After researching, listening/watching various YouTube videos, reading the stickies and threads here on this forum and others, I'm still undecided what route to take.

What I want to accomplish:

Full-length exhaust.

I want a deep, throaty, rumbling, aggressive, little to no drone setup. When it is idling, I want to make its presence known. Revving, nice and deep growl. Flooring it from a standstill or moving and upshifting, I'd like to not hear ANY raspy or "tinny" sounds. Here's an example of a sound similar to what I am looking for, on a 5.7 newer HEMI Jeep Grand Cherokee:


No raspyness or tinny sound when he's winding it out in the video. Obviously, this is just a catback, and headers + high flow cats would make it louder.


Parts I've picked out:

- Kooks LT's 1 3/4ths
- Quad 4" tips out back

.....and that's as far as i've gotten. I would like to get opinions on which direction to go next:

- true duals?
- y-pipe to single intermediate pipe
- 2.5" or 3" diameter exhaust?
- high flow cats?
- brand of muffler(s) that meet the target goal?

I realize this is an offroad system, but for the little bit of sound you can hear in this video, it does seem appealing:


I also do not want or intend to go catless or have any cutout. This is a weekend cruiser/fun car, and I still want to be able to hear my radio at times above my exhaust.

I will also eventually get tuned.

It is just difficult to pick out the parts that meet my goal, since most videos and sound clips i've come across, people have had extensive work done (cam, heads, cutouts, O2 sims, no cats, 1/2 a cat, a real cat, a bunny, no muffler, etc.), and I only want to buy parts once to accomplish what I am trying to set out to do. Of course, all of this also with as much power gain as possible.

Any input would be appreciated. Thanks everyone.

 

I hope I can help. When my Z28 was stock the first thing I bought was Kooks headers 1 7/8” x 3” with the catted true duals and quad tips. Exactly what your looking for is how it sounded. No raspy crap, no tinty sound, it just sounds aggressive.

I personally will never own a y pipe again because the duals sound so much better... and reading your post it appears that duals are probably what you need.

If I could recommend one thing it’s to step up the primary size to 1 7/8”... especially if you plan on adding more power. If not, they’re still fine.

Keep in mind if you cam it those cats need to go! I simply cut the cats off and welded 304 stainless (same grade of stainless as the rest of the system) in place of the cats.

For O2 simulators I would seriously consider not doing that and just getting it tuned and having the sensors cut off in the program. I still physically plugged in the sensors for my state inspection but in reality they were turned off.

 

If I may make a recommendation... I have the Hooker blackheart true duals (and 1-7/8" headers) and absolutely love the system. Waaaay cheaper than a kooks setup, better ground clearance, and sounds awesome. They make a 3" version (I have the 2.5, which is still frankly all the pipe you're going to need for anything below 600rwhp) and it would probably take minor mods to make it fit up to Kooks headers if you're dead set on those.

 

Thank you both very much for your input and thorough explanations! This is exactly the information I am looking for, because until/if I do anything more crazy (heads/cam/etc), I only want to do this once.

That said, it looks from what what you both are saying, true duals is the way to go for what I want, and either starting with Kooks headers and making my way back or Hooker Blackheart from the headers back, and since i'm no where near 600hp, and probably won't be, the 2.5" should work just fine, I gather. And of course, a proper tune will be in order after these upgrades.

I'll focus on these two for further research.

Thank you both for your input. Hopefully can make a decision in the coming weeks. Just will need to find more sound clips/videos.

 

Just let us know what you decide

 

Will do. Have to hear more audio if I can find it. I like the Kooks system in the video I posted, but that is catless, which I do not want. Kooks headers 1 7/8" with emissions connections are $1200+ for just the headers. Ceramic coated of course. The exhaust system from them (true duals), 3" is $2378. $3500 for just those parts. I can see now how Hooker is way cheaper. The price difference is nuts.

 

Yes the price of stainless has gone way up. I bought my Kooks system in 2014 and I can’t remember the exact price but it was much cheaper. Unfortunately I don’t have a good video of when the engine was stock. I’ve only got video of the llsr cam with the kooks.

 

The best way to improve the sound of the exhaust, is to ditch the Y-pipes, and implement duals. This is the problem, it's not easy to implement, there are packaging constraints.

I implemented the Bassani true duals, for my ride. It's a direct bolton, just lower to the ground. You should check the thread at the top of the forum, for extensive implementation of duals.

I have video, on my website, if you're interested in the sound of my implementation.

 

Since creating this thread, i'm pretty set on a true dual setup. When I had my C5, I had a catback Borla exhaust, with a Borla H-Pipe. Thinking of going that route via Kooks for the WS6, although I would most likely also do headers (required for their system).

Can you link your video? I'm interested in listening to how your setup sounds.

 

Sure thing. Here's my video of me racing on the track, at FIR. Although there's a Mustang in the other lane, that gets the jump, I blow past him, and you can hear the exhaust. Check it out!


I think it sounds wonderful! It has a deep rumble, and clean. It's a true dual system, from Bassani. Although I messed around with adding ultraflows, it's basically a bolton system. There's nothing like true duals.

I have more video on my website, if you're interested.

 

I am interested. This helps alot, actually, since it sounds - like you say - clean. I don't hear any "tinny" rasp up top, which I absolutely despise. My C5 didn't have it, and I dont intend to have it on this car. Sounds awesome.

Any videos of the exhaust closer?

 

Just get a stock style catback and a cutout. Duals will drone, not enough room for a good muffler. The hooker and magnaflow catbacks both sound good. Borla, tsp etc. You could do a tsp y pipe with a 3.5" outlet and their 3.5 cat back with a built in cutout. Then you have quietish when cruising and open it up at the track.

I've been through 6 or 7 systems. I know what to expect at this point.

 

Don't believe naysayers.

Here's a couple of videos, showing the sound. It is badass, as it should be, with true duals!


This one is in my prior neighborhood, excuse the hauling ***, on the street.


This one is by a shop, that did the work, on my car. Little canny, but you can hear it!

 

I forgot to mention, the first clip is with a Dynamax Ultraflow, welded in place of Bassani's single muffler.

The clip idling is Bassani's OEM muffler.

 

Sounds really good. Why is it so difficult to find a setup for an FBody that i'm describing vs. say a C5? When I had my C5, I did the following: Borla X-pipe, Borla Stinger quad tip exahust. Done. Never sounded tinny when winding it out, and had a deeeep, menacing growl throughout the RPM band.

Seems like its either impossible to get that sound on an Fbody, or it just needs true duals with the correct muffler. Kooks and Hooker so far seem to have mastered this for the Fbody. Still difficult, because nearly every video I come across with someone doing true duals, has other work done: cam, heads, etc. Which gives that lopey idle that I don't care for all that much. I don't have any engine work done, and for now, it will be headers with the exhaust if anything, and a tune.

 

What you are describing is what the hooker blackheart will give you. Make sure you call.and verify correct part number to match whatever length headers you have.

 

Thanks! Yeah, I don't know why. For C5's, they have duals, so it's easier to get these sounds. We are challenged with the exhaust being Y-piped. Comparing the exhausts, duals will naturally sound good.

Yes boltons are for lack of better terms, easy to implement. My modifications are all boltons. It would be interesting to see what cam and heads sounds like on my implementation.