GHL Exhaust Review with video - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

gtbaldini · 06-14-2010, 03:44 PM

Installed the GHL Catback yesterday. I'm trying to post some video, but I'm having a hell of time with my camcorder. For now, I will give my initial thoughts. The system is of great quality...the fit and finish is about as good as you'll see. Everything went together very well with no issues.
This is a very civilized exhaust. It has a very nice growl without it being obnoxious. It has very little drone under load. My only complaint...it has some popping or gurgling during decel. I am a perfectionist, so the popping noise is bothering me some...so I am at a crossroads...I can't believe the entire system only costs $600 bucks and it sounds great, but that slight gurgle is making me think about putting the stock exhaust back on and seeing if there is anyone who might be interested in this system. If you see this system for sale in the members forum you'll know where I am at. Again, its a great system, especially considering it's half of what others are charging.

Grendahl · 06-14-2010, 06:48 PM

I just installed my GHL catback today. I'm also impressed with the fit and finish of the tubing and the mufflers. The clamps, on the other hand, are not very impressive. The stainless bolts they come with are way too soft to be able to tighten properly. The threads gall before the clamp is even close to tight. I had to cut the bolts in half with a Dremel tool just to get them back apart. I replaced the bolts with 1 3/4" grade 5 3/8"-16 bolts which worked much better, but the clamps still do not seal the tubing well at all. I'll probably pick up some stainless lap-joint band clamps like these: http://www.summitracing.com/parts/WLK-33226/ and replace the ones that came with the system. Still a great deal for this system compared to many others on the market.

storm83 · 06-14-2010, 06:49 PM

Oh that sucks. I will be putting mine on soon but if I have the same problem (I have L99) I might be adding two resonators just behind the x-pipe.

mikeSS · 06-14-2010, 06:52 PM

how do you not like the popping.... when people hear that in a camaro they are like dam. what does that guy have in his engine... the drag racing cars make this noise

gtbaldini · 06-14-2010, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikeSS

how do you not like the popping.... when people hear that in a camaro they are like dam. what does that guy have in his engine... the drag racing cars make this noise

Just not my thing. I love the growl, but the popping isn't something I personally care for.

MySpeed · 06-14-2010, 09:51 PM

nice video the car sounds great i think thats the exhaust for me.

blake2010ss · 06-14-2010, 10:25 PM

Doesn't matter what exhaust you buy... without DFCO turned off in a tune... your gonna pop.

gtbaldini · 06-14-2010, 10:28 PM

Black - what is DFCO? Sorry, but are you saying all the exhausts are going to do that? Thanks

blake2010ss · 06-14-2010, 10:32 PM

its decel fuel cut off, GM puts it in the cars to save on gas. your stock mufflers do it... just any aftermarket exhaust brings out that popping more. it can be tuned out, but you might lose 1-2mpg

gtbaldini · 06-14-2010, 10:39 PM

Good to know. So you hear it on the Borla's as well? I'm glad you said something, I was looking to purchase the ATAK system and would have been pissed if the same thing would have happened.

blake2010ss · 06-14-2010, 10:44 PM

yep... its a pretty loud pop at times.. not all the time though. im trying to figure out if tuning it out is worth the 1-2mpg loss.

gtbaldini · 06-14-2010, 10:55 PM

Thanks Blake, good info to chew on. I did hear it on the stock exhaust, but the new, more aggressive mufflers are intensifying the effect.

storm83 · 06-14-2010, 11:37 PM

I have to say though, the system sounds really good. It's hard to say from a video how loud it is, will it wake up my neighbors? Does the L99 pop as the LS3 does?

gtbaldini · 06-15-2010, 12:03 AM

Storm, no it's not obnoxiously loud. It's just about perfect. It gives the car a deeper growl. I really like it. I'm just not thrilled with the decel pop. The stock had the same pop...it's just amplified with the more aggressive mufflers. If your not hearing it now with the L99, you may not hear it with the GHL's.

06-14-2010, 10:25 PM	#7
blake2010ss Drives: 2010 Camaro 2ss/rs Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: stone mountain, GA Posts: 2,228	Doesn't matter what exhaust you buy... without DFCO turned off in a tune... your gonna pop. __________________ 2010 Camaro 2SS/RS LS3 1093/1066 416, AGP 6262, E85, Cam

06-14-2010, 10:32 PM	#9
blake2010ss Drives: 2010 Camaro 2ss/rs Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: stone mountain, GA Posts: 2,228	its decel fuel cut off, GM puts it in the cars to save on gas. your stock mufflers do it... just any aftermarket exhaust brings out that popping more. it can be tuned out, but you might lose 1-2mpg __________________ 2010 Camaro 2SS/RS LS3 1093/1066 416, AGP 6262, E85, Cam

06-14-2010, 10:44 PM	#11
blake2010ss Drives: 2010 Camaro 2ss/rs Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: stone mountain, GA Posts: 2,228	yep... its a pretty loud pop at times.. not all the time though. im trying to figure out if tuning it out is worth the 1-2mpg loss. __________________ 2010 Camaro 2SS/RS LS3 1093/1066 416, AGP 6262, E85, Cam

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06-14-2010, 06:48 PM	#2
Grendahl Vorpal Rabbit Drives: really fast Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Cave of Caerbannog, Perthshire Posts: 27	I just installed my GHL catback today. I'm also impressed with the fit and finish of the tubing and the mufflers. The clamps, on the other hand, are not very impressive. The stainless bolts they come with are way too soft to be able to tighten properly. The threads gall before the clamp is even close to tight. I had to cut the bolts in half with a Dremel tool just to get them back apart. I replaced the bolts with 1 3/4" grade 5 3/8"-16 bolts which worked much better, but the clamps still do not seal the tubing well at all. I'll probably pick up some stainless lap-joint band clamps like these: http://www.summitracing.com/parts/WLK-33226/ and replace the ones that came with the system. Still a great deal for this system compared to many others on the market.

06-14-2010, 06:49 PM	#3
storm83 Drives: Victory Red 2SS Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: NJ Posts: 59	Oh that sucks. I will be putting mine on soon but if I have the same problem (I have L99) I might be adding two resonators just behind the x-pipe.

06-14-2010, 06:52 PM	#4
mikeSS Drives: 2015 c7 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: MI Posts: 7,462	how do you not like the popping.... when people hear that in a camaro they are like dam. what does that guy have in his engine... the drag racing cars make this noise

06-14-2010, 09:51 PM	#6
MySpeed Drives: 2010 Camaro SS Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Pasadena, MD Posts: 71	nice video the car sounds great i think thats the exhaust for me.

06-14-2010, 10:28 PM	#8
gtbaldini Drives: 2010 Cyber Grey 2SS/RS LS3 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Albuquerque Posts: 153	Black - what is DFCO? Sorry, but are you saying all the exhausts are going to do that? Thanks

06-14-2010, 10:39 PM	#10
gtbaldini Drives: 2010 Cyber Grey 2SS/RS LS3 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Albuquerque Posts: 153	Good to know. So you hear it on the Borla's as well? I'm glad you said something, I was looking to purchase the ATAK system and would have been pissed if the same thing would have happened.

06-14-2010, 10:55 PM	#12
gtbaldini Drives: 2010 Cyber Grey 2SS/RS LS3 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Albuquerque Posts: 153	Thanks Blake, good info to chew on. I did hear it on the stock exhaust, but the new, more aggressive mufflers are intensifying the effect.

06-14-2010, 11:37 PM	#13
storm83 Drives: Victory Red 2SS Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: NJ Posts: 59	I have to say though, the system sounds really good. It's hard to say from a video how loud it is, will it wake up my neighbors? Does the L99 pop as the LS3 does?

06-15-2010, 12:03 AM	#14
gtbaldini Drives: 2010 Cyber Grey 2SS/RS LS3 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Albuquerque Posts: 153	Storm, no it's not obnoxiously loud. It's just about perfect. It gives the car a deeper growl. I really like it. I'm just not thrilled with the decel pop. The stock had the same pop...it's just amplified with the more aggressive mufflers. If your not hearing it now with the L99, you may not hear it with the GHL's.