LS4 Performance - 07 Monte Carlo SS Exhaust Gift

So my girlfriend just bought a 2007 Monte Carlo SS. She wants to have a more muscle car sound to it without voiding the warranty on the car. She saw what a catback system did to my car (GTO) and likes it. Her stock exhaust is nice but wants to amplify that sound a bit (that throaty gargle). What would you guys recommend?

I would like to surprise her with it, but i'm sure she is looking around too and knows i'm looking as well. Any suggestions?

I was hearing that Hogan downpipes might do it. But i dont want to have O2 sensors going off on her car. However, ive seen them with Hiflow cats, which im sure will still throw a code, but maybe not. Or would you suggest going with a catback system?

Thanks in advance. Im not too keen on her car, so looking for some help here.

Do what i did and get a electric exhaust cutout. That way you can turn it off if you have some law in your area or don't want to wake the neighborhood. I have some pictures on my car domain site if you wanna see how it would look.

Magnaflow is the most simple system that bolts in. You could go to an exhaust shop and specify pipe and sizing to create your own catback system. Hogan DP is more for flow, I haven't heard a huge difference in sound.

Cutouts are good, loud when you want to be, stealth when needed.

Magnaflow exhaust and hogan downpipe with cat. But you will still get the 02 code if you have HP tuner you can disable the code from ever coming back.

Well, I dont think she would want the exhaust too loud where its almost just a straight pipe. She wants it to be tolerable, but good sounding. I was thinking of going with the magnaflows and installing it ourselves. Are there any other cat back systems that are out there for this car? Its nearly impossible to find any. The only one i found was the Magnaflows from lmperformance.

But that catback would enhance the throaty sound to become louder? Thats what we are looking for. The later on, if she doesnt mind voiding the warranty, we'll do headers and such.

Well, I dont think she would want the exhaust too loud where its almost just a straight pipe. She wants it to be tolerable, but good sounding. I was thinking of going with the magnaflows and installing it ourselves. Are there any other cat back systems that are out there for this car? Its nearly impossible to find any. The only one i found was the Magnaflows from lmperformance.

But that catback would enhance the throaty sound to become louder? Thats what we are looking for. The later on, if she doesnt mind voiding the warranty, we'll do headers and such.
There's only the Magnaflow if you don't want to go custom straight pipe, and there's no headers for this car yet.

The MF usually wakes up around 2500 RPMs....and it has a rumble, but its not lopey or too loud.

And LSx engines aren't really "throaty" per se, they sway more towards lopey and very deep. Mustang 302s and 331s have more of a throaty, raspy note. Personally, I like the LSx exhaust when modded, it makes the car sound like it eats babies...lol :drive:

Haha, thats awesome. With the stock exhaust in place, the car sounds like it has the potential to sound like a modded Mstang with that midrange throaty gargle. But in the monte, it sounds very low pitch. So MF is the way to go since its the only way to go, aside from goin hardcore straight pipe (which might be a little too much since she hates the drone i get in my car from the loudmouth II). But if its lopey and deep, thats perfect. She said she wants that muscle car sound. I think ill put an order out on this one. And maybe an CAI from K&N.

I have flowmaster 40's put on mine and it really made no noticeable difference to me. I ended up wasting 350 dollars for flowmasters and custom pipes being made. When the sound i was wanting came from a 120 dollar exhaust cutout. I'm just saying that i think you will be disappointed with any muffler you get. I was thinking for louder exhaust get a tube muffler , replace the resonator and have it straight back with no mufflers after that. I think that will raise the volume enough to not be to loud and not to quite so basicly just changing it to a single tube muffler instead of 2 mufflers.

The magna increasing the sound without being obnoxious. . . it doesn't droan during highway cruising. However, if you are on it, it will wake up. . check out magna's website for the drive by clip, it's pretty close.

I have flowmaster 40's put on mine and it really made no noticeable difference to me. I ended up wasting 350 dollars for flowmasters and custom pipes being made. .

Not too sure what he's talking about...but I threw on 2 flowmasters and it made a very significant improvement to the sound. Remove the resonator if you want it to sound vicious...only downside with removing the resonator is that it sounds a little tinny if you rev it at cold start....but once it warms up, watch out mustangs....

Not too sure what he's talking about...but I threw on 2

Really what i meant is it just wasn't the volume i was wanting and/or expecting.

Just remove the resonator and install a straigt pipe. Most exhaust places do this. I promise you'll be very happy! The cost is about 50 bucks.

-Mike

Resonator is removed :X it was the first thing i did when i wasn't happy with my mufflers.

I recomend flowmasters! Especialy if she just wants a pure american sound. Magnaflows have great performance and they are alot easier to install because you dont need to fab up a kit but in my opinion and if ya go listen to a bunch of sound clips you will hear what im talking about magnaflows have a very resinating sound while flowmasters just sound like pure thunder! just my opinion but i would go with flowmasters

my muffler swap has about 5K miles on it now, they seem like they have settled in, deeper and louder then the last video I made with them, with just the slightest hint of a burble at cruise. Part of that is probably the quick lift rockers I have increasing the overlap area by a fairly high percentage (at a guess, along the lines of 30%). When I get home after my trip this weekend, I will see about getting some new recordings. I am very happy with the sound, both at idle and under load. Had Flowmasters (50 series) on my true dual LT1 Caprice, swapped them out for the same ones I have on the LS4 now, no comparison, sounds a lot better than the FM's.

On my Magnaflow exhaust system with about 400 miles on it, its getting alot better with idel and also when I drive and get up around 2500rpm. I think I will give it about another 2-300 more miles of "break in" time before I buy a pipe to remove the high flow res. that came with the magnaflow system, but I am still getting a hogan high flow cat downpipe put on.

The resonator definitely improves the sound when removed...I am leaning towards a set of Kooks flow-thru bullet mufflers. People that have them on F-bodys really like the quality and fit, and the sound is more of a deep, lopey cammed sound. Leave the rasp to ricers and the bark to the mustangs.

LSx's should sound like they eat babies.

I want my car to sound like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOxfk72WEso

So you guys are saying that i should go with flowmasters instead of magnaflow? I know for a fact that she wants that american muscle sound to eminate from the rear end of her car. If she had the money, she would go for a classic monte, chevelle or challenger...so you kinda get what she is looking for. She wants a muscle sound, not a ricer sound that is too high pitch and an idle that will intimidate with a low rumble and the sound of looping (i know its a cam sound, but shes looking for it).

So, flowmasters, eh? Ive looked around for her car and cant find a full catback system. So im guessing you guys just changed the resonators or mufflers? If so, that would certainly help out with cost. If the resonators are just replaced on the factory pipes, would it all fit?

Also, where are you guys getting all these sound clips? I cant find anything on their sites.

Since the stock exhaust system is all welding together, here are your choices.

1. Order the Magnaflow cat/back system and install that.

2. Keep stock exhaust, order the flowmaster mufflers and tips and take your car to an exhaust shop, They will have to cut off the OEM mufflers and replace/weld them on since the OEM ones are welded on the exhaust pipes. They you will have to have them cut off the res and weld on a new res.

IMHO, I would just get the Magnaflow system and then if you want the res removed, all you have to do in unbolt the c-clamp holding it in place and the 2 bolts from the cat and you can remove it, install the new one and your done. The guys from Hogan Performance can make a 409 stainless steel pipe in replacement of that.

Ok, i found the sound clips on the flowmasters website...and she loves the 40 series resonator. Only problem is that there will be ALOT of resonance inside. Shes not crazy about that, but loves the sound it makes (according to the clip).

So the best way to do this is to cut the resonator for the stock pipes and have it welded in?? I wish it didnt have to come to that since i dont know what she plans to do with the car later. But that would be awesome if she had that.

This is what the Magnaflow system sounds like:
http://www.magnaflow.com/04sound/domestic/2006impala.html

This is my Flowmaster system.

http://s104.photobucket.com/albums/m198/corny40/?action=view&current=newexhst.flv

This is my Flowmaster system.

http://s104.photobucket.com/albums/m198/corny40/?action=view&current=newexhst.flv
Corny, your system sounds good.

To the OP: with the system linked to above, add 3 inch piping and !Resonator, and it will be an "american" muscle sound.

Does anyone have a video clip of the stock exhaust w/o the resonator removed?

Here is one that i found with the resonators removed and it doesnt sound that bad.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Grcrq0RdbDU

though this person should have recorded it without the music.

Not bad....a 3 inch flowmaster super 40 system would be better.

Does anyone have an underbody picture of a stock 2006-2007 Monte SS?

And yes, it doesnt sound bad at all. I think i may have her resonators removed and replace the mufflers with the Flowmaster 40 Series. I just hope she doesnt mind the noise inside.

Also, i really appreciate you guys help on this. I dont know much about her car except that its pretty fast compared to mine.

Does anyone have an underbody picture of a stock 2006-2007 Monte SS?

And yes, it doesnt sound bad at all. I think i may have her resonators removed and replace the mufflers with the Flowmaster 40 Series. I just hope she doesnt mind the noise inside.

Also, i really appreciate you guys help on this. I dont know much about her car except that its pretty fast compared to mine.

The interior noise is only an issue if you are getting on it at WOT. Really what good would it be if you COULDNT hear it inside the cabin at WOT?? Once you're cruising though, the interior sound is minimal and easily masked with a little music. I say go for it, she's gonna love it! I promise.

I would recomend getting a custom made exhaust go with 3inch from cat to split into 2.5 into flowmaster super 40's this is the system i plan on getting the total cost should be around $300 installed and IMO the best muscle sound you can buy!!

Not to rain on your parade, but that's the exact system I have, and I paid around $500. That's with me buying my own mufflers and tips at the best prices I could find.

Yeah, i was kinda looking to avoid a high cost just incase she doesnt like it. And wanted to avoid cutting the stock pipes, but i think that is what she wants. If they cut the stock resonator out, and she doesnt like the sound, could it be replaced or will i have to go back to the dealer and buy a new stock catback? And plus, her closet is hold my exhaust, so i dont know if she wants to put a full cat back there while mine was able to break down into pieces.

But yes, i think i might go for the 40's mufflers, and do away with the resonator. Are the resonator and muffler the same thing? I havent looked under her car yet so im not sure whats under there and what can be taken out. I just know there are mufflers near the back with the chrome tips.

No, the resonator and the mufflers are not the same.

If they take out the resonator w/the knowledge that they may be puting it back in, they should be able to pull it off.

I have a full 3 inch system...custom with kooks flow-thru bullet muff's. Its loud and fun.

And yes, you can put the res back in without needing a new catback.

My magna system called me $600 installed and welded. . and I like the sound. Although I wouldn't mind a little more grunt. We will see if the car gets any louder after the CAI.

Well, i can garauntee you that it will not get louder with a CAI. THe only thing you will get is a whistling noise from under the hood. Not sure if the impalas/carlos ss do this, but i know mine makes that noise when power is demanded.

Another question, did anyone have trouble with getting warranty work after getting your resonator deleted?

You shouldn't have any warranty issues by deleting the resonator.

You shouldn't have any warranty issues by deleting the resonator.
Yup....no issues :judge:.

Mod away!

Thanks again guys. Youve all been a big help in this. We will be doing the work in the next week or so. Should be good. Will let you know how it comes out.

Thanks again guys. Youve all been a big help in this. We will be doing the work in the next week or so. Should be good. Will let you know how it comes out.
:corn: Good Luck.

Well, I gave up on my system "burning" in, so I just ordered my 409 SS pipe from Curt at Hogan to replace my res. I will take before and after sound clips of it when I get it installed next wednesday.

Well, I gave up on my system "burning" in, so I just ordered my 409 SS pipe from Curt at Hogan to replace my res. I will take before and after sound clips of it when I get it installed next wednesday.
IMO, it sounds a lot better... :judge: