Straight Pipes on 98 Z

ASW98Z · April 30, 2001

I am told I can run straight pipes on my 98 Z with a 350. I also here that this may screw somethings up. Any help would be much appreciated!

Roofer · April 30, 2001

Sure you can run straight pipes, but it will be unbearably loud. When I had my '98 Z71 I had two 18" glasspacks and that is the best sounding truck I've heard in a long time. The '98's have duals stock to the muffler, so the duals all the way out isn't too tough. This is just my experience.

jeff · May 1, 2001

Can you say burnt valves. Running straight pipes went out in the 60's Get a good performance exhaust system installed and you will be allot happier. Also your motor will live longer

tbyrne · October 29, 2001

You can run offroad pipes on your Z but you will need 02 simms to make the computer think there are cats there when there really isn't. As mentioned the car will be louder without the cats, especially if you run them with long tube headers and/or an aftermarket catback. I wouldn't say that there will be a huge difference on a mildly modded car but it can be beneficial on a heavily modified car.

Hope this helps,

Tom

2001 Supercharged 6.0 Suburban- for sale! -15.87 @ 88.41

1998 Vortech powered Z-28 - 10.89 @ 130.03

www.tbyrnemotorsports.com

95 Silverado · November 3, 2001

A friend of mine had an '88 full-size blazer, 350 TBI, he ran a single 3 inch pipe from the cat to the rear of the blazer. the convertor quieted it enought that it didn't sound like an open pipe, and he still had the o2 sensor in place. It was louder than I would want, but he liked it.

96 Vortec · November 4, 2001

I am running a Flowmaster American Thunder cat back system on my 96 K1500. I am very pleased with the sound and performance of the system.

The benefit of the system is when the system bolts to the flange after the cats, it converts from two smaller diameter pipes into one large diameter pipe before running into the muffler. Two pipes come out of the muffler and continue out the rear.

I know a lot of people are concinced that keeping the exhaust seperate for the "true dual" is better. Tests have shown that connecting the two exhaust pipes whether it is with an "H" pipe, "X-over" or simply combining into one large pipe increases engine torque.

Also, if you did want to run straight pipes, you would have to relocate one of the cats. If you were to run the straight pipes out of the after cat flange without combining the exhaust, the driver's side would have a much longer exhaust route than the passengers. After leaving the engine, crossing over to the passenger side, down the length of the truck and then back over to the driver's side to exit out the rear would make for very unequal length exhausts..