Ls1 Exhaust, What Exhaust should I buy?? Options

[98_1LE]

I have had the Hooker catback on my T/A for about 2.5 years. It sounds great, and flows well. With cats, it wasn't much louder than stock at idle, but has a nice rumble at WOT. With no cats, heads and cam, it sounds mean, while not tooo loud. For the $$$, you cannot beat it. And yes, the FlowMaster cross flow muffler does not flow very good.

[Bald54]

I speak to Paul at Thunder Racing quite often. One time I mentioned I was pretty dissapointed in my dyno numbers considering the mods on my car. He asked what had been done. After telling him he told me the 2 things holding back the numbers were the Flow Master and the K&N FIPK. He suggested the Hooker catback as an inexpensive alternative and go with a high flow type lid.

[Sam Strano]

There are a number of systems that are nice for the cars. We carry a lot of them, and so I've had the opprotunity to see/hear the systems in person.

My favorite's are (in no particular order):
SLP 2OTL & Loudmouth: The Loudmouth is light, and sounds mean. I don't have an issue driving it if I stay under about 78 mph where it gets a little boomy. But my car is not an everyday driver. The 2OTL just has a great smooth tone that isn't Loudmouth loud or harsh. It fits and flows really well. Has understated "who me?" tips. Considering that it's a full cat-back and stainless and under$400 I think it's a good deal.

Magnaflow: Great price for Stainless (though I think the $319 price is very old considering it's a lot less than I pay for it, or it could have been one of the older systems that was aluminized pipe with stainless muffler/tips). I like the fact they don't use a cross-flow muffler but turn the right side tip around to minimize restriction in the muffler. Not crazy about the tips though.....

Edelbrock: Not stainless, but just over $300. No tips that tell you anything (think V-6 dual muffler). But it sounds nice, while not being loud, ever. And the muffler is the best idea for a cross flow you can get. 3" in, then 4 1" straight perforated core tubes to a large open end on the driver's side. Air then turns right and T's to a 3" pipe and gets out whatever tip is the easiest. Makes good torque.....

Borla: Again, not a cross-flow. Tuneable for sound. I find if you think you want to run is capped the SLP 2OTL is a better deal as it sounds about the same and is less $$ (but not the cool tips). If you want to run it open, buy the less expensive Loudmouth. If you want to monkey with it, buy the Borla. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

StainlessWorks Chambered system: 3 chambered mufflers "turbo tubes" 1 after the y-pipe, 1 in each tailpipe. Very throaty but not the sharp edge of the Loudmouth. Similar to a GMMG, but with less piping (and less weight) and with an extra chambered muffler to kill resonance. Couple tip styles available.

I wouldn't use a Flowmaster on anything I own. I have one on my '91 and it sucks. Fit for shit, and worst the car doesn't rev as well as it did before with a home-made system and a Borla muffler. That is sad, because L98's with stock TPI's are already strangled to begin with.

[robz71lm7]

Magnaflow: Great price for Stainless (though I think the $319 price is very old considering it's a lot less than I pay for it, or it could have been one of the older systems that was aluminized pipe with stainless muffler/tips). I like the fact they don't use a cross-flow muffler but turn the right side tip around to minimize restriction in the muffler. Not crazy about the tips though.....

Nope $319 is from last year and for 409 SS pipes and 304SS tips and muffler. I ordered from the below vendor and it was 300 before shipping.

http://performanceintl.com/shop/products.c...ne=5.7L,%20LT-1

Evidently prices have increased this year. IIRC, the LS1 magnaflow catbacks have always cost more.

[sgarnett]

Edelbrock: Not stainless, but just over $300. No tips that tell you anything (think V-6 dual muffler). But it sounds nice, while not being loud, ever. And the muffler is the best idea for a cross flow you can get. 3" in, then 4 1" straight perforated core tubes to a large open end on the driver's side. Air then turns right and T's to a 3" pipe and gets out whatever tip is the easiest. Makes good torque.....

I had the Edelbrock on my 96 3.8. It is (or was) stainless, but it wasn't the mirror polish stuff. I really liked the sound - it had an exotic performance flavor (closer to Ferrari than Shelby Cobra). Of course, it was a V6....

[apexman]

Hooker. Sounds great and costs nil. I have heard them all more than once and it sounds great with cats, witout cats and with headers.all without rasp.

Derek

[tom97ss]

Is anyone else scared that FRRAX now has a catback thread?  (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)   (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)   (help)

I'm waiting for the " how much horsepower do I have" thread (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/banghead.gif)

[trackbird]

Is anyone else scared that FRRAX now has a catback thread?   (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)   (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)   (help)

I'm waiting for the " how much horsepower do I have" thread (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/banghead.gif)

So Tom, how much horsepower do you have?

(IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/rotf.gif)

[Trance]

Magnaflow:  Great price for Stainless (though I think the $319 price is very old considering it's a lot less than I pay for it, or it could have been one of the older systems that was aluminized pipe with stainless muffler/tips).  I like the fact they don't use a cross-flow muffler but turn the right side tip around to minimize restriction in the muffler.  Not crazy about the tips though..... 

Nope $319 is from last year and for 409 SS pipes and 304SS tips and muffler. I ordered from the below vendor and it was 300 before shipping.

http://performanceintl.com/shop/products.c...ne=5.7L,%20LT-1

Evidently prices have increased this year. IIRC, the LS1 magnaflow catbacks have always cost more.

I noticed that the LT1 MagnaFlow system looked just like the LS1 system, except you get the s-pipe for the pre-96 LT1 cars with the LT1 system.

Is the I-pipe the same length on the two systems? If that's the case, I'd order the LT1 & save a few bucks.

[Spooner]

The (SLP) 2OTL just has a great smooth tone that isn't Loudmouth loud or harsh. It fits and flows really well. Has understated "who me?" tips. Considering that it's a full cat-back and stainless and under$400 I think it's a good deal.

Is anyone running this SLP both pipes on one side system on a near stock LS1 car? I like the looks of it. Right now I have a Shadey Tree Design* Borla muffler catback and a big fat tail-pipe, which were the previous owner's idea of cool, and I hate how it looks and sounds... It's too rice and way too loud.

-John

*Its patented STD design--not my own, mind you--uses a 3-inch mid-pipe and a 3.5-inch muffler, filling in the gap between the two pipe sizes with weld slag, thus no adapter is required at the muffler entry.