Within the next few weeks here I'm going to be tearing things apart in my '95 Z, doing a head gasket. Figured while I had everything out, I'd do the exhaust. What I want to do is make a few extra hp, without breaking the bank. Even more important, I don't want the exhaust refit to end up being more painful than the head gasket repair. What I'm looking at are these headers:

http://tinyurl.com/ycjyrdk

And this exhaust:

http://tinyurl.com/ydzz9t5

What I'm hoping is that this will just be simple plug n play, to what I have now..if not, suggestions for a setup that is would be appreciated. I don't have the means or the interest in bending pipes to fit. Also, I imagine that would leave the cat as the only part of the exhaust that would be original...being that it has 78k on it like the rest of the car, should I replace that now if I'm getting new headers/exhaust? Is it even necessary to have a cat on a '95 in NYS?

 

Specifically...with shorty headers (that come with a y pipe) and a catback exhaust, do I have to mess w/the cat in any way?

Is the cat welded to the y pipe on a stock setup in a '95?

What are a known good set of wires that I can get that are long enough to route over/through headers (to avoid the heat)?

Don't want to reinvent the wheel, that's why I'm looking for someone that has done this before. Just want to get it right the first time.

 

I personally wouldn't do shorties. From what I see, they make plugs and wires a PITA. I'm running Pacesetter long tubes and catless y-pipe, and they fit well, and make plugs and wires a big easier. Not a walk in the park, but far easier than the stock manifolds.

As far as the car, on my 97 (dual cat), the y-pipe had both cats welded on. If you used the shorties, you'd probably have to have a cat welded on, but I'm not sure about the single cat cars.

As far as plug wires, most of us run cut-to-length sets. There is a vender that sells a kit to run them over the valve covers, I just can't remember the name. If you get creative and have patience, you can do all kinds of different setups too.

 

yes

i know thunder racing sells OTVC kits and they're a supporting vendor on here.

for an extra $100 price, why not get a set of pacesetters and ORY? do you want/need to keep the cat?

 

answer is yes in addition to sniffer test they are supposed to do a visual cat check. Also since your cat is welded to the y pipes, and where they enter the cat is a very short sort of an oval shaped opening you will need to fabricate something. Most likely an aftermarket cat and some creativity you may get away w/o needing a welding shop.

 

The main reason I was looking to shorties is ground clearance. The exhaust is factory stock right now, and I have JUST enough ground clearance to get in and out of my driveway. I shudder at the thought of rubbing the bottom of the header or y pipe on the driveway every day. Basically...I can't lose any of the ground clearance that I have right now. If there is a long tube header that fits that criteria, I'm all for it though...

 

I had the car inspected shortly after I bought it last fall at a jiffylube. Since it's a '95 they didn't hook it up to the 'puter...nor do a sniffer test. However I think that doing w/o a cat is risky...they don't always check but if they did I'd be SOL. Worse yet..if I get pulled over and they look under.

 

If your car is stock ride height, I doubt ground clearance will be an issue. I have eibach sportlines (-2") and I'm in the process of putting LT's on. Granted, I'll probably hit the y-pipe occasionally until I get my suspension raised up to a more stock stance (looking at stock SS springs again (-3/4" from Z28 suspension) or a 1 - 1.2" lowering spring)

If you plan on lowering your car in the future, it's much more feasible to look at shortys. I will say it's been a PITA getting my shortys off The main reason people go with shortys is for ground clearance or emissions.