Hello,

I was wondering what the best combination for an exhaust system would be for a 94 Z28. I did a search but could not find anything that sold me on a particular setup.

At first i was thinking of buying a good cat back, but however since i dont live in a place where emissions are very strict, I guess im better off saving money and just buying a exhaust cut out right? So i was thinking i could get a cutout and just an aftermarket flowmaster muffler for when the cutout is closed, just to give the car a more agressive sound.

Do you think this is a good idea?

Now for the headers, i really dont know, i was sure i was going to buy a set of short length ceramic coated headers (BBK or hooker...), but after some research, it seems that the long tubes are much more worth it, despite the huge pain in the *** install. What would you recommend here (brand names and where to buy)?

Thanks.

 

if you dont have emissions, get long tubes. and do true duals

 

I guess that would be one option, but keep in mind im on somewhat of a budget.

 

Long tubes aren't much of a pain IMO.....they get easier every time you take them off.

If you're really on a budget....long tubes, take off your cats, custom y-pipe and a cutout.

But plan on spending a little more than you expect. My budget LT project turned into $1K after plugs, wires, gaskets, O2 sims, extensions, custom y-pipe, etc.....

The most cost effective would be to gut your cats and throw on a cutout...then save up for the headers.

 

Thats exactly what i was thinking...

Isnt this the best option for the best performance for the lowest possible price? or should i just stick with the shorties?

 

IMO.....go with the LT's. You might regret going the shorty route as many others have before you.

 

trust me, you wont be disapointed.

this is how mine was setup when i bought it and i've had people at stoplight ask me what my exhaust was, tons of compliments.


gut your cat, go with a 3" flowmaster catback ($219) with the single 3" tip but put a 4" resonator tip on it about 24" long.

sounds sweet

 

But buying a cat-back is pretty much pointless, once you have the cutout, right? (except when cutout is closed but who cares like i said i'd just buy a muffler for the sound when cutout is closed)

 

Why would i regret going with shorties?

 

I don't regret not getting longtubes. A lot of people describe anything other than hookers/jethots or FLP's as shorties, not quite true.

For single cat cars like ours some of the headers available are really midlengths. Some poeple think that long tubes are going to give a significantly larger hp gain. IMO they are splitting hairs. True there is a larger gain, but it's not significantly larger over the midlength designs such as SLP or AS&M (azspeed.com). Real shorty designs like the hooker shorties or SLP's for dual cat cars will still be a nice gain over manifolds, but obviously less than midlengths and longtubes. There is merit to the suggestion to do longtubes off the bat because there are a number of people switching from shorties to longtubes. In fact i got mine used because realquick decided to go with hookers.

Before blindly recommending longtubes over midlenths for their tiny gain you need to consider if your ever going to lower the car or have clearance issues already.

It sounds like you won't run the cutout all the time. If your not one of those people who like it that loud than true duals although powerfull might not be for you. IMO anything exiting under the car shakes it too much to be tolerable. Although back towards the pumpkin is better than a cutout right off the headers, it's still too much vibration IMO.

With longtubes i won't say installation is significantly harder, but you can really get screwed by a shop if you have them custom fab something and they do a poor job or screw you on price. Y pipes for longtubes are an additional hassle.

good luck with your choice

-brent

 

jet hot lt's into a mufflex y-pipe then into my hooker catback. It sounds mean easy as that do research on all the extra stuff u need in the end look to spend 1200 dollars with catback 1000 without that is if u do a tune up while doing headers. I just cant wait to cam my car wonder how much of a difference that will make in my cars sound

 

Thanks for the opinions!

First some more info: I dont plan on lowering my car, I dont have issues with clearance, I will not run the cutout open (which has already been ordered - tbyrne.com) all the time but may get hooked when i actually do heard the sound. I will have other bolt ons going on the car (CAI, 160 stat, etc, etc...). I plan on eventually getting heads ported and a more agressive cam, but for now am focussing on the bolt-ons.


With shorties wouldnt they come with a y-pipe that would bolt right up to the catalytic converter? SO i guess shorites are less of a hassle in that way, right? I mean LT's and mid-lengths sound like a better option, but the price seems a bit high after all the other work that needs to be done? And like you said 94formulabz i mean you still get very decent gains with shorties.

One last thing, is ceramic coating a must?

 

Let me clarify, SLP makes different headers for dual cat vs. single cat cars. 94/95 get single cat headers which are an semi equal MIDLENGTH design. The front primary on each side is longer, but they are close other than that and if the first primary is twice as long, it appears to be, then it shouldn't matter because it's a harmonic. The 96/97 dual cat SHORTIES are not even close in lenth to each other or the midlength design. They are just a freer flowing manifold, there is none of the harmonic scavenging tuning benefits associated with equal length primarys. That IMO without anything scientific to back it up is why the gains are much better with teh midlengths and even marginally better still with longtubes.

Depending on where you live coating isn't a must. Or if you get the SLP's they are 409 SS, they will discolor but not rust structurely. Some people recommend against stainless steel because of embrittlement issues with temperature cycles. SLP claims that their headers are of sufficient thickness to avoid this phenomenon. There is a minor heat containment benefit to having headers coated though. It's only going to be like 3-5 hp MAX according to jet-hot and obviously they want to make it sound good. Theory is it will slow down heat transfer to the motor compartment reducing heat soak, and it will keep exh gasses hot and their velocity up.

Another thing to note is that I normalized my gains for the temperature conditions. A lot of people throw around numbers without mentioning weather which can have an effect larger than the gains you are trying to measure. That could obviously make your gains look huge or nonexsistant.

 

So would the 1 3/4" SLP headers for exmaple at http://tbyrne.com/lt1catalog.html be a good choice (i think these are the ones youre referring to with the longer front primaries and 409 stainless)? And i should get them coated?

Once coated they come out to almost the same price as the AS&M, but the AS&M (also coated) says it comes with everything needed to install (bolts, gaskets, y-pipe, emissions connections...)

So between these two which would be a better choice?
And are they sold elsewhere for less expensive?

 

hi MTL z28 fellow montrealer here too (i thought i was the only one on here ). i cant tell you which of the 2 is better, but from lots of searches on here myself, i think they perform about the same. main thing beeing though, the slp's will never rust, unlike the as&m's ( if the coating gets sraped off). not that big of a deal imo. i was looking to maybe "upgrading" to a set of the 2 you chose a few months back, and really wouldve taken either one. but, i have seen more people complain about fitment issues with the slp's than the as&m's though. so....

i dont know if you know any of the local shops around here, but ill name you a few. theres: Zeke's , Giroux performance, Raceshop 2000, Lemieux performance . you could always check prices with them as well .

another company is in Winnipeg or something. the website is Fasttoys.net. ive dealt with him too, great service. you might be able to save a bit if you shop around (dont forget about taxes and brokerage fees when you buy from the states). although, there are ways to work around them a bit

and keep an eye on the for sale section in here as well, lotsa good stuff have fun