new guy here, need some exaust info
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
new guy here, need some exaust info Hey guys,
Im working on doing alot of searching, but hopefully some people can chime in and shed some input on my questions. Right now im deployed, a buddy of mine just bought a 97 camaro with the LT1 in it dirt cheap off his sister. We are looking at replacing the exaust when we get back stateside, and id like to get a game plan and do my research while im out here in my off time. Ill start off saying I dont know jack about LT1s, I play with the turbo buick crowd and then work on alot of older stuff, like pre 1964 stuff. So this is all new to me, but i learn quick and can turn a wrench.
So for his car, he doesnt have to deal with emissions or a visual inspection, he wants to replace the manifolds back and start with headers. I was looking at texas speed performance, and for the LT1s they have hooker supercomps and pacesetters. I learned a long time ago that with headers you pay for what you get and talking to my buddy he is fine with that. So what is the better headers out there? Id rather support some smaller shops, then order from jegs or summit, so besides texas speed who else is out there?
Second, what are we going to be dealing with in the O2 department? I know on LS1s they have 4 O2s, I havent even looked at his car yet so im going into this blind. The one thing that I dont want is a steady check engine light, so what will we have to do with all of that?
Lastly, and im going to be searching more, but can you run true duals on these? The big thing that we dont want is alot of drone, since he will be driving on the highway alot, but I dont think the car will ever get past minor bolt ons. If anyone has any input that would be great, and hopefully I can get some ideas going so we can order the parts and have them waiting on us for when we get stateside.
Im working on doing alot of searching, but hopefully some people can chime in and shed some input on my questions. Right now im deployed, a buddy of mine just bought a 97 camaro with the LT1 in it dirt cheap off his sister. We are looking at replacing the exaust when we get back stateside, and id like to get a game plan and do my research while im out here in my off time. Ill start off saying I dont know jack about LT1s, I play with the turbo buick crowd and then work on alot of older stuff, like pre 1964 stuff. So this is all new to me, but i learn quick and can turn a wrench.
So for his car, he doesnt have to deal with emissions or a visual inspection, he wants to replace the manifolds back and start with headers. I was looking at texas speed performance, and for the LT1s they have hooker supercomps and pacesetters. I learned a long time ago that with headers you pay for what you get and talking to my buddy he is fine with that. So what is the better headers out there? Id rather support some smaller shops, then order from jegs or summit, so besides texas speed who else is out there?
Second, what are we going to be dealing with in the O2 department? I know on LS1s they have 4 O2s, I havent even looked at his car yet so im going into this blind. The one thing that I dont want is a steady check engine light, so what will we have to do with all of that?
Lastly, and im going to be searching more, but can you run true duals on these? The big thing that we dont want is alot of drone, since he will be driving on the highway alot, but I dont think the car will ever get past minor bolt ons. If anyone has any input that would be great, and hopefully I can get some ideas going so we can order the parts and have them waiting on us for when we get stateside.
Ok alot of questions here, Ill do my best to answer all of them.
1. If money is no object alot of people will suggest kooks long tube headers, nice quality and finish but very pricey IMO. Pace setter and Hooker arent bad, but I dont believe they are stainless.
2. The 97 LT1s have 4 O2 sensors, one on each header, one before the cat and one after the cat. I believe all you will need for the 02's are an extension harness that goes inbetween the engine harness and the 02 sensor pigtail. I believe most guys (as I did) ditch the 4th/ last 02 sensor and have it tuned out. Which is what will take care of your SES lights, a mailorder tune or dyno tune. Common mailorder guys are PCMFORLESS.
3. Kooks does make a true dual kit for 4th gen cars. I forget if it is LT1 or LS1 specific, but they do make it and I believe it must be used with there headers and there y pipe so your going to be spending about $4k on an exhaust system. I was using JetHot coated long tubes and a texas speed y pipe and magnaflow catback which I thought was affordable and effective. There is a mix and match of what y pipes will work with what headers
This should get you started....
1. If money is no object alot of people will suggest kooks long tube headers, nice quality and finish but very pricey IMO. Pace setter and Hooker arent bad, but I dont believe they are stainless.
2. The 97 LT1s have 4 O2 sensors, one on each header, one before the cat and one after the cat. I believe all you will need for the 02's are an extension harness that goes inbetween the engine harness and the 02 sensor pigtail. I believe most guys (as I did) ditch the 4th/ last 02 sensor and have it tuned out. Which is what will take care of your SES lights, a mailorder tune or dyno tune. Common mailorder guys are PCMFORLESS.
3. Kooks does make a true dual kit for 4th gen cars. I forget if it is LT1 or LS1 specific, but they do make it and I believe it must be used with there headers and there y pipe so your going to be spending about $4k on an exhaust system. I was using JetHot coated long tubes and a texas speed y pipe and magnaflow catback which I thought was affordable and effective. There is a mix and match of what y pipes will work with what headers
This should get you started....
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
I may just look at either the pacesetters or the hookers, and then have a shop run the exaust all the way out the back.
For the back two O2s do we need a simulator to plug into it or can you just remove them and when it gets tuned have them deleted on the tune.
What would be the fittment issues for true duals, would it be the same as all the LS1 true duals, where most people just dump it before the axle?
For the back two O2s do we need a simulator to plug into it or can you just remove them and when it gets tuned have them deleted on the tune.
What would be the fittment issues for true duals, would it be the same as all the LS1 true duals, where most people just dump it before the axle?
Yeah pacesetters and hookers are nice to. The back two 02s can be tuned out. Im not sure about the fiment issues from LS1 to LT1, or even if there is any. On Kooks website they only list the true dual kit for LS1 camaros and birds. The Kooks setup actually runs both pipes over the axles like the factory exhaust (but duals obviously). I believe you need a different upper panhard bar or a bracket that relocates the OEM one to provide clearence for the true dual setup. Alot of people run an H or X pipe and bullets and dump it before the axle but if you daily drive a car like that I can see the drone and exhaust fumes make you want to pull your hair out after awhile. Then again some people like it. I believe its usually done to save on weight for strip cars.
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
So i think we will do the pacesetters with out emmissions. Rip out the AIR stuff, plug in the front O2s, and then have a shop run it from the headers back, pop in an x pipe and put some type of small bullet style muffler in and run it up over the axle and out back.
I think dumped will be too much on a daily driver.
Ive read that while doing headers people block off the EGR stuff, we will be looking into doing that as well. Anyone have an answer if we just take the back two O2s out, put sims in them, or what?
I think dumped will be too much on a daily driver.
Ive read that while doing headers people block off the EGR stuff, we will be looking into doing that as well. Anyone have an answer if we just take the back two O2s out, put sims in them, or what?
12 Second Club
iTrader: (2)
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,215
Likes: 1
From: Old Bridge, NJ/Corpus Christi, TX
I daily drive my LT1 with pacesetter LTs, and 3 inch true duals with dumped dynomax bullets. Not nearly as bad as everyone says it is. Only drone is right at 2k. Any higher or lower and there is nothing but awsome sounding exhaust. Here is a clip from they dyno for ya:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItIhYyJl5SI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItIhYyJl5SI
Trending Topics
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine
Verdad Gallardo
7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built
Verdad Gallardo
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin
Verdad Gallardo
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Pouria Savadkouei
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Verdad Gallardo 12 Second Club
iTrader: (2)
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,215
Likes: 1
From: Old Bridge, NJ/Corpus Christi, TX
If you go bolt in cat back instead of true duals, the magnaflow cat back system is not that loud....mine doesn't have any bad drone; and that's with headers and no cat. It's also the least expensive all stainless exhaust system. There's really no need to buy the best most expensive headers for a bolt on car with maybe 300hp....just get some pacesetters or the ebay headers...cheap but effective for what you need; just expect to spend a little more time making them fit.
Slp or GMMG catback sound the best Imo but that's just my opinion. Kooks or hooker LT are the way to go. Pacesetter are good starter header for those who have tight budget but wont make the power a better made header will.
Why? Kooks you could argue because of the step, but even then there would be disagreement, but why vs. the Hooker LTs?
That money could be much better spent elsewhere. Maybe if he was building a 500HP beast...not necessary for a bolt on car. But then again, I'm cheap. 
TECH Regular
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 423
Likes: 1
From: Wildomar, CA
I would recommend the Dynomax bullets also, thats what I have in my TSP Rumbler catback and it is loud, but there is no drone inside. My girlfriend, who hates loud exhaust inside the car, actually loves this system! she says it's the perfect mix of interior noise while accelerating, and mellowness while cruising.
Texas-Speed is a great company to work with and they are speedy! I live in So. Cal. and ordered my exhaust on Monday after hours and it shipped out on Tuesday and was at my house Friday
Texas-Speed is a great company to work with and they are speedy! I live in So. Cal. and ordered my exhaust on Monday after hours and it shipped out on Tuesday and was at my house Friday
