Is an aftermarket exhaust really worth the $$$? - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

jmart53 · 09-01-2011, 09:36 AM

Hey everyone,

So I'm looking to order some Stainless Works 1 7/8 LT Headers here soon, I'm not quite sure if I should go with off road pipes or w/ HF cats depending on what I do with exhaust I guess.

Basically, after many reads about this topic I'm just not sure if getting an after market catback exhaust is worth the money ($900-1200, either SW or Borla) or if that could go to something else power mod wise. Since there seems to be no apparent performance gains out of them and aftermarket is mainly bought for sound purposes. Now I know people buy AM to get better sound and to eliminate the mufflers (which I agree are huge and could be weight savers) so would just keeping the OEM exhaust with a possible muffler delete be a better course of action than an AM exhaust. As my sig says I only have a CAI right now and looking to get the headers mentioned above... unsure of supercharger/turbo (that would be at least 1-2 yrs away anyway) maybe a possible mild cam in the near future since it's a DD. Also, my friends who have a TBSS and a 70 chevelle think I should do a safe shot of 100-125 of nitrous(though I don't know much about it). I think my goal is to be somewhere between 450-500rwhp for awhile before I think about SC/TT.

I know that's alot to ponder but just want to here some thoughts from some experts

THANKS

BowlingSS · 09-01-2011, 11:08 AM

I guess it depends on how you want it to sound. You could just try with just the muffer delete and go from there. If you did not like it you could then buy a catback.

Bill

RichGreene · 09-01-2011, 11:19 AM

Unless youre going to have a competition car, the axleback or muffler delete is OK. The older guys will remember the Thrush, Cherry Bomb or other Glasspacked mufflers of yesteryear, The rumble is what most are after. Unless racing.The expensive options are for bragging rights.

lkj2010 · 09-01-2011, 11:31 AM

I'm going with LG Motorsports. My neighbor has the full setup on his 2011 and it sounds beast

caverman · 09-01-2011, 11:55 AM

Try the muffler delete for now. It's cheap and will get you by until you have the money for headers. Then you might consider doing a full exhaust (headers all the way out). Some people like headers with the muffler delete but others (including myself) think it's too loud. It's all a personal prefernce though.

doctorgpharmd · 09-01-2011, 11:59 AM

Just did a Flowmaster AT axle back this morning, cost me $380 + $100 install...I was after the sound and not performance since I know exhaust doesn't really add significant hp, but damned, it sounds good now, and for not a lot of money.

Juiced1 · 09-01-2011, 02:12 PM

When you put the headers on you will be gaining all your power there. Off road pipes won't gain you much over the high flow cats so most suggest the cats. Add the headers and see if its loud enough for you. If you still need more volume look into an exhaust then.

AutoAgenda · 09-01-2011, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BowlingSS

I guess it depends on how you want it to sound. You could just try with just the muffer delete and go from there. If you did not like it you could then buy a catback.

Bill

+1

2010orange_ss · 09-01-2011, 05:04 PM

@lkj that's the setup I went with on my 2010 SS.

Anthony @ LG Motorsports · 09-01-2011, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lkj2010

I'm going with LG Motorsports. My neighbor has the full setup on his 2011 and it sounds beast

I aggree!

You are going to get the most power from the headers, cold air, and tune. The mufflers are not going to make a huge difference in power but it will in weight and sound.

You can drop almost another 15-20 lbs by going to an aftermarket muffler. Of course there is the sound as well. When you do the headers on the car, you are going to want to have some sort of muffler on the car, or most will. Running muffler deletes on a stock setup with the OEM cats and resonators will take removing the mufflers and not make your ears bleed but the added flow and power from the headers will make it almost un-bearable to drive.

mikeSS · 09-01-2011, 06:20 PM

the problem with keeping the OEM, is the mufflers hanging down look BAD. and a muffler delete might be to loud for you with headers.

Pollock · 09-01-2011, 08:36 PM

The stock cat back might sound good with headers and high flow cats and if you do not like it you can always change it later.

2010 SSRS · 09-01-2011, 08:51 PM

Flowmaster

edog · 09-01-2011, 09:08 PM

I put in DT headers and left the cat back with exhaust delete. Also, left the resonator on the oem exhaust. It was loud, but bearable. after a few months the plates in the resonator dropped and started rattling. I went with the DT setup all the way back with exhaust. I am pleased. With the headers you feel the exhaust and it rumbles.

09-01-2011, 09:36 AM	#1
jmart53 Drives: 2012 Cruze LTZ RS Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: The Badger State Posts: 564	Is an aftermarket exhaust really worth the $$$? Hey everyone, So I'm looking to order some Stainless Works 1 7/8 LT Headers here soon, I'm not quite sure if I should go with off road pipes or w/ HF cats depending on what I do with exhaust I guess. Basically, after many reads about this topic I'm just not sure if getting an after market catback exhaust is worth the money ($900-1200, either SW or Borla) or if that could go to something else power mod wise. Since there seems to be no apparent performance gains out of them and aftermarket is mainly bought for sound purposes. Now I know people buy AM to get better sound and to eliminate the mufflers (which I agree are huge and could be weight savers) so would just keeping the OEM exhaust with a possible muffler delete be a better course of action than an AM exhaust. As my sig says I only have a CAI right now and looking to get the headers mentioned above... unsure of supercharger/turbo (that would be at least 1-2 yrs away anyway) maybe a possible mild cam in the near future since it's a DD. Also, my friends who have a TBSS and a 70 chevelle think I should do a safe shot of 100-125 of nitrous(though I don't know much about it). I think my goal is to be somewhere between 450-500rwhp for awhile before I think about SC/TT. I know that's alot to ponder but just want to here some thoughts from some experts THANKS __________________

09-01-2011, 11:08 AM	#2
BowlingSS Camaro Owner Since 1987 Drives: 2011 2SS/RS L99 RJT Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Lawrenceville, GA Posts: 2,185	I guess it depends on how you want it to sound. You could just try with just the muffer delete and go from there. If you did not like it you could then buy a catback. Bill __________________ 2011 Camaro 2SS/RS L99 RJT CAI, Inc. Cold Air Induction;ADM Scoop Rx Catch Can;Rx Breather;Roto-Fab Washer Container VMax Ported RJT Throttle Body XSPower Headers and XSPower 3" Exhaust System Elite Engineering Tunnel Brace, Gorilla Wheel Lock System; Bear Rotors, Hawk HPS Tinted Windows 35%;EFILive Tune

09-01-2011, 11:55 AM	#5
caverman Drives: '69 SS Convertible Join Date: May 2009 Location: DFW, TX Posts: 7,111	Try the muffler delete for now. It's cheap and will get you by until you have the money for headers. Then you might consider doing a full exhaust (headers all the way out). Some people like headers with the muffler delete but others (including myself) think it's too loud. It's all a personal prefernce though. __________________ *-2010 Camaro* 2SS \| M6 \| VR w/White Stripes \| 1 3/4" KOOKS - 3" Magnaflow \| LPE 3.91 gears \| ADM tuned \| Halltech w/ADM Scoop \| Spohn/BMR Trailing Arm/Toe Rod \| BC Coilovers\| Pedders FE4 ZL1 swaybars \| Cradle/Diff/Radius Rod bushings \| VMax TB \| Morimoto Projectors \| MGW shifter \| Red Calipers Build Journal

09-01-2011, 08:51 PM	#13
2010 SSRS Drives: 3 V8 Camaros Join Date: May 2009 Location: The Ocean State Posts: 111,187 View My Garage	Flowmaster __________________ Jannetty Racing JRE Street Package

09-01-2011, 09:08 PM	#14
edog Drives: 2010 2SS/RS IOM Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: F'BURG VA Posts: 3,828 View My Garage	I put in DT headers and left the cat back with exhaust delete. Also, left the resonator on the oem exhaust. It was loud, but bearable. after a few months the plates in the resonator dropped and started rattling. I went with the DT setup all the way back with exhaust. I am pleased. With the headers you feel the exhaust and it rumbles. __________________ Update...Build in process, Forged Rods, Pistons and rings, Johnson Lifters, NOVI1500 ECS SC, 13lb boost or more, LS3 Conversion 114/228/241 COMP CAM, Frostbite 4 row Aluminum radiator, 6L80 built, Circle D 6L80 PRO SERIES MULTI 258MM 2D, Stock 3.45 gears, 1-7/8 American Racing Headers w/HF cat, X-Pipe, Lingenfelter dual fuel pump, E-85 flex sensor, ATI super damper pulley, Ported TB, 160 therm, Trans cooler, Pedder's sways/end links/sub frame bushings, BMR trailing arms & toe rods, Coil overs. HP/TQ pending

09-01-2011, 11:19 AM	#3
RichGreene Account Suspended Drives: 2011 1SS M6 Green 1993 Custom Eldo Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Ohio Posts: 973	Unless youre going to have a competition car, the axleback or muffler delete is OK. The older guys will remember the Thrush, Cherry Bomb or other Glasspacked mufflers of yesteryear, The rumble is what most are after. Unless racing.The expensive options are for bragging rights.

09-01-2011, 11:31 AM	#4
lkj2010 Drives: yellow Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: texas Posts: 2	I'm going with LG Motorsports. My neighbor has the full setup on his 2011 and it sounds beast

09-01-2011, 11:59 AM	#6
doctorgpharmd Banned Drives: 2011 2SS/RS Silver Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Morristown NJ Posts: 103	Just did a Flowmaster AT axle back this morning, cost me $380 + $100 install...I was after the sound and not performance since I know exhaust doesn't really add significant hp, but damned, it sounds good now, and for not a lot of money.

09-01-2011, 02:12 PM	#7
Juiced1 Account Suspended Drives: 2012 2SS CAMARO 45th Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: St. Charles, IL Posts: 18,663	When you put the headers on you will be gaining all your power there. Off road pipes won't gain you much over the high flow cats so most suggest the cats. Add the headers and see if its loud enough for you. If you still need more volume look into an exhaust then.

09-01-2011, 05:04 PM	#9
2010orange_ss Drives: 2010 orange ss Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: DFW Posts: 9	@lkj that's the setup I went with on my 2010 SS.

09-01-2011, 06:20 PM	#11
mikeSS Drives: 2015 c7 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: MI Posts: 7,462	the problem with keeping the OEM, is the mufflers hanging down look BAD. and a muffler delete might be to loud for you with headers.

09-01-2011, 08:36 PM	#12
Pollock LT4 M6 Drives: 2018 ZL1 1LE Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Bloomington, IN Posts: 1,249	The stock cat back might sound good with headers and high flow cats and if you do not like it you can always change it later.

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