Working with a Universal X pipe on a 97Z.

Going to be getting some PS LTs for my 97, its a dual cat system, they don't seem to make a Y or an ORY for this year with the PS LT headers, so i'll most likely just eleminated the whole cat back system too, Jeg's has a universal X with cut-outs (# 555-30667), don't know what Summit offers, what universal X system is the easiest to work with?

I was going to just tap into the Magnaflow cat back system (but eleminate the cats), so if i can get better perf. out of the X system, that would be an option, or is there a Y pipe that will work on this year with these headers.

Help me out guys, give me your opinions, i've started the tear-down process today, i am new to these F body cars :)

Summit also offers a universal X-Pipe system... But look up my resent post in this section about what I bought to do my true duals and my install pics. You might want to consider that route instead. I used a Magnaflow true x-crossover instead of one of those universal kits. It turned out really good, and I also have PaceSetter LT's.

Only a y-pipe will work with the catback, not an x-pipe. The catback consists on a single inlet pipe which is connected to the y-pipe. This inlet pipe goes into a single muffler where it exits out two tailpipes. There is no catted y-pipe offered for the LT1 Pacesetter headers, the LS1s are a different story though. If you want a catted y-pipe, get the Pacesetter ORY and have it customized with two cats, that is the route I went.

Only a y-pipe will work with the catback, not an x-pipe. The catback consists on a single inlet pipe which is connected to the y-pipe. This inlet pipe goes into a single muffler where it exits out two tailpipes. There is no catted y-pipe offered for the LT1 Pacesetter headers, the LS1s are a different story though. If you want a catted y-pipe, get the Pacesetter ORY and have it customized with two cats, that is the route I went.

Do you have a Part # for the ORY, how much did it cost having it customized with cats (were they high flow cats) i just got off the phone with 2 custom shops that do exhaust work, they really won't mess with anything that doesn't have cats (if they belong there), they said you can have a great flowing system & great performance, even with twin high flow cats.

Are you happy with your system? did it meet your exspectations?

Summit also offers a universal X-Pipe system... But look up my resent post in this section about what I bought to do my true duals and my install pics. You might want to consider that route instead. I used a Magnaflow true x-crossover instead of one of those universal kits. It turned out really good, and I also have PaceSetter LT's.

I would go this route, but there is know one in this area that will mess with the exhaust work (welding) if i eleminate the cats, they won't touch it & i'm not a welder, so i'm kind-of screwed:(

Pacesetter only offers the one LT1 y-pipe, it covers the years 93-97 and runs around 125-150 bucks. I had a pair of high flow Pypes mini-cats welded in there, from what I hear though, they are no longer making these cats. Someone on here did find mini-cats though, perhaps off of Ebay and they seemed to work alright. In terms of gains, I noticed a big difference with my setup, in terms of sound, it was a little too mellow with the Magnaflow catback so I had a stainless steel cutout welded into the i-pipe to achieve the sound characteristic I was expecting.

I would go this route, but there is know one in this area that will mess with the exhaust work (welding) if i eleminate the cats, they won't touch it & i'm not a welder, so i'm kind-of screwed:(

I'll almost guarantee that if you go somewhere with cash and tell them that you do not need a receipt they will do it for you.

When i bought the car, the last owner said it had high flow cats installed, so maybe i can use those, it might be cheaper for me to have them build a Y & add the cats then buying a 130.00 Y, then spending extra (who knows what) having them install my cats, for now, i'll just get the headers in, then i'll worry about what direction to go.

Thanks for the imput though:)

When i bought the car, the last owner said it had high flow cats installed, so maybe i can use those, it might be cheaper for me to have them build a Y & add the cats then buying a 130.00 Y, then spending extra (who knows what) having them install my cats, for now, i'll just get the headers in, then i'll worry about what direction to go.

Thanks for the imput though:)

I'm curious what kind of high flow cats were installed. The drivers side is pretty tricky considering the cat is practically attached to the exhaust manifold and a very unusual size.