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Need someone to ELI5 which pipes are involved with an LS1 exhaust. If I buy a Corsa cat-back exhaust, does that come with enough pipes to reach the y-pipe? I hear people talk about i-pipes, is that part of a standard cat-back exhaust? Or do I need to buy an i-pipe separately to connect a cat-back exhaust to my y-pipe?
Op, here's a few comments & pictures that may help.
Lot a terms are tossed around. With LS1 fbody's CatBack typically means from the Y pipe back. The term is somewhat misleading.
This picture of a Corsa cat back kit is fairly typical. It includes exhaust tips, dual outlet muffler, clamps and the over the axle pipe. The over the axle pipe is often in two parts and sometimes called an I pipe.
Typical catback with I pipe looks like this assembled and out of fbody car. Note how over axle pipe/I pipe fits to muffler.
The Y pipe named as such due to shape. Big opening at bottom goes back to the I pipe which is connected to the muffler. The two top pipes go to toward the catalytic converters. And connect to them. Traditionally LS1 fbody cat back kits DO NOT include a new y pipe. Not saying they can't but that would be an exception.
Typical catalytic converters. They connect to the Y pipe and the exhaust manifolds. There's a left and right cat. One mounts lower than the other in an stock LS1 fbody.
Below you can just see the exhaust manifolds that attach to the engine at the cylinder head exhaust ports.
Example of LS engine with exhaust manifolds. It's not an LS1 I didn't have an LS1 picture with exhaust manifolds attached.
Example of catback & Y pipe without a muffler. These are LOUD.
Example of long tune headers with small catalytic converters and Y pipe for LS1 fbody
Example of headers and true dual exhaust with x pipe.
There some variation. Always read description and call and ask vendor what's includedif in doubt before buyingparts.
Originally Posted by G Atsma
What is EL15??
ELI5 stands for the phrase, “Explain Like I'm 5.”
The 5 refers to a five-year-old child, the implication being that the person requesting the explanation has a limited or naive understanding of the issue.
I think our generation said "spoon fed" meaning basically the same thing.
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Does a cat-back exhaust connect to the y-pipe? 
