I've got an 06 SS 5.3 LS4 V8, This is my summer driver. It never see's rain and i usually take it out with some other friends a few days a week. they have true old school muscle cars and i've got new school. I want that really loud V8 like they have. Some of them have stright pipes without muffler or cats. I just want to take out my stock muffler and put a pipe in it's place (leave the cats. and res. in). now as most of you know the mufflers are right before the tips. So i'd just cut out the muffler and tips, weld the tips to the pipe and weld the pipe into where the muffler was. my big question, will this hurt my engine? what should i expect?

 

Expect it to be loud. This will not hurt the engine. It would be neat to hear since the ls4 doesn't always run on 8 cylinders. Will it sound like a noisy ricer sometimes when its running on 4?

 

So i shouldn't have to worry about any back pressure problems with just a pipe in place of the muffler? if i accelerate every so gently to stay in 4 cyl mode it's actually deeper and louder than 8 cyl.

 

Some members swear by the Magnaflow system for this car.

I'd be weary of doing that set-up just for local noise restraints, I know it's not a daily driver, but you don't want to run in with cops whenever you take your joy car out.

 

I don't think it would be a problem at all. Quite honestly, I've considering doing this as well to save money and achieve the sound I am look for from this car. I have, however, decided on a set of FlowMaster Super 40 mufflers to replace the stock ones with and from clips I have heard online, they sound stellar. If you do decide on straight pipes PLEASE get a sound/video clip so we can all hear it.

Also try LS1tech.com. They have a lot of knowledge about our LS4 platform.

Here is how the Super 40's should sound:
http://www.eprowebdesigns.com/06Mont.../06MonteSS.avi

Found in this thread on LS1 Tech:
http://www.ls1tech.com/forums/ls4-fr...-question.html

 

The Flowmaster 40's would sound good. You would loose some low end torque. Without muffs it will be loud as hell.

 

i agree with the above statements. i would go with mufflers of some sort (magnaflow or flowmaster). they will still be loud and give you the low end torque you need when cruising on the highway. plus, your engine is tuned to run at midrange rpms and get the most torque at midrange rpms so give them a muffler that will bring out the most torque.

 

So although i may lose some low end torque it will not be significant enough to harm the engine correct? i have heard i will improve torque on the higher end because of better flow, is this true? I mean this isn't a year round driver, i just want to be sure although i may lose torque I'm not going to have any troubles on the road like passing somebody on the highway without having to drop down a gear? or pulling away from a stoplight?

 

I sure hope you don't have trouble with that. You do remember we have an LS4 FWD car, right? lol

You should be fine.

 

if it helps you out i had the chance to drive around an impala ss with no exhaust. it was downpipe to cat only. it didnt feel like it lot anything. it sounded amazing. if i was you tho i would get a electric cut out so that you can atleast enjoi the ride if you just wanna cruz. trust me its loud as hell.