Headers & exhaust
 

I have 90 zr1 bought it 5 months ago looking to up grade exhaust ,like to do headers is it woth the money & noticeable hp Gaines & what brand, wher to get em. What about mufflers or cat back system? I think resanator is stock,Car has flow master mufflers they look ugly looks like 4 tubes coming out of the rear, correct me if I'm wrong stock resonator has no cuts going to y pipe it's all one ,mines cut with clamps to muffler with clamps, resonator has no markings so I'm guessing stock sounds good but looks like crap.any info or pics would greatly appreciate it thanks.

Re: Headers & exhaust
 

Welcome to the group, tom. I would suggest a look at Marc Haibeck's website to give some ideas of power increases. http://www.zr1specialist.com/. Long tube headerrs are under "Products" and there is a presentation on exhuast systems from the 2011 BG gathering. Do you need cats for emissions? Long tube headers add about 25 hp, and a Corsa exhaust adds about 10 or so. You can get high flow cats but they do slightly reduce power, maybe 5-8 hp. Stainless Works and OBX (SW knockoffs) are header possibilities. Marc says Corsa shows the best power gains but others are close. --Bob

Re: Headers & exhaust
 

The best way to tell if you have a stock resonator is two pipes in two out, the Flowmaster resonator has both pipes join into one 3" pipe at the inlet than 2 out.
I did my header Stainless Works coated long tube as my first mod many years ago 08 and was very happy with the results. They have held up very well still look great. I have them hooked to 3" high flow cats and Corsa passes the treadmill test for emission with no problem.

Re: Headers & exhaust
 

If reasanateris stock ,is there hp to gain if replaced with b&b or corsa.

Re: Headers & exhaust
 

Don't need converters ,so headers ,full exhaust will gain about 35-40 hp .

Re: Headers & exhaust
 

Not sure about B&B but the Corsa system only comes complete as a cat back set up. When you buy the SW headers you can get an adapter to hook from header flange to pipes with out cats.

http://www.stainlessworks.net/1990-9...onn-point.html

Re: Headers & exhaust
 

Don't really like tips on these after market mufflers,maybe can do flowmaster with single outlet & 95 tips. Lets go back in time does any one remember flowmaster had a cat system 3inch exhaust with 90-92 tips

Re: Headers & exhaust
 

Tom,

I just took the old type ZR-1 cat back Flowmasters off they do not sell it anymore. I'm putting on my LT1 car.

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800.../p3310029d.jpg

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800x600q90/24/c40c.jpg

Re: Headers & exhaust
 

If your resonator is a stock 90 unit, there are gains available. Marc's presentation on exhausts clearly demonstrates that. --Bob

Re: Headers & exhaust
 

I think long tube headers are well worth it. Very good gains throughout the whole rpm range and especially high rpms. The previous owner of my car bought the DRM ceramic coated long tube headers and he put the flowmaster force II exhaust system on it. He lived in pennsylvania and he had to pass emissions so he took the cats off and put the flowmaster resonator which he convinced them were cats. This car passed emissions every year and the stickers are on my windshield to prove it. the car sounds great with no mid rpm drone that most systems have. the corsa's sound tinny, ratty and the horsepower gains are not substantial and debateable. Unfortunately you cannot get the flowmaster system any more so you would have to make choices here. Definately get long tube headers if you want to really take advantage of your ZR1's power. I would go for the best sounding system as far as cat back exhaust is concerned. You are not talking a bunch of horsepower difference here. the gain in horsepower will be with your long tube headers. get the best sounding catback and dont get caught in that 1 horsepower or 2 horsepower counting game that most manufacturers want to you believe. does it matter if your catback makes 2 horsepower less on a particular day and on a particular car anyway... it just has to sound the way you like it.

edramos #3028

Re: Headers & exhaust
 

Steve,that's it i can't even find a picture of that flowmaster on line anywhere,your z color is awsome, flowmaster has a similar set up to that, it looks like its painted silver but I like the tips

Re: Headers & exhaust
 

Any difference drm or sw headers besides price?

Re: Headers & exhaust
 

Thanks Tom, unfortunately Flowmaster does not make the ZR-1 system anymore I painted mine black. I think it does have a better tone than the Corsa's. I still have to run cats for a few more years. The Corsa did have a very tinny sound at first, but after I put the cats back on it gave them a deeper sound and they loss the tinny sound.

Re: Headers & exhaust
 

Is any one here running flowmaster force 11

Re: Headers & exhaust
 

yes. i am running flowmaster force 11 with long tube ceramic coated headers. no cats but am running the flowmaster resonator. great sound,,, no drone... not too loud idle.. great sound on the road and fantastic during full throttle.

Re: Headers & exhaust
 

the exhaust system has three power killers,, stock exhaust manifolds, cats,, stock resonator. if you eliminate these three power robbers, your car will definitely pick up quite a bit across the board. No shorty headers either, long tube only.

Re: Headers & exhaust
 

Do you have picture of exhaust ,where best place to order

Re: Headers & exhaust
 

Unless you can find one used Flowmaster no longer makes the force 2 setup for the ZR-1. I believe the mufflers are a series 50 but don't know if they come in a duel outlet.

Re: Headers & exhaust
 

Has anyone used the Stainless Works cat-back exhaust on their ZR-1? I really like its looks and am looking at it for our 94.
FWIW,I had Jeal headers and Flowmasters on my former 90 Z and it sounded awesome,IMO.

Re: Headers & exhaust
 

I am. The reason that I bought it was for
the "stockish" style tips. That being said
they sound great. I get compliments on
the sound all the time. I also have very little
resonance. They're behind SSW headers
and random tech cats.
With all that being said, I'm really thinking
about switching to the FBI set up. I think
those guys nailed it. Probably the best flow
while still keeping a quiet interior.

Re: Headers & exhaust
 

Been looking and calling everywhere for the flowmaster force11,part #17115 and nothing.Is there anything out there similar to it or someone willing to sell. How is the b&b set up

Re: Headers & exhaust
 

I think there's a Group Buy, of some hardware, in the works there TomZR1; if you don't want in on it, maybe someone else who IS might unload their old pipes to ya' there...

Re: Headers & exhaust
 

Does anyone else have the OBX racing exhaust on theirs? Mine came with this and it sounds great. Good deep sound with no tinny high pitch.

Hal

Re: Headers & exhaust
 

Hal, I have the OBX headers and exhaust, don't know if it's the racing or not. I've been very happy with it, and happy with the sound. I have very little to compare it too other than stock.

Re: Headers & exhaust
 

I think Jeff - user 'Shrek', from whom I got the outpipes, has OBX on his wife's car...

Hope he doesn't mind me linking his public file here... Sounds NASTY!

Re: Headers & exhaust
 

Re: Headers & exhaust
 

I tried them they don't have it ,thanks I think I'm going to go with b&b 3 inch exhaust.

Re: Headers & exhaust
 

I really really love the look of 90 mufflers , thinking of b&b exhaust but I think to much bling found 91 stock cat back 1000 miles on it for $100 bucks, my question is I have flowmaster on now if I change to stock mufflers( like the look) will there be any noticeable hp difference.can I change resonator? And go with sw headers ,do I have to do anything with chip?

Re: Headers & exhaust
 

You can get SW headers with cats, if you don't have to run cats SW sells an adapter to hook their headers to a stock exhaust. As to flow Marc H. has some good write ups on his site.

http://www.zr1specialist.com/HAT%20W...ons%20Page.htm

Re: Headers & exhaust
 

I think I would try the obx headers and exhaust. the headers will give you the power and the rest of the cat backs is just sound. I would get rid of the cats and get a resonator for droon control. make sure nothing is under 2.5 inch width on the pipes and resonator. I think you will see a power increase. I have seen some people that have bought the obx say they are good and the price is right.

edramos #3028

Re: Headers & exhaust
 

I found my OBX HAB055; something that Jeff [Shrek] said when I picked up the 3'' PE pipes from him, was leading me to believe that they were dis-continued.

Both places are eBay sellers however. Anyone dealt with MOTORSPORTAUCTIONS, or Racing Parts Depot???

Anyone know of other OBX sellers?

Re: Headers & exhaust
 

I purchased my OBX headers directly from Racing Parts Depot. Everything went great! Lowest price on the web that I found for the headers is directly through RPD.

Re: Headers & exhaust
 

Performance is quantifiable, sound is more subjective.

Performance wise, Marc suggests the Corsa with headers, sans cats, if allowed. The package delivers performance gains w/o resonance (I'm told), but they do have a "tinny" sound that some like and others do not.

The 3" Magnaflow system gives a nice, deep tone w/o resonance. However, the resonator chokes down the inlet to a single ≈ 3" perforated tube running the length of the resonator. Furthermore, there are several abrupt(!) choke and sudden transition points throughout the Magnaflow system (6 on the right side, 5 on the left) (which I believe any flow dynamics expert will tell us is NOT conducive to performance. FWIW).

The B&B has evolved from a pretty much wide open 3" cat-back with significant drone in the 1900-2200 rpm range, to a more restrictive system and "lesser" drone.

Pete, ever experimenting to get the most hp, is running a modified version of the earlier B&B system with Watson headers, and now using the NPP valves to control in-cabin drone. (The word is he can now carry on a conversation since installing the NPPs. Others too have gone that route and agree). Nobody is going to convince Pete that a Corsa is better for performance.

Experimenting goes on. I'm a Warrior (at least in my mind and I try to be:p) which means I'll put up with a little racket if there's hp to be made. I've watched the FBI efforts with great interest, and I believe the gurus have come up with what I consider the best of both worlds - to date at least:

The system that impresses me is the headers (SW or Watson), sans cats, SW type X pipe, no resonator, the Dynamax 17228 muffs with the NPP type gate affixed to one of the two active muffler outlets.** It is a true 3" system from the header collectors to the muffler inlets for least restriction and max performance, and the valve on one of the muffler outlets reduces resonance to a very tolerable level. What's not to like???

I'm not sure what Marc's setup is, but I don't believe it is a Corsa. And, I know he likes quiet for normal driving and has a pair of the Flowmaster dual outlet muffs on the back with 4-bolt flanges on the inlet side so they can be easily removed at the track. A variation of that is to install cut-outs just behind the differential which is perhaps an alternative to the NPP and perhaps just as effective.

Fact is, all of them are a compromise in some respect. Sound, vs. performance, vs. cost... Always room for more experimentation - and new "stuff"!;)

Re: Headers & exhaust
 

Paul,

As you know several of us are also adapting a Mild 2 Wild capability with the
C6Z NPP exhaust valves. Hoping to get mine re-installed sometime next week weather depending.

Re: Headers & exhaust
 

Yes - thought I alluded to that system. Yours, BTW, to me is the best sounding one so far.

And, speaking of NPP conversions, "Mike 100" has installed a very well thought out and proven electro-mechanical modification to the passive vacuum-only NPP conversion approach. It was engineered to addresses some low plenum pressure issues the simpler conversion that us "FLAT LANDERS" don't run into, e.g, Mountains and high altitude (low manifold) pressure issue. A really well documented and tested system!

Registry members have first DIBBS. It will be a feature article in the next HOTB!

Re: Headers & exhaust
 

What's the difference between resonance & drone? I know one of them means inside the cab is very loud, the more research I do the more these catback system have drone or resonance from what I'm reading on various forums especially b&w triflow, not to much with older style flowmaster with squarish tips wich I'm leaning towards. Or leaving on stock exhaust and putting on sw headers, and see if I can find a high flow resanator ?

Re: Headers & exhaust
 

So basically most hp gain with no annoying noise in cab.

Re: Headers & exhaust
 

My b&b with x-pipe isn't that bad. Sounds good to me and I can talk on my cell phone and drive without the exhaust being a problem.

But I have not installed my headers yet.

Re: Headers & exhaust
 

My b&b with x-pipe isn't that bad. Sounds good to me and I can talk on my cell phone and drive without the exhaust being a problem.

But I have not installed my headers yet.

Re: Headers & exhaust
 

If I could do it over I would install an x-pipe to replace the resonator and swap out the mufflers and connect everything to a set of full length headers.

The factory system is overall 2 3/4" & stainless steel.