Open headers vs. Y, h, x

[fleetfeet2004]

So... I recently installed long-tubes and am really happy with them. Race shop painted them black with header paint so to my surprise the black paint didn't burn off! So that makes me happy.

Now I am driving around with open headers. I didn't feel much low-end loss, at least not like I expected. So now I am not sure what the best, max effort exhaust system is for making power.

My question is:

Open headers with 18inch extensions vs. 3 inch x or h pipe vs. a pacesetter ory with magnaflow catback.

I like open headers except that in the morning I feel like a jack-ass.

I was thinking about getting some borla xr-1's directly on the end of the headers to act as an extension or hell, just a 3 inch pipe as a header extension.

I want to do something like Purple Horny header mufflers and maybe a little turn-down to make it side exit.

Any advice from people with experiance? Which setup makes the most HP?

BTW: Open headers vs. cops so far, I have driven past 3 cops and no tickets!

[RamAir95TA]

The paint will eventually burn off so don't get your hopes up just yet.

You don't list any modifications so it's not possible for us to suggest the best setup. However, if you're (mostly) stock a GOOD flowing cat-back will provide you with about the same gains as a true dual setup without all the added weight.

And I have never seen a tastefully done side exhaust on an LT1 car in my 14 years of dealing with these pigs. If you can pull it off, good job.

[Mystery Bird]

I'm running a y-pipe, 3 inch no cat back with Borla XS Pro 40474 muffler, and a cutout right under passenger rear seat area.

Still haven't tried open headers at the track though.

[Catmaigne]

I took my car around the block with open headers before it was cammed for shits and giggles. It drove like ass and it wasn't long before the local PD were cruising through my neighborhood.

If you're not doing anything extreme or out of the ordinary then you could get away with just a regular ORY and catback. The duals really kill your ground clearance (the ORY does too but not like that) and aren't worth the effort + cash for the average h/c LT1.

Also, X > H pipe if you're set on duals.

[blkchevyz]

i've ran alot of different exhaust over the year... 3 inch, 4 inch, single cutout at the axle, dual cutouts at the y-pipe, 3 inch duals...

my last setup was dual 3 inch with and h-pipe and flow-master race mufflers... was loud but not too bad, actually had the dynomax bullet mufflers first, that was too loud.

hp wise, i ran the same with the duals as i did with the cut outs in the y-pipe... it was just quieter and didnt have to open them up. this was on a heads/cam car running mid 11s.


of all the setups i ran the 4 inch sounded the best, and is what i'm going back to with my turbo build.

[SS RRR]

You're in California and you're running open headers on a non-exempt vehicle? If that is the case I wish you all the luck in the world.

[fleetfeet2004]

Like I said, so far so good. 2 Motorcycle cops, and 2 county sheriffs. You see, In the bay area Ca, cops are used to looking for imports with high revving engines that are loud even with stock exhuast because they rev high. The county sherrifs actually complemented my car because it was the way a car was "supposed to be" Plus I have my magnaflow catback inplace to fool everyone behind me hahahaha.

The problem is my magnaflow catback was custom made at a muffler shop so I can not simply buy an ory and install it. It would require welding, or for me to spend 500$ to buy a new magnafow catback online. Which is why I may as well just go duals.

In the meantime is it possible for me to just pick up some bullets or glass-packs and use band clamps to put them directly on the end of the headers to just quiet it down for now/use as header extensions? Thinking 18 inch round borla xr1's or dynomax bullets or cherry bombs glasspacks.

PS. My community college De Asia, oops I mean De Anza, is full of asian foriegn exchange students. All german/japanese cars and maybe a few brand new muscle cars like 2010+ camaro v6 and challanger v6 and a few new 5.0s. But muscle cars are by far the minority and the ones that do exist are bone stock. You should see the faces of import drivers when I drive through the parking garage hahaha. I had one guy in a souped up integra look terrified as I drove by him. I'm going for a really old school sound anyway, I have an lt1 not a freikn' ls1. Lets not pretend the sbc is modern. Brand new m3's 335i's and that hella flush crap is EVERYWHERE.

[Colossus]

The LS1 isn't exactly space age tech, still an old push rod mill getting it done with cubes. Don't fool yourself. I also ran a four inch and am seriously considering going back with one. Made damn good power and it was just a bolt on car.

[Jayz28]

I have a 2.5" x pipe setup with dunnomax bullet mufflers. It sounds pretty good. Loud and aggressive with my setup.

On the dyno, we removed the exhaust and I gained only 4hp and 8lbs of torque.

[blkchevyz]

you could get away with connecting some mufflers for awhile, but i bet that would kill your ground clearance. also keep an eye on the space between the exhaust and fuel lines, they will be right there by the drivers side collector.