After extensive research about LS1 aftermarket exhaust on this site and many others I think I have concluded my decisions on how I should do it. So here's what I'm thinkin:

FLP LT headers > 2 QTP cutouts @ collectors > 2 Carsound 3" catalytic converters > 2 Dynomax Bullet 3" inlet/outlet mufflers > dual turndowns before the rear axle.

I'm not going with the X-pipe because I don't want to deal with the hassle of finding a way around the M6 crossmember. So I'd like to have a straight as possible setup and get the exhaust out of the car as quickly as possible. I really don't care much about the sound, I'm doing this mainly for performance. My FLP decision is pretty much final but I do need some advice on a few more things:

Do the FLP's have a 3" collector which tapers down to 2.5" on the Y-pipe that comes with them or is the collector 2.5" that mates with the 2.5" y-pipe?

How much separation should I put between the components? Should I put the cutouts direcly at header collectors? How much space should I allow between the cutouts, cats, and mufflers for optimum performance? Also, what metal should I use between components and for the turndowns? I'm thinking stainless steel. Anymore light wieght non-corosive metal suggestions?

Does anyone have the Carsound 3" catalytic converters? The reason I chose these was because on MTI's website they claim that they rob the least power out of any on the market. Any suggestions on different cats?

I found the Dynomax bullet mufflers at Summitracing.com and they were the first ones I looked at. I really don't care what the mufflers sound like as long as they are relatively lightwieght, cheap, street legal, don't take up a lot of space and allow decent ground clearance. Does anyone have these mufflers? How well do they perform? I would also appreciate suggestions about other bullet mufflers because these are the only ones that I've really looked at. Also, should I get the 23.5" long mufflers or the 16.5" ones? I would assume that the 16.5" ones would be less restrictive and lighter so I'm leaning towards them.

I could be wrong but I doubt I will have any clearance issues with this setup on my stock suspension 2000 Z28. Will I?

I know that this setup would work better on my higher displacement engine, but I'm going one step at a time for financial reasons and my car will be high displacement before long so save your breath about it being too much for the stock LS1. FYI my current mods are: Whisper lid, Hurst shifter, Borla catback (will be getting rid of with new setup of course), all free mods, 17" rims with BFG radials. Future mods: MTI 382 stroker with Stage III LS6 heads.

What hp/tq numbers should I be seeing with the entire setup? Cutouts open #'s AND closed #'s?

Will this setup be legal in Texas (with the cutouts closed of course)?

So overall is this exhaust a good idea, bad idea, anything I forgot to mention that I may have problems with or that I need?

P.S. I do not want to start yet another FLP vs. SLP battle <img border="0" alt="[fight]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_punch.gif" /> . I've heard EVERYTHING and weighed the pros and cons and my FLP decision is FINAL <img border="0" alt="[judgement]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_judge.gif" /> .

<small>[ June 12, 2002, 02:11 PM: Message edited by: 2000LS1 ]</small>

 

Nice setup except for one thing,ditch the cats. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />

 

Exhaust must exit behind the passenger compartment for it to be legal in texas. this means you need pipes coming out the back (since in our cars the hatch area is still part of the passenger compartment), or a friendly inspector.

Catalitic converters must also be located in the stock location or they can fail you.

If you put the cutouts on the ypipe you are going to need to angle the cutout down some unless you want hot exhaust exiting on your floor pans, and that means you'll have the worst ground clearance ever. Hope you dont go over speed bumps or go up parking garage ramps.

 

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by The Booker man:
<strong>Nice setup except for one thing,ditch the cats. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" /> </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">That's what the cutouts are for <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" /> Tryin to keep it as legal as possible.

 

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by jmX:
<strong>Exhaust must exit behind the passenger compartment for it to be legal in texas. this means you need pipes coming out the back (since in our cars the hatch area is still part of the passenger compartment), or a friendly inspector.

Catalitic converters must also be located in the stock location or they can fail you.

If you put the cutouts on the ypipe you are going to need to angle the cutout down some unless you want hot exhaust exiting on your floor pans, and that means you'll have the worst ground clearance ever. Hope you dont go over speed bumps or go up parking garage ramps.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Ouch...I did not know that about the exhaust exit thing. Will I have problems finding a place that will install this set up? I guess I will just have to find some places waaaay out in the country that will pass me for inspection. I have a few friends that have the Mac headers with the off road y-pipes, and they pass all the time. Where I live they hardly ever check the cats so I'm not too worried about that.

And as for the cutouts do you think I can install them at a 45 degree angle so they don't hang straight down and then just use some type of heat shield or sheet metal and attach that to my floor pans so the exhaust does less damage?

<small>[ June 12, 2002, 03:17 PM: Message edited by: 2000LS1 ]</small>

 

I'm assuming since not too many people are voicing their opinions, everyone just thinks this will be a good set up??? Other than the exhaust exiting too early then I think I'm good to go and ready to start ording the parts...right?