My Custom Catback Exhaust: LT Headers

[zackmd1]

That's a lot of effort for no power gains, same 0-60 and a sound you don't really like. Should of stayed with your original setup. I feel you though, I also love to mess up a good thing.

Well keep in mind that my original 5.5s 0-60 was done in 40 degree dry weather, had newer tires at the time, only had 1/4 tank of gas, and was in sport mode. The new 5.5s with my LT headers was achieved in 80 degree (near 100% humidity) weather, worn tires, a full tank of gas, and in drive mode. Quite a bit of difference between the two runs so it can't be said that I didn't gain anything. On the contrary if I am able to reproduce the exact conditions as my previous best with my new setup I can see getting 5.1-5.2s. I certainly gained power! Just have to find the right exhaust setup! I want that blend of decently loud (but not loud enough to wake the dead like now) and refined sound.

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[zackmd1]

Got my magnaflow mufflers installed today! The car sounds perfect to me now! Just the right amount of volume and aggressiveness. The bonus is that it retains the 15's unique exhaust note!

[ame]

 

[MagnaFlow]

Got my magnaflow mufflers installed today! The car sounds perfect to me now! Just the right amount of volume and aggressiveness. The bonus is that it retains the 15's unique exhaust note!

That's one mean-sounding V6. Nicely done!

 

[zackmd1]

That's one mean-sounding V6. Nicely done!

Thanks!! Your 10415 mufflers were perfect for this application! I was worried that they would take out to much low rpm volume. To my surprise it actually enhanced to low rpm note! Gave it a wider/deeper range of sounds with little volume reduction! On top of that they did their job in taming that high rpm volume.

 

[zackmd1]

Well guys I think the LT headers are coming off... They provide an excellent power increase and with a pair of high flow cats I think they will be perfect! That said with my 6 being my daily driver I think I need to downsize to shorty headers. They should provide more low end which is what I am really looking for. Sometime this week or next I will be switching back to the stock manifolds while I wait to sell the LT's and get shorties!

So if anyone wants to take a stab at LT headers I think mine will be up for sale soon! If and when I do post them Ill be asking $320 for them. They are the ceramic coated headers to and not chrome!

 

[Erfman93]

Well guys I think the LT headers are coming off... They provide an excellent power increase and with a pair of high flow cats I think they will be perfect! That said with my 6 being my daily driver I think I need to downsize to shorty headers. They should provide more low end which is what I am really looking for. Sometime this week or next I will be switching back to the stock manifolds while I wait to sell the LT's and get shorties!

So if anyone wants to take a stab at LT headers I think mine will be up for sale soon! If and when I do post them Ill be asking $320 for them. They are the ceramic coated headers to and not chrome!

What's wrong with long tubes?

 

[zackmd1]

What's wrong with long tubes?

Nothing with the LT headers specifically! They are just not quite fitting in with the sound I want to achieve. Shorty headers are the cheaper route vs buying high flow cats and will/should provide more low end power!

 

[Ultrakla$$ic]

New sound clip

THIS by far is the best sounding combo I've heard.:eyebulge:


You should have left this setup on the car!

 

[vnzbd]

Correct 2.25" is the stock exhaust pipe size. Not every stock spec needs to be upgraded though. There are two main reasons why I stuck with the 2.25".

1. I have about 7ft of 2.25" stainless steel pipe left over from my previous exhaust.

2. Every aftermarket company was moving to bigger 2.5" piping with their 11-14 catback systems. Our 3.7 does not need 2.5" piping... That was a big issue that no one seemed to notice. The key to any exhaust system is keeping the exhaust gases moving at a certain velocity throughout the system. This is why straight through mufflers make a difference. The important thing to note here is that a larger pipe diameter DECREASES exhaust gas velocity while a smaller pipe diameter increases velocity. This is all relative of course. You want the smallest pipe diameter possible without going to small as to cause restriction from the pipe not being able to handle the exhaust gas volume.

A 2.75" mid pipe down to 2.5" catback is just a bit to big in my opinion and understanding of exhaust systems. This is where I believe people were experiencing their low RPM power drop. It is not the headers but rather their exhaust pipe size. The OEM 2.25" should be a sufficient to retain low end and still provide some gains in the upper RPM's.

I agree with the theory of the 2.25" exhaust diameter for the exhaust gas velocity. Of all of the aftermarket vendors out there they all seem to go to 2.5" except Borla. It makes me wonder it the 3.7 is a tweener when it comes to the 2.25" vs. 2.5" diameter. The Hooker Blackheart axelback, no muffler gained 13lb of torque at approx. 2800rpm. I think that is pretty solid although the exhaust does not step up to 2.5" until the axel. I am going to see if Hooker will post the dyno graphs for the catbacks because I am curious to see the torque results on them. Too bad Borla doesn't give any dyno specs.

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