Exhaust Sound/Note

[MX621]

Originally Posted by pzero

In your opinion, what sounds better? H pipe or the X pipe. I know they create different sounds. In my opinion, H pipe has the old school chop to it and the X pipe has the smooth euro sound to it. Would like to hear your thoughts on this before I change it out.

I guess it’s all personal preference. X pipe should have a little more power potential as well. I went with the short system cause it was cheaper, lol. The pop on decel doesn’t bother me at this point.

[pzero]

Originally Posted by Yessa

Your Z/28 has No Cats and No Resonators? And you kept the stock factory x pipe and mufflers ... Only added American Racing long tube headers. No decel pops or nauseous gas odors?

No it’s not just stock z/28. Its been redone all inside. Intake manifold, new air intake, new cam, new valves, new lifters, new rockers, new sleeves, all new exhaust system, and in house Hennessey tune.

Go to their website and they will detail what’s all involved. They’re not just a mod shop, their one of the best here in Houston.

[pzero]

Thanks for the input guys. I’m sold...my next project is to install x pipes and will go from there. To keep or not to keep the H pipe.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=oaJ3w_fAdoI

This is a sample what Hennessey does.

[Yessa]

Hennessey is top notch. One of the best if not the best in the world along with with Vengeance near Atlanta, or so I've heard.

[j o n]

Originally Posted by Yessa

Hennessey is top notch. One of the best if not the best in the world along with with Vengeance near Atlanta, or so I've heard.

Too many Hennessey horror stories exist on this forum, other forums, and in the media

[ronchev]

I have been back and forth with both X and H pipes on mine and personally not a fan of the sound of the X pipe. Also did a lot of research on the power differences and between the 2 there is not a very big difference in HP but if you want a couple extra HP the edge goes to the X pipe but not by much. I just like the older muscle sound vs the modern sound but when I did heads cam and intake on mine I went whey the ARH short kit at first with the long tubes and catless connecting pipes.. loved how that thing sounded with the stock catback npp exhaust but 6 month later I was headed back to the tuner/dyno anyway and wanted to see what the X pipe would do and also 3" mid pipes so I went with the ARH long kit (to keep the NPP mufflers) Results were 3 hp over stock H pipe but changed the exhaust note enough to the newer sound that I new I wasn't going to like anyway but kept like that for a year even tho I knew I wanted to make a change back. To me the the X just doesn't have that mean growl like a muscle car should or maybe its just I am old school but I just am not a fan of the X sound.

Last fall I built a custom 3" H pipe with full size 3" crossover because no one offered one and really like the sound so far, turned out very nice and I am please to get that sound back of more muscle car over the exotic car sound, no dyne/tune yet but if it turns out to be couple less HP I really don't care..Happy with sound. As far as what I have learned my advise to you would be if you do play with a X pipe just make sure you keep your stock H pipe and parts because thats the only option you have on an H pipe unless you go custom. A lot of people seem to like them but me I just prefer the older rowdier gnarly sound.

I also IMO don't think your pop sound on decell is going to make any difference with a X or an H.... it may sound different but it will still be there, The cool air meeting with worm that someone else brought up will still be the same affect. I have seen most all these cars I have been around do that same exact thing, from my experience they all do it somewhat just like the ZL1s do.. good luck

[pzero]

Originally Posted by ronchev

I have been back and forth with both X and H pipes on mine and personally not a fan of the sound of the X pipe. Also did a lot of research on the power differences and between the 2 there is not a very big difference in HP but if you want a couple extra HP the edge goes to the X pipe but not by much. I just like the older muscle sound vs the modern sound but when I did heads cam and intake on mine I went whey the ARH short kit at first with the long tubes and catless connecting pipes.. loved how that thing sounded with the stock catback npp exhaust but 6 month later I was headed back to the tuner/dyno anyway and wanted to see what the X pipe would do and also 3" mid pipes so I went with the ARH long kit (to keep the NPP mufflers) Results were 3 hp over stock H pipe but changed the exhaust note enough to the newer sound that I new I wasn't going to like anyway but kept like that for a year even tho I knew I wanted to make a change back. To me the the X just doesn't have that mean growl like a muscle car should or maybe its just I am old school but I just am not a fan of the X sound.

Last fall I built a custom 3" H pipe with full size 3" crossover because no one offered one and really like the sound so far, turned out very nice and I am please to get that sound back of more muscle car over the exotic car sound, no dyne/tune yet but if it turns out to be couple less HP I really don't care..Happy with sound. As far as what I have learned my advise to you would be if you do play with a X pipe just make sure you keep your stock H pipe and parts because thats the only option you have on an H pipe unless you go custom. A lot of people seem to like them but me I just prefer the older rowdier gnarly sound.

I also IMO don't think your pop sound on decell is going to make any difference with a X or an H.... it may sound different but it will still be there, The cool air meeting with worm that someone else brought up will still be the same affect. I have seen most all these cars I have been around do that same exact thing, from my experience they all do it somewhat just like the ZL1s do.. good luck

Thanks a bunch. That's what I thought. I just wanted someone with real experience with both the H and the X pipe opinion. H pipe will always have the old school rumble and chop. X pipe more of smooth euro car sound. I've digged and read from other car owners, yes even Mustang owners, and looks to me X pipes are really popular modern choice. Thanks again, you saved me a weekend of me playing with my pipes.

Ehh...that last sentence sounded weird. LOL!

My Z sound:
https://youtu.be/9-nDmbceveo

[ronchev]

Originally Posted by pzero

Thanks a bunch. That's what I thought. I just wanted someone with real experience with both the H and the X pipe opinion. H pipe will always have the old school rumble and chop. X pipe more of smooth euro car sound. I've digged and read from other car owners, yes even Mustang owners, and looks to me X pipes are really popular modern choice. Thanks again, you saved me a weekend of me playing with my pipes.

Ehh...that last sentence sounded weird. LOL!

My Z sound:
https://youtu.be/9-nDmbceveo

LOL something about playing and pipe, I think we all know the old saying on that one

Your car sounds right to me and I would personally just leave it the way it is, the pop out the exhaust seems to be a lot less after everything gets up to full operating temps so Im calling it normal. Even the 3rd gen camaros did this back when they were new, had a young guy that always commented on how cool that thing sounded when I pulled into work and ask what exhaust I had on it to make that rumble pop on decell, it was stock

[Supercup]

Originally Posted by j o n

Too many Hennessey horror stories exist on this forum, other forums, and in the media

+1 - I believe you should always go with someone who is local if you can or someone who has a pristine reputation, if not local. You get what you pay for when it comes to performance mods, if you do your homework first.

[j o n]

Originally Posted by Supercup

+1 - I believe you should always go with someone who is local if you can or someone who has a pristine reputation, if not local. You get what you pay for when it comes to performance mods, if you do your homework first.

John Hennessey charges a premium for a mediocre product to the average consumer. Magazines/celebrities/social media influencers do not get the same treatment as average consumers

Whatever the service/labor/skill set we shop or end up utilizing for our home or automobiles, my wife and I always have had success with businesses that actually have the owner performing the work. That's all we'll hire. We're too meticulous to just get things done and live with 'whatever results'. Happy to pay a little more and go well out of our way, if needed as well.

-Roofing
-Electrician
-Plumbing
-Carpentry
-Car detailing
-Flooring
-Yard fertilizing
-Body Shop
-State car inspection
-Tire mounting
-Paintless dent repair


At the end, they're directly impacted by the results. They're a part of everything and know what was to happen/what did happen/end result.

Whether it's our feedback on their fit/finish of the service performed, questions before/during/after, money exchanging hands... the ability for the owner of the business, who actually has control of what's going on, to be able to communicate with us is tremendous.

Too many 'middle men' being involved gets a lot details lost on the end result.

[pzero]

Originally Posted by j o n

John Hennessey charges a premium for a mediocre product to the average consumer. Magazines/celebrities/social media influencers do not get the same treatment as average consumers.

Agree. I've called and to get HPE 650 it would cost me 17G. 10G for name plate and 7G for mods. I've know them since I was a teen, I'm sure they had better reputation back then.

[Supercup]

Originally Posted by pzero

Agree. I've called and to get HPE 650 it would cost me 17G. 10G for name plate and 7G for mods. I've know them since I was a teen, I'm sure they had better reputation back then.

Not sure your age - but lawsuits against JH have been a thing for him since early 2000 and likely before.

link: https://www.carthrottle.com/post/wpqymry/

[Yessa]

Originally Posted by Supercup

Not sure your age - but lawsuits against JH have been a thing for him since early 2000 and likely before.

link: https://www.carthrottle.com/post/wpqymry/

Wow

[pzero]

Originally Posted by Supercup

Not sure your age - but lawsuits against JH have been a thing for him since early 2000 and likely before.

link: https://www.carthrottle.com/post/wpqymry/

Not telling you my age. I've known the shop since 1989. It was a small independent shop in Sealy, Texas just past Katy, Texas. I had a black 89 IROC-Z back then (it was a bad mo-fo, sure wish I still had that car). I think in early 90's or mid 90's is when he really got his name out.