gear questions
As far as a y-pipe goes, I'd just save up and get some long tube headers. Those cast iron exhaust manifolds really hold back the LT1. In the mean time I'd look a cutout. It's a cheap mod and should give you a nice increase.
. I installed a cutout on my car and gained 12 rwhp and 13 rwtq on a car with only a cold air intake at the time, and i also have zero leaks. dont worry about a y-pipe unless you have long tube headers, beacuse regardless of what you are going to buy now, you will be going to longtubes eventually and you will have wasted money on the y-pipe. 
