Got Corsa?
 

This is NOT a thread about which exhaust is best, etc. but I do hope to learn more about Corsa exhaust systems.

A little background: I had Corsas on a stock 94 LT1 years ago and basically liked them a lot. My 90Z had Borlas on it when I bought it (also got the original stock system as well). Later I added SW headers and high flow cats and also picked up a stock LT4 system as well as a Corsa system for possible later use.

This past weekend I finally installed the Corsas without the cats (I need to shorten the Corsa front pipes and currently don't have access to an exhaust shop that can mod stainless). First impressions ... wow, these flow really well without any resonance and boy, are they really loud at WOT. Normal driving, louder than stock and maybe even louder than the Borlas but certainly not too loud, but when I hammered it, the loudness was incredible and not at all what I anticipated. I'm not saying I disliked it, but surprised at the outcome.

So here's the question to those of you with Corsa experience ... will adding the cats tone down or "tame" down the overall loudness somewhat? I suppose that I was a bit surprised that Corsas on the LT5 w/headers was louder than I anticipated, especially since I remembered a "quieter" sound on the LT1 (no headers).

And has anyone heard a stock system (late LT5 or LT4) on a Z with headers and cats? I'm assuming that it would be fairly quiet with no resonance, but would it be "too quiet"?

Is anyone with either headers/cats/Corsa or headers/cats/stock going to be at BG with their Z? I really would like to hear these setups in person, possibly even a ride.

Thanks for reading and even more, thanks for the responses that I hope I get in this thread. I'm fairly certain that I will either stay with the Corsas or possibly try fabbing the LT4 stock system up ... no resonance and quiet (but not too quiet) are my goals.

George Jones

Re: Got Corsa?
 

Are you using a stock corsa resonator? Or an X pipe?

Re: Got Corsa?
 

Im using a Corsa system with Hi-Flow stainless RT cats, Jeal Headers and the standard Corsa resonator. Im guessing you are not

Re: Got Corsa?
 

I had the regular corsa setup on stock manifolds with cats- everything normal, and I thought they were too loud. Loud outside, little drone inside. So loud I got pulled over already going full throttle on the last block to the freeway entrance in town. I honestly believe it was the incredible loudness that got me popped, not doing 70 mph onto the on-ramp.

I went back to oem 2.7" pipes with an x-pipe instead of the resonator. I'm using 90 stock mufflers with the twin square tips at the moment, but may change mufflers in the future. it is really nice to be not loud again. it may be down a few hp over 5500 rpm- but it is hard to tell. The oem pipe is amazing as it doesn't resonate- no reason to throw away good engineering- if anything, its a bigger pipe size- kind of hard to argue against that.

Re: Got Corsa?
 

George,

If you're coming to BG, u can listen to mine although not a Corsa. I don't have cats but I do have an Xpipe. =Jeff= has a Corsa w cats I believe. Not sure they made much diff.
What mods to the motor?

Re: Got Corsa?
 

I have SW headers with Corsa resonator/mufflers. I used the SW ball flange adapter on the left side and the SW adapter pipe on the right side. The engine is stock except for intake & injector housing porting.

I have 3" high flow stainless cats that slip fit onto the headers and connect using v-clamp flanges on the exhaust side ... to install the cats with the above setup I need to have the Corsa front pipes shortened slightly and have v-clamp flanges welded on but I don't have access to an exhaust shop that will work with stainless ... so that's why I installed without cats.

No inspection in my part of Georgia and I know a lot of people who run without cats, but I actually prefer to have cats on my vehicles. I'm trying to make a decision on whether to go all the way back to the most free flowing stock system that I can find or go with the Corsa with cats. Today I'm leaning toward the Corsa ... who knows where I'll be tomorrow !!!

I am hoping to hear some good examples at BG in a couple of weeks or so.

Re: Got Corsa?
 

I'm writing my reply as a couple of replies got posted ... thanks, I'm getting some good, solid info. I imagine I'll be talking to several of you at BG as well as listening to your setups.

Re: Got Corsa?
 

There has to be something going on with your piping arrangment air leakage etc. Mine is quiet with no resonance and only gets louder when you hammer it. Not at all like the experience your talking about.

Re: Got Corsa?
 

Yes please stop by for some sausage and exhaust!

Re: Got Corsa?
 

Apologies if I mislead ... I have zero resonance (I tried to induce resonance in the 1500-1900 rpm range & could not) and it's reasonably quiet at idle/normal driving RPMs (altho not as quiet as the Borla). Driving normally with the windows up the sound is hardly noticeable. But at WOT it really wakes up & screams ... this is not necessarily a bad thing, but louder than I expected. I'm curious if adding the cats will tone the sound down any.