume and IMO, it's the perfect amount. I have plenty of videos of cars I've personally done if interested.

Feel free to give me a shout to discuss - happy to walk you through options and put together a package deal.

Here's Milltek Cats & Eventuri with stock catback for example:


Fabspeed/Eventuri/AWE:


- Alec
267.788.4897

 

Thank you for the feedback! I do like the stock exhaust on cold start, while driving especially higher RPM I do want more pitch and volume tho. @Kenny94945

 

oh interesting, I haven't heard of that yet. I know 2 people that have it and had to do some modification to put on with sport cats.

 

Thanks! interesting so you would keep the stock exhaust. I didn't want to go with TB yet as I didn't want to throw the kitchen sink in the event there are things to troubleshoot. My recent thought was option 1 since it's exhaust and sport cats and see how that runs for some time before moving into the CAI and TBs.

 

Thank you for the feedback. Tough decisions coming up lol. Video with the AWE and sport cats sounds substantially louder than stock with sport cats video you posted

 

sounds glorious!!!!!!!!!!!

 

ended up going with Path 1 (Fab Speed Sport Cats & X-Pipe Exhaust) I wanted to start with the exhaust side and spend a few months with that before doing anything intake wise. Thank you everyone. Also big shout out to Alec at @FORZAMOTORWORKS super helpful info and great guy to chat with. Will make sure to post impressions after

 

Let us know how it sounds and if any kinda improvment

 

Good luck with your selection. It will be crazy loud with no valves and mufflers with cats. I hope your neighbors are not right next to you and are fair distance. Lol.

 

Both the exhaust and sport cats are installed, and holy sh*t . I ended up going with the @Fabspeed_Motorsport Sport Cats and the Fabspeed Titanium Supersport X-Pipe Cat-Back Exhaust System, I was told the fit and install was a breeze, I did use new OEM gaskets as well.

First impressions: This setup is ROWDY and WILD. Startup is NOTICEABLY louder and significantly meaner. I measured 102 dB stock (on cold start) and still need to test it on this setup during a cold start. Coasting is actually totally fine, especially if you keep it under 3k RPM while going through a neighborhood. There is definitely a noticeable drone right at 3k, but only there. This was expected for a non valved system. Under load though, that’s where it comes alive. Pulling through the RPM range is an incredible experience.

One of the funniest parts is seeing little kids on bikes light up with huge smiles and their mouths open when I drove by or stopped at lights. I remember being that little kid whenever something wild drove past haha.

 

UPDATE:

IT IS STILL AWESOME, LOVING EVERY SECOND....

 

Glad you're enjoying it!! I bet it sounds amazing.