Anyone with Stainless Works exhaust system with the turbo chambered mufflers?

[HAWAIIZR-1]

I thought I had made up my mind about going with the Corsa exhaust system and their black tips option, but looking into the Stainless Works cat back system with turbo chambered mufflers too. I had a chance to hear the system with the more aggressive Turbo S tube mufflers and that is a bit much for me and it has resonance/drone.

http://stainlessworks.net/chevy-zr1-...90-95-exhausts

SW advertises their system even with X-pipe to not have resonance with the turbo chambered mufflers and the saleperson also confirmed that over the phone. I thought I was going to leave my new to me 95 all stock, but it is way to quiet for me. When I tracked the car at Laguna Seca a few weeks ago I had a video done with 4 cameras and they had one at the mufflers pointing down to record the sound. It sounds like crap and very restricted sounding so stock has to go. I thought about the cut out system, but decided against that.

I would like to have a discussion with someone that has experience with the SW system and turbo chambered mufflers.

Thanks in advance.

[XfireZ51]

So Craig would you be doing away w the resonator and using the SW Xpipe in its place? Understand that SW sells an Xpipe option that comes w a "cheese grater" insert to tame resonance. When I bought mine, that's what they sent me, but my buddy Al removed it because of restriction. Don't know much about the Turbo S muffs since I'm using the Dynomax Ultraflow 3" inlet and dual NPP Z06
tips. Mike100 is using those tips and he may be close to you in CA.

[HAWAIIZR-1]

Originally Posted by XfireZ51

So Craig would you be doing away w the resonator and using the SW Xpipe in its place? Understand that SW sells an Xpipe option that comes w a "cheese grater" insert to tame resonance. When I bought mine, that's what they sent me, but my buddy Al removed it because of restriction. Don't know much about the Turbo S muffs since I'm using the Dynomax Ultraflow 3" inlet and dual NPP Z06
tips. Mike100 is using those tips and he may be close to you in CA.

Hey Dom,

Yes, I was going to buy the whole system and it comes with the Xpipe. I'm not sure if the Xpipe with this system has the "cheese grater" in it, but I do have a new SW Xpipe that is open in case I need to use it instead. Maybe that is why they are claiming no resonance with the other Xpipe?

I really considered going the route you did and at one time was looking for the NPP parts and using my existing B&B on my 90 to modify with Dynomax mufflers. Since I don't know if I am keep that car or not I thought to make this simple and just get a cat back bolt on system. I just can't grasp the concept of putting on smaller pipes than stock even though I know the 2.5 mandrel bent Corsa flow better than stock due to open system in mufflers. Next Sat I am entered in a local car show and another member will be there for me to hear his Corsas. I might not like the sound of that so looking at other choices.

My thought is go the SW chambered muffler system and if I can't stand the drone/resonance I would mod the tips with NPP and go like others. Thank for your thoughts and I did see Mike100's system that is pretty trick too. I missed the chance to hear more exhaust systems while at BG last month.

[XfireZ51]

I'm sorry I couldn't make the Gathering this time around. Life gets in the way sometimes. I have an on-off switch on my NPP which is less sophisticated than Mike's but it works fine for me. Usually ride around w second tip shut off. Use a console switch to open/close whenever I am looking to impress.

[HAWAIIZR-1]

Originally Posted by XfireZ51

I'm sorry I couldn't make the Gathering this time around. Life gets in the way sometimes. I have an on-off switch on my NPP which is less sophisticated than Mike's but it works fine for me. Usually ride around w second tip shut off. Use a console switch to open/close whenever I am looking to impress.

I wish I could have met you there. I know what you mean and my life is back on hold again for another year until I finish this MBA program. I was fortunate to change campus (short break) and had an opportunity to make the Gathering otherwise I would not have.

When I finish school next year I'll have more time to attend to hobbies and playing with these Zs, Lightning truck, and Harley. It can be quite overwhelming trying to mod all of these toys. I think I will probably end up following you guys with the slick NPP controlled set up if I go this SW route. Thanks for your thoughts!

[mike100]

I have had at least 4 different exhaust systems that I can recall. Most of them are loud .

I have also ridden in a couple of flowmaster cat-back cars and a borla one with a resonator(just this morning and surprisingly not loud). The flowmaster ones rumbled and droned a bit and both cars had good top end pull.

The newest SW x-pipe does not contain the glasspack cheese grater insert...the mufflers sort of do, but the combined area of the twin outlets is far greater than that of one 3" pipe. The SW with X-pipe sounds just like the B&B and the quality is similar, but the registry does(did?) have that big discount on the SW stuff. The chambered muffs are plenty loud and drone like crazy. Pretty much the majority of C4 exhausts either drone and/or are very loud. I had to put the vacuum flappers on the straight thru part of my SW mufflers to get the 1/4 wave noise cancellation effect. This works really well, except it will still drone in 6th gear below 80 mph. The other gears worked well for me. I ran this system with headers- never with the stock manifolds.

I didn't like the Corsa- you could tell it wasn't quite making the top end the same as the big 3" pipe sets. I would much prefer to build a custom NPP valved turbo muffler on the stock 2.7" pipes before I would run a Corsa again. The Corsa doesn't drone, but it is pretty much a straight pipe with noise cancellation chambers along the way so it is always loud behind the car...

I have never been pulled over with the stock mufflers (no resonator anymore, but it is still super quiet). It also doesn't make any extra top end at all. The cops hear you coming a mile away with anything good.

[Dynomite]

1991 with Offroad SW headers and SW exhaust, SD Plates, followed by CA Highway Patrol on motorcycle for one mile. He finally decided to just forget it and turned left as I turned right

[HAWAIIZR-1]

Originally Posted by mike100

I have had at least 4 different exhaust systems that I can recall. Most of them are loud .

I have also ridden in a couple of flowmaster cat-back cars and a borla one with a resonator(just this morning and surprisingly not loud). The flowmaster ones rumbled and droned a bit and both cars had good top end pull.

The newest SW x-pipe does not contain the glasspack cheese grater insert...the mufflers sort of do, but the combined area of the twin outlets is far greater than that of one 3" pipe. The SW with X-pipe sounds just like the B&B and the quality is similar, but the registry does(did?) have that big discount on the SW stuff. The chambered muffs are plenty loud and drone like crazy. Pretty much the majority of C4 exhausts either drone and/or are very loud. I had to put the vacuum flappers on the straight thru part of my SW mufflers to get the 1/4 wave noise cancellation effect. This works really well, except it will still drone in 6th gear below 80 mph. The other gears worked well for me. I ran this system with headers- never with the stock manifolds.

I didn't like the Corsa- you could tell it wasn't quite making the top end the same as the big 3" pipe sets. I would much prefer to build a custom NPP valved turbo muffler on the stock 2.7" pipes before I would run a Corsa again. The Corsa doesn't drone, but it is pretty much a straight pipe with noise cancellation chambers along the way so it is always loud behind the car...

I have never been pulled over with the stock mufflers (no resonator anymore, but it is still super quiet). It also doesn't make any extra top end at all. The cops hear you coming a mile away with anything good.

Hey mike100,

Thanks for your reply and thoughts. It is always good to hear opinions from other members about the variety of options we have or had. I remember the group buy for SW and was not in the market at the time thinking I was going to modify the B&B system I already have on my 90. I do like the sounds of that system, but not the drone and I think I have 3rd gen so not too bad with resonator and know how restrictive that one is.

As I got older through the years, I know that I don't want drone/resonance that is bad. I think a little I can deal with, but I do plan to try to drive some distances with this 95 since it is more comfortable and I am in the upper 48 now. Thanks for the info about the chambered mufflers as the tech at SW told me that is the only system they sell and recommended for LT5 ZR-1s. He said because the drone/resonance is very bad with the other turbo S mufflers (aggressive) and apparently complaints from some customers.

I'm not sure yet if I will get headers and attempt to get pass the SMOG Nazis here in Cali. Even with A.I.R. tubes and I noticed you have them I guess it depends on where, when and who as to if you will get caught. I remember seeing yours is pretty stealthy from the top and can't tell so I might try to get a set converted (I still have my long tubes I removed from my 90 in Japan). So much work and hassle to get it done, but might venture into it next year. For now I just wanted to get a good exhaust system that was easy bolt on. I guess it does not exist depending on what I am really looking for. I know there are a lot of happy folks with the Corsas and it seems to be very high quality as is the price. I know I don't want to mess with OBX or Maximizer even though it is cheap and very similar to Corsas.

I guess I will take my time and not rush into this. I also thought about trying to modify the stock system with replacement of the resonator and mufflers, but would probably lead to resonance/drone too. According to Marc's info since I have a 95 no matter what I get it will only gain 5 HP so it is mostly sound I am after, but hard to find the right compromise. I am trying to imagine how cutouts would be, but can't imagine I would like to sound. Really messed up not being able to hear WARP10's (Bob's) at BG.

Thanks again for your thoughts and info.

[mike100]

I had single outlet turbo mufflers on my last 95 LT1 car and it wasn't excessively loud. Previous to that the last owner had some 2.5" L98 Borla twin outlet mufflers put on and it was crazy- the single outlet thing is a must. I realize single outlet mufflers aren't very vette-like, but this was ok for 'ol purple-erkel during the year I owned it.


That's why I suggested getting parts together for a custom NPP job on a more universal hi-perf muffler on the stock pipes. The NPP mufflers or flaps from a C6 are what will cost you. The rpm switch, junkyard solenoid, tubing, vacuum switch etc will be about $110. The project takes time- but it is fun to be able to have a selectable muffler. The other reason is I believe the stock pipe diameter and chosen pipe thickness is part of the acoustic engineering that went into it. I x-piped the resonator on my 1990 pipes and it barely got louder- I know if I cork up the right muffler and then have a flap on the second outlet, it ought to be able to stay similarly quiet. btw, my car is a 91, but I got Han's old 1990 stockers and Dominic's old Magnaflow x-pipe.

As far as the smog thing- yeah- I ran my headers while I could, but I drew the Star station inspection so I wasn't so sure I'd have a prayer at passing the extra thorough visual. The car is back to stock manifolds. I have to admit it is very tame to daily drive (but you don't really get used to losing the extra pop that headers, porting, and cat back gave you). Long term I'm looking into buying a cabin in an unenhanced zip code to get out of the bi-annual inspections, short term I'm thinking about doing NPP muffs as described above on my stock pipes since I have all the parts for the control side still hanging on my car.

[mike100]

One last thought on air injection tubes on headers: The Watson ones do not work- look at marc H's website articles on the matter... you have to keep the diameter right and the tube has to be far away from the header flange. The pressure is too great where the watsons go in and it will burn out your one-way check valves. I had to replace two or three of them when I put back my stock stuff. I will be taking those off next time around.