Exhaust benefits (Cat-Back vs Axle) ?

[Verio]

What is the benefit of a Cat-Back vs an Axle Back exhaust system?

What kind of performance gain differences?

I keep reading "flow better", but I'm really looking for numbers, or something to base data on.

Thanks!

[ZZcamaro]

Here are my thoughts....and I have installed and tested both:

An axle-back at this point is really just for sound. You may see a 1 or 2 Horsepower difference buyt that is not even worth mentioning on this car.

The Cat-Back system will replace a lot of piping that from the factory is very restrictive...That is where you get the HP gain. A gain of 10HP would not be uncommon in a good Cat-Back system. It is the smooter flow of the cat-back which makes the big diference, and also a great sound.

The biggest exhaust mod you can make, and the biggest HP gain, would be long-tube headers...You can gain 45 HP at the wheels with a tune with the ARH kit.

If you are looking for pricing or ordering info please get in touch, I will hook you up.

Hope that helped!

[radz28]

A CB interests me most because I can run bigger 3-inch pipes, opposed to the smaller OEM pipes and crimps. I also want to ditch any resonators. The mufflers look like the flow really well (the appearance is a different story...). I'll be desiding my CB based off of flow and sound, because I'm planning on FI (if it won't come from GM with it, I'll do it myself) and with some CARB-legal shorties, I'd like the least amount of restriction available. Since you only get so much with shorties, I'm hoping I can get some improvement with the rest of the exhaust.

I'll be waiting on numbers from CBs from companies who offer 3-inch pipes and see where to go from there. I think SW, Magnaflow, and I'm sure a few others are already out.

[Ltdodge]

well it also depends on either the LS3 or L99.

the LS3 exhaust has 4 small cats a h-pipe, 2 resonators and 2 mufflers. all the piping is 2.5" manderl bent stainless.

the L99 has much more stuff under there

the borla catback connects after the cats, then it has a x-pipe then the 2 mufflers. (it eliminates the resonators).

what i plan on doing is getting the axle back, then remove the stock resonators and place a straight pipe. remove the stock h pipe and replace with a x-pipe from magnaflow. it should be the same as borla except with the price...

borla axle back is $600, magnaflow x-pipe is $89.00 and labor from an exhaust shop may be $150 with new straight pipes. under $850.00

[deft]

I got my magnaflow catback (comp series) for less than $700....and install was a snap.

[ZZcamaro]

Originally Posted by deft

I got my magnaflow catback (comp series) for less than $700....and install was a snap.

I agree the Magnaflow would be a good option, they sound awesome, and fit perfect.

If you need pricing or ordering info let me know.

[Verio]

I have the L99, so a cat-back option sounds the best for me. Just seems like a huge price increase from the 400 bucks for an axleback to 1400? Considering it should just be a straight pipe with a X pipe in there.

[ZZcamaro]

You need to think though...The stainless is very expensive...and the axle-back from either Borla or Magnaflow would cost you 500-600, and their cat-back is about double that.

It is worth it to get rid of the darn resonator under your car and smoot out those pipes!!

[Ltdodge]

Originally Posted by ZZcamaro

You need to think though...The stainless is very expensive...and the axle-back from either Borla or Magnaflow would cost you 500-600, and their cat-back is about double that.

It is worth it to get rid of the darn resonator under your car and smoot out those pipes!!

on the LS3 the resonators are small so the length and price of the pipe less than the L99

[Verio]

What about the pricing on this one? Almost can't beat it.

http://www.lmperformance.com/53587/119.html

19.5% increased performance than stock on an L99... hmm

[ZZcamaro]

Corsa makes a good system, but I like a little deeper tone.

I do carry the Corsa, and I actually have 8 of them in stock right now at my warehouse. It would take me a couple of days to process.

The Borla, and the Magnaflow would be a similar option with a deeper tone.

[nards444]

you may get bigger pipe than factory going cat back. But to me for double to triple the price your not really going to get anything special out of it. If your just going for sound do axle back. Now if you want performance then do cat back, but cat back isnt going to do much performance wise unless you have headers

[Verio]

Originally Posted by nards444

you may get bigger pipe than factory going cat back. But to me for double to triple the price your not really going to get anything special out of it. If your just going for sound do axle back. Now if you want performance then do cat back, but cat back isnt going to do much performance wise unless you have headers

I want to get Shorties eventually... but it's not in my price bracket at the moment.

[CamaroSpike23]

Originally Posted by ZZcamaro

Here are my thoughts....and I have installed and tested both:

An axle-back at this point is really just for sound. You may see a 1 or 2 Horsepower difference buyt that is not even worth mentioning on this car.

The Cat-Back system will replace a lot of piping that from the factory is very restrictive...That is where you get the HP gain. A gain of 10HP would not be uncommon in a good Cat-Back system. It is the smooter flow of the cat-back which makes the big diference, and also a great sound.

The biggest exhaust mod you can make, and the biggest HP gain, would be long-tube headers...You can gain 45 HP at the wheels with a tune with the ARH kit.

If you are looking for pricing or ordering info please get in touch, I will hook you up.

Hope that helped!

you are half right on that. but the most restrictive points on this cars exhaust are the stock manifolds and the catalytic converters. from the cats back you wont gain a whole lot. the sound will change more than the power will.


but you are correct on the long tube comments. I'll have to look for it, but there was a company that slapped a set of long tubes with high flow cats on an SS and gained ~35hp untuned. and around 50 tuned. with the stock air box.