Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: DiabloTX on May 26, 2007, 03:44:13 PM
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The Magnaflow Cat-back is on and all I can say is...
:D
I took the stock tips that came with the cat-back and took them to my father-in-laws house where we proceded to cut three and a half inches off of the tips. Stock they would have stuck out under the bumper, a truck like appearance I did not want. Took the tips back to the shop, installed the cat-back and fired it up. One of the mechanics and the service manager had grave doubts as to how much sound just a cat-back could have. I fired up the engine and looked back at them at the rear of the car. Their wide open eyes said it all. This system has a nice, low deep tone and gets very aggressive sounding when opened up. In fact when I did hammer on the gas a few times on the first start up I was a little amazed at how loud this thing did sound. On the road the drone is tollerable, especially below 1500 rpm where the drone virtually disappears. The stock muffler apparently was pretty worn out, the insides had corroded to the point of being loose and you could hear it when we removed the muffler. The power difference between the 2 is also very noticable. Before it seemed brisk above 3000 rpm, now it flat out shoves me back into the seat at that rpm range.
I'm going to have the tips flattened a bit into ovals for a cleaner appearance and help with the ground clearance. All I can say is I love Christmas in May!
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(http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g308/txflood77598/CamCatBack.jpg)
When I get a chance to take it back we're going to correct the slant on the system. Just ran out of time.
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I hate the slant too. My buddy had an SS and had the same troubles with "H-pipes". He'd check the hangers here in Michigan because of the chitty roads, and potholes.
Just curious Kyle, you have "true duals", or you using the stock Y-pipe off of yer exhaust manifold? Because if you are running the stocker, you could have gotten a "hi-flow cat". Just saying is all. I didn't know how you were planning on staging your mods.
That looks good regardless, because I too hate the sticking out past the bumper look.
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Stock exhaust manifolds (the '01-'02 LS1's have some high flowing stock exhaust manifolds, the only way to better is to go to longtube headers, which I ain't doing!) with a stock 'Y' pipe. I couldn't afford to do true duals and I really don't want them; ground clearance issues and, to me, would be too loud for a daily driver. I can't wait to get the tips off and take them to my father-in-laws friend that owns a body shop.
The Magnaflow for this car is one of the highest flowing cat-backs made and I certainly felt the difference driving the car yesterday and today. It had always felt a bit down on power before, now just the slightest throttle input gets an instant response!
I also have a new SLP grill coming to replace the boring front one. It's just going to be a painted gloss black with a red chevy bow tie instead of the faded gray stock one I have. And, NO MORE FRONT LICENSE PLATE! TEXAS LAW BE DAMNED!!!! Then my custom 'Z06'-like Z28 fender badges will be put on. THEN, my front spoilers will be done and it will finish my modding plans for this car for quite a while.
Needless to say, it feels like a wholly different car.
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Forgot to add I'm having an SLP lid custom painted to match the color of the car.
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Those are solid (the SLP's) my buddy had em on his.
Man, I've got to see this thing at the next Con. I'm glad this car is working out for ya.
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Well, this is only a SLP airbox lid. It'll help a little but not a bunch. Certainly better than the stock box lid.
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Uhhh... I can't make out that plate number, what was it again?
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Originally posted by VWE
Uhhh... I can't make out that plate number, what was it again?
CHICKCAR
:D
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had this exhuast and liked the long tips, if you angle them up they should end at the bumper. like the stock tips on the old 5.0's.
man you get the Long tubes with an offroad y-pipe and you'd be surprised at how quiet it can be at idle and normal driving. But WOT it will scream, sounds so great.
i should have made sound clips between the Maganflow and the Borla i have now. You'll eventually want something louder. This stuff is like crack.
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she's pretty, I've been wanting to do some similar mods to my '95 mustang GT. I want to keep it naturally aspirated so the goal is just to help it breath better.
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Originally posted by bsdaddict
she's pretty, I've been wanting to do some similar mods to my '95 mustang GT. I want to keep it naturally aspirated so the goal is just to help it breath better.
Headers are the best bolt on and cheapiest way to gain a good amount of power. but don't kid yourself, after that you will get the bug and the car will never be fast enough. i have half a new engine sitting here, and now figuring wether to go procharger or twin turbo when the car is paid off. it's my money pit.
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This is my money pit:
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c62/Masherbrum/SnoFari%20Pre-Run%202006/PreRun2006030.jpg)
I trashed a connecting rod and screwed up the cylinder wall. I have already placed the new AMC 304 in the CJ7. I just have to install the exhaust manifolds, oil pressure line, distributor, alternator and a couple odds and ends.
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Originally posted by Ripsnort
CHICKCAR
:D
NTNMPRT :D
Well, it's sorta not an import.
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Whiteman, you need to understand I've been doing this for a while. I just got off track for about 10 years. Both my '65 GTO and '77 Trans Am were highly modified, headers, straight pipes, glasspacks or thrush turbo mufflers, engines bored .040, Lunati cam, Edelbrock Torker intake. Those cars were LOUD. I just wanted a nicely loud and cheap catback which is exactly what the Magnaflow offered me. The money I saved over the Borla/Corsa allowed me to get a new SLP grill and Z28 emblems with money to spare for paying for my repaired front spoilers. Now I just have to deal the my SES light on which I was expecting after the catback install.
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You do your own work or can you recommend someplace in town. (I'm assuming based on Antone's). I'm happy where I go now. They're just busy and expensive. They are reliable though.
Just wondering.
wrngway
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No, I use the Mercedes repair shop that I used to manage. I'm still good friends with the owner and the mechanics there. I live in Houston, Antone's is just a play on where Stevie Ray Vaughan used to play at, well, one of MANY, in Austin. As for another repair shop, I still haven't found one that I can use for major repairs that I am completely happy with around here in the Houston area. But then again I don't generally need repairs all that often.
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for repairs and paint in Houston/Pearland Lanes Hitech FTW. never had my car in a shop but the work i've seen on a friends ride and his own personal show truck and F-Body are incredible.
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Originally posted by DiabloTX
No, I use the Mercedes repair shop that I used to manage. I'm still good friends with the owner and the mechanics there. I live in Houston, Antone's is just a play on where Stevie Ray Vaughan used to play at, well, one of MANY, in Austin. As for another repair shop, I still haven't found one that I can use for major repairs that I am completely happy with around here in the Houston area. But then again I don't generally need repairs all that often.
Thanks.
Yeah, I'm in Austin. I'm happy with where I go. They're just really busy. Drop off on Monday, get it back next Monday.
I was looking for someplace to install headers if I finally decide to go that route. I don't want to break a manifold bolt and I think one may already be broken and removing heads is above my skill level.
wrngway
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I drove a friends FJ Cruiser who, unlike my FJ, has the stock exhaust and air filter.
You really appreciate the catback exhaust and CAI after jumping in an identical vehicle without that pair....if for nothing more than the sound when you punch it. :aok
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Originally posted by AWwrgwy
Thanks.
Yeah, I'm in Austin. I'm happy with where I go. They're just really busy. Drop off on Monday, get it back next Monday.
I was looking for someplace to install headers if I finally decide to go that route. I don't want to break a manifold bolt and I think one may already be broken and removing heads is above my skill level.
wrngway
one week for headers, thats crazy! with hand tools two of us had my entire exhuast off from the manifolds back and the new headers all the way to the new catback done in 4 hours.
Best thing to do is find someone that will do it in your garage or theirs. much cheaper or find a performance shop that will do it, they should turn it around the same day no problem.
My Tune and the Borla has been the only thing i haven't done with a friend or myself. i was to lazy to swap the Magnaflow and Borla myself.
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Originally posted by AWwrgwy
Thanks.
Yeah, I'm in Austin. I'm happy with where I go. They're just really busy. Drop off on Monday, get it back next Monday.
I was looking for someplace to install headers if I finally decide to go that route. I don't want to break a manifold bolt and I think one may already be broken and removing heads is above my skill level.
wrngway
There are many reasons why I still use that Mercedes repair shop, the main one if which is I'm not a mechanic! Since they repair cars with metric tools and the Z28 is made in Canada, it just makes sense to take it there. Plus they have lifts and pneumatic tools and all that stuff that makes a 4 hour job into a 45 min. job.
Karaya, my main object with this car is to not turn it into a money pit. The more mods you do the less reliablility you can achieve, obviously. This new cat-back has changed this engine considerably, it finally has the balls I thought it should have as a stock engine.
As for that shop wrngway, I'd say a week for typical repairs is far too long. BUT, if you're happy with them then that's all you need.
Thank god my wife is the daughter of an old school hot rodder and she understands the whole fast car things with men. He's a hell of a fabricater, amazing work. Puts a weld bead down better than a machine! Hell, watching take that 3.5 inches off the tips of the cat-back with a HACK SAW and leaving perfect edges was astounding!
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Originally posted by whiteman
one week for headers, thats crazy! with hand tools two of us had my entire exhuast off from the manifolds back and the new headers all the way to the new catback done in 4 hours.
Best thing to do is find someone that will do it in your garage or theirs. much cheaper or find a performance shop that will do it, they should turn it around the same day no problem.
My Tune and the Borla has been the only thing i haven't done with a friend or myself. i was to lazy to swap the Magnaflow and Borla myself.
Not a week to do the work, more like a week to get to it. Real busy. I'm more than willing to drop off and pick up in a couple of days. They do do really good work.
I'd like to do my own stuff but I'm not a mechanic either. I don't even have a driveway.
The project I've been putting off the most is replacing the engine in a '70 C15. I don't want to start it and never finish. So, so far, I'm never starting.
wrngway
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(Homer Simpson voice)
mmmmm .. V-8 sound :)
That looks verra nass Diablo ..prolly sounds great too ;)
I'm thinkin next toy is gonna have to be V-8 sound for the Vette, too :)
Did someone say 'Con?'
-GE aka Frank
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Thanks. It will look better once we get the angles corrected.
Gray, have you heard of the Ron Fellows C6? OMG droooool....
http://www.2007chevycorvette.com/ronfellows/
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the Ron Fellow's vette is nice .. instant collector car.
I heard you can get a Callaway brand new coupe for about 2k less than a Z06 .. and it makes more power :)
I like my vette .. its everything I wanted in a 'starter' vette, I can mod the crap out of it failry easily.
But ..them new ones .. oh my .. they do look *good* ..and they run great :)
I'm thinkin hard about what direction to go.. wouldnt take much from what I have read to get mid-10's out of this black bullet, and would still be daily driver, cruiser, fun car.
I dunno .. mayhap will wait till I finish my RN to start a Z06 project car .. that new 427 is just such a sweet motor :)
-GE
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I agree. The new rides are amazing performance values. And I thank eagl to turning me on to the LS1 engined f-body's. I had a '65 GTO in high school that was a runner but I couldn't get it better than 14.2 in the quarter mile after all the mods. Now you can get a car that goes well into the 12's straight from the factory. And we still have power steering, A/C, CD player, airbags, ABS, power windows and seats, etc, etc...
My wife has been instructed, years ago, that when she gets her inheritance that getting me a new C6 should be her first priority! :aok
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I'm convinced that the LS1 f-bodys are the best bargain in the used car market right now. You can get a primo condition Z28 or Firebird/TransAm for well under $9k, and it'll suck the doors off of 99% of the mustangs on the road and hold up better on the track than pretty much all of them. It's easy to maintain, easy/cheap/fun to mod, and if you get serious about it you can add another 200 hp and make it truly track-ready for just a few thousand bucks worth of parts you can bolt on in your driveway. The biggest danger racing a stock f-body is cracking the brake discs after a hard day on the track, and those can be swapped out in about 10 minutes in the parking lot with 2 wrenches and a jack. Take a stock mustang to the track and you're gonna break something trying to keep up with the 10 year old camaros and firebirds.
The only other car I've seen that has this sort of fun value is the miata... Visit http://www.flyinmiata.com if you're interested in seeing how easy it is to turn a miata into a porsche killer :)
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And that just may be it's achilles heel as well. Since they're so affordable the kids get them and start modding them all to hell. I can't tell you how many f-body's I looked at that had been modded/butchered/run hard here. But then again Houston more or less is LS1 central.
Also, eagl, what I am amazed at is the build quality between my '96 and my '02. Talk about night and day. Four and a half years, 53k miles and not one squeak, rattle, bump or any other misc. noise.
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The achilles heel of the Ls1 f-body is the rear end. they put a great engine in this car and back it up with a rearend made of glass. i have friends that have been through 3 in a year, it's worth the 5k to buy the Mosler 12 bolt.