Headers & Cat Back Exhaust

[SamSS]

Originally Posted by HeavyD

The debate of aftermarket mods and their effect on warranty kinda goes on and on. Generally the dealer would have to prove your add-on caused the failure should something break. With Long Tube headers because you are eliminating the factory Cats, either all together, or installing high flow aftermarket ones, the engine computer won't get the expected O2 readings from the O2 sensors. The ECM thinks something is wrong and sends out the "Check Engine Light", and I believe it derates the engine power too. The only way to get around this is to reprogram the engine with a custom, NON-GM, program. If you power train has some kind of problem and you then go the dealer they are required by GM to include the ECM programming version in order to get the claim approved for warranty. OOOps, your ECM doesn't have a GM program anymore, therefore, no warranty! Ultimately in the end, it is up to the dealer on how they will handle this. If you have a custom tune, it is too easy for the dealer to turn their back on you. Personally, for me, I want my warranty. The powertrain is the most expensive section of the car. Part of the price you paid for the car is for the warranty. I won't be throwing that away just to get an extra 20 hp. I also have a L99. I will be installing a Roto-Fab intake, Borla or Thorley shorty headers and MBRP catback system that is designed for the L99. You can do all this and keep your stock program and still get respectable hp gains and awesome sound! If you have problem then the dealer would have to prove the bolt on caused it!

Thanks for the info. I don't think I'll be getting headers for a while. Just gonna get the Magnaflow 2.5" comp series cat-back system and cold air intake. The cold air intake won't need tuning, right?

[HeavyD]

Right!

[firengnred]

Just gonna get the Magnaflow 2.5" comp series cat-back system and cold air intake.

Dude....... forget the cat back. Waste of money. Stock system is already very efficient stainless mandrel bent tubing. Get Magnaflow X-Pipe muffler part# 14379 to replace the resonator and the Axle back comp series. $600 installed. Half the price of the cat back. Use the savings for the CAI or tune.

[IPS Brandon]

Originally Posted by caverman

Which Magnaflow cat-back? The Comp series or the Street series?

We leave that as an option for the client usually. But Typically the comp series is chosen.

Not all cold air intakes require tuning, but to maximize the performance you will want a tune to adjust for the increased air flow.

[axis]

Originally Posted by firengnred

Dude....... forget the cat back. Waste of money. Stock system is already very efficient stainless mandrel bent tubing. Get Magnaflow X-Pipe muffler part# 14379 to replace the resonator and the Axle back comp series. $600 installed. Half the price of the cat back. Use the savings for the CAI or tune.

+1, although the tubing isn't mandrel bent. The exhaust path is straight enough that the pipe bends aren't crimped enough to make much if any difference. Certainly not enough to justify spending $600+ to replace it, unless you're just doing it for a different sound.

I'll take that one further as well. Install the X pipe and CAI first. Those two alone will net you the most HP gains out of all this since you're not going with LT's. The sound will be more aggressive with those two parts, yet sounds very tame at cruise. When you punch it, it will be considerably louder though. No drone, less $$, and you can still do the axleback later if you want more sound.

[caverman]

Originally Posted by firengnred

Dude....... forget the cat back. Waste of money. Stock system is already very efficient stainless mandrel bent tubing. Get Magnaflow X-Pipe muffler part# 14379 to replace the resonator and the Axle back comp series. $600 installed. Half the price of the cat back. Use the savings for the CAI or tune.

Isn't the Comp Series axle-back just a muffler delete?

So basically this is the same setup I was talking about. Magnaflow X-Pipe and Muffler delete.

I called about 5 local muffler shops and found one that will do a muffler delete for $80 and another for $96. Both are reputible shops. The X-Pipe was $120 - $130 for a universal (Magnaflow like) X-pipe or about $80 to weld in a supplied X-pipe. You can get the Magnaflow X-pipe from $85 - $95 shipped. Thats a total of $200 - $275 depending on what you want done. With tax I should be able to get everything done for $300 or less.

[SSTony]

here is the sound of kooks with there cats as well. so far no tune but i did add a cai and slp lm2 mufflers so i am due for a tune. no codes so far.

[caverman]

Ok....just got off the phone with Magnaflow Tech Support.

Their Comp Series system uses the #14386 which is a polished X-Pipe. The #11386 is the same thing just not polished. He said it uses a perforated X-Pipe which is used to quite it down a little.

I then asked the difference between the Tru-X (#10781) and Tru-X Crossover (#10791) and he said there was no difference. They were just used for different applications. ???? don't know about that but that's what he said.

So...I go back to say that I should be able to get the #11386 (about $95 shipped), get a muffler delete $80, and weld in the X-pipe for $60 - $80. I can then have the same basic system for $235 - $250. If I want it a little louder I can go with the #10791 and knock off $10 or so.

[SSTony]

[2010SSRS]

Originally Posted by SamSS

Wait, so if I install long tube headers I'll have to program the car and that voids the warranty?

bottom lines is ANYTHING short of cat back upgrades need a tune to optimize performance. don't bother with shorty headers if you're looking for performance - they provide none.

LT headers w/ cats, cat back exhaust, CAI and SAFE tune can net ya 50hp - 60hp. but ya HAVE TO TUNE IT. ur dealer (unless crooked) will work with ya. law says they have to prove what YOU did caused the failure.

you have 2 options with the tune.

1- talk to ur dealer. tell him what you wanna do. feel them out. most are cars guys.....they get it!

2- buy a Diablo Sport from one of our vendors who have tuned ur combo. they will send to you WITH a SAFE tune pre-installed. when you take it into ur dealer, you can remove the tune and upload the stock tune again if ya want. (the mdified tune's still detectable but they have to go looking for it)

but fyi- with the mods you're gonna do, even with a tune it's nothing that's gonna cause ur Camaro harm. if you were talking SuperCharger maybe....

don't be afraid, just keep the tune safe and sleep ez.

[SamSS]

Originally Posted by caverman

Isn't the Comp Series axle-back just a muffler delete?

So basically this is the same setup I was talking about. Magnaflow X-Pipe and Muffler delete.

I called about 5 local muffler shops and found one that will do a muffler delete for $80 and another for $96. Both are reputible shops. The X-Pipe was $120 - $130 for a universal (Magnaflow like) X-pipe or about $80 to weld in a supplied X-pipe. You can get the Magnaflow X-pipe from $85 - $95 shipped. Thats a total of $200 - $275 depending on what you want done. With tax I should be able to get everything done for $300 or less.

I can get the Magnaflow comp series 2.5" cat back for about $500 now... the complete system. I'm waiting right now because the price may even drop lower.

[caverman]

Originally Posted by SamSS

I can get the Magnaflow comp series 2.5" cat back for about $500 now... the complete system. I'm waiting right now because the price may even drop lower.

Hmm.....PM me where you can get that system for $500. If I can get it for about that then maybe I'll go that route until I've saved enough for a complete exhaust. Then I can probably sell it for half that when I'm ready. It's a thought a least.

[firengnred]

I can get the Magnaflow comp series 2.5" cat back for about $500 now...

That's a steal if you can.

This is what i did today. Installed X-Pipe muffler #14379 $90 and Comp. Series Axle back #16582 $360. I opted for the Axle back as opposed to just a muffler delete because I like the 5" tips and it looks cleaner. You don't end up seeing the welded in straight pipe.

This sounds AWESOME!!! I'll get a video posted this weekend

[caverman]

Come on with the video. Get some drive by and in cabin if you can.

I take it that you had them remove the resanators as well?