I'd like to mod my exhaust, but it must be legal

[efnfast]

The OBX are pretty much a Stainless Works knock off, but made in China.

[MuRCieLaGo]

Originally Posted by efnfast

The OBX are pretty much a Stainless Works knock off, but made in China.

And I think that on such a dumb part, I can go cheap.

Thanks efnfast!

[Gunny]

Originally Posted by MuRCieLaGo

.... However, now I'm only looking for headers, since I just discovered I got a Borla catback.

Remember ... exhaust choices are highly subjective and very personal. Choose what is best for you, not what you hear everyone else says is good or bad.

Having gone through at least 5 different systems while chasing exhaust nirvana I finally settled on headers, no cats, a stock '96 LT4 catback, and cutouts just before the mufflers.

But very possibly the best exhaust (for me) that I had before I arrived at my final destination was SW Headers, bullet cats, and Borla Challenger catback. I liked the sound a lot & was able to drive around town the way I wanted without fear of attracting a lot of unwanted attention because of noise. At one point I entertained the idea of changing the center resonator for either straight pipes or an x-pipe and then adding a flapper to one outlet of each muffler. I didn't know how to do the flapper mod but since then several of the FBI guys in the Chicago area have solved that (search the forums). Russ, who posted earlier in this thread, now owns my old Borla system, has modded it somewhat, and has indicated that he is really liking the system. Perhaps he will respond with further specifics.

[ZR1North]

I noticed you have a white car. I have heard that removing cats can lead to blackened stains on the rear bumper of light-colored cars. Something to verify and consider if this is indeed an issue. I retained cats because of emission tests in Ontario and I am very pleased with the Corsa system hooked to SW headers through the cats. It is loud at wide-open-throttle, but quite pleasant at idle and moderate acceleration. As Gunny wrote, sound is in the ear of the beholder. As for Bowling Green, it's definitely worth the trip - worth getting a passport to travel to the US if that was your concern.

[RussMcB]

Originally Posted by Gunny

Russ, who posted earlier in this thread, now owns my old Borla system, has modded it somewhat, and has indicated that he is really liking the system. Perhaps he will respond with further specifics.

Yes, I'm very happy with my system. It is OBX headers, 3" pipes, no cats, StainlessWorks X-pipe and Borla mufflers. It sounds great (to me). Not too loud, not too quiet, no noticeable drone.

The SW x-pipe is very nice, but was pretty expensive (even with ZR1.net discount). I think an H-pipe would be as good, maybe better.

2.75" pipes would probably be better than 3" but the SW X-pipe was 3" so I went with that.

The Borla center resonator was ridiculously restrictive. I think the inlets and outlets snaked down to like 2" or 2.25". Hard to believe they would have used that on a bigger pipe system. It went into the trash.

[MuRCieLaGo]

Originally Posted by Gunny

Remember ... exhaust choices are highly subjective and very personal. Choose what is best for you, not what you hear everyone else says is good or bad.

Having gone through at least 5 different systems while chasing exhaust nirvana I finally settled on headers, no cats, a stock '96 LT4 catback, and cutouts just before the mufflers.

But very possibly the best exhaust (for me) that I had before I arrived at my final destination was SW Headers, bullet cats, and Borla Challenger catback. I liked the sound a lot & was able to drive around town the way I wanted without fear of attracting a lot of unwanted attention because of noise. At one point I entertained the idea of changing the center resonator for either straight pipes or an x-pipe and then adding a flapper to one outlet of each muffler. I didn't know how to do the flapper mod but since then several of the FBI guys in the Chicago area have solved that (search the forums). Russ, who posted earlier in this thread, now owns my old Borla system, has modded it somewhat, and has indicated that he is really liking the system. Perhaps he will respond with further specifics.

I know exhaust systems are some kind of an "art", but my choice is pretty simple: I want something quiet.

Talking of that center resonator, mine rattles like crazy. And yes, I'm sure it's the issue because I just kicked it tonight and the "rattling frequency" changed. I need to fix that quickly because it ruins all the sound. Any idea?

Originally Posted by ZR1North

I noticed you have a white car. I have heard that removing cats can lead to blackened stains on the rear bumper of light-colored cars. Something to verify and consider if this is indeed an issue. I retained cats because of emission tests in Ontario and I am very pleased with the Corsa system hooked to SW headers through the cats. It is loud at wide-open-throttle, but quite pleasant at idle and moderate acceleration. As Gunny wrote, sound is in the ear of the beholder. As for Bowling Green, it's definitely worth the trip - worth getting a passport to travel to the US if that was your concern.

Hey Canadian friend! I mainly work in Ontario and the Shell Sarnia Fuel Dock is a well-known place for me! I got my Passport of course, problem might be that I got to work in May...

I don't see exhaust stain on my bumper actually. Fortunately for us in Quebec we don't have to deal with that emission s...tuff.

Originally Posted by RussMcB

Yes, I'm very happy with my system. It is OBX headers, 3" pipes, no cats, StainlessWorks X-pipe and Borla mufflers. It sounds great (to me). Not too loud, not too quiet, no noticeable drone.

The SW x-pipe is very nice, but was pretty expensive (even with ZR1.net discount). I think an H-pipe would be as good, maybe better.

2.75" pipes would probably be better than 3" but the SW X-pipe was 3" so I went with that.

The Borla center resonator was ridiculously restrictive. I think the inlets and outlets snaked down to like 2" or 2.25". Hard to believe they would have used that on a bigger pipe system. It went into the trash.

My main exhaust problem now is that center resonator. Got a heavy rattling problem with it. I see that OBX exhaust system on eBay simply has two straight pipes, no resonator. Would it change the sound a lot?



Thanks for everything guys, you really help me...

[MuRCieLaGo]

Originally Posted by HAWAIIZR-1

Hello,

I can highly recommend the Magnaflow Tru-X muffler to replace your stock resonator; simply awesome (you get a middle muffler with bigger diameter than stock for better flow with an X pipe design integrated):

http://www.magnaflow.com/products?partnumber=12468

Here is the thread for my modification:

http://www.zr1.net/forum/showthread....exhaust+system

Aloha,

I got a Magnaflow on my other sports car and I'm happy with it so that's a good idea there, thanks! It is not possible to fix my actual resonator at the moment?

[efnfast]

Couple of things on header install.
Steering shaft interferance. The shaft may rub the headers. I shimmed the engine at the motor mounts, but wish I had dimpled the headers.
Dip stick relocation bracket. The headers interferes with the dipstick. Paul Workman makes a relocation bracket.
O2 sensor gets moved back a little. You'll need an extension for the wire.
I bought the Stage 8 bolting system, but the locks didn't fit properly. $75 wasted.

[ZR1North]

Hey Canadian friend! I mainly work in Ontario and the Shell Sarnia Fuel Dock is a well-known place for me! I got my Passport of course, problem might be that I got to work in May...

Sounds good. Let me know if you are planning to be in Sarnia so that we can connect. Good luck with the exhaust choices. As you can see, lots of help here on the forum.

[MuRCieLaGo]

Originally Posted by efnfast

Couple of things on header install.
Steering shaft interferance. The shaft may rub the headers. I shimmed the engine at the motor mounts, but wish I had dimpled the headers.
Dip stick relocation bracket. The headers interferes with the dipstick. Paul Workman makes a relocation bracket.
O2 sensor gets moved back a little. You'll need an extension for the wire.
I bought the Stage 8 bolting system, but the locks didn't fit properly. $75 wasted.

Very good info there... And I hope I don't have to lift the engine to install the headers?

Originally Posted by ZR1North

Hey Canadian friend! I mainly work in Ontario and the Shell Sarnia Fuel Dock is a well-known place for me! I got my Passport of course, problem might be that I got to work in May...

Sounds good. Let me know if you are planning to be in Sarnia so that we can connect. Good luck with the exhaust choices. As you can see, lots of help here on the forum.

Oh yes this forum is very helpful! I'll hit you up if I get to Sarnia with the ZR-1!