Manufacturers building performance cars, like the Chevy Corvette, are restricted by federal laws regulating emissions and noise. Some exhaust systems are often too restrictive to allow the most potential horsepower from the engine. However, if you are considering adding more power, you need to find a solution to this problem.
Reduce The Restriction
One of the easiest ways to reduce restrictions in the exhaust system of any vehicle is to replace the entire exhaust from the engine back. A complete exhaust system replacement can be expensive, but it is the best option for making more power.
High-flow exhaust systems have larger exhaust pipes and typically use matching diameter mufflers and catalytic converters to ensure the exhaust gases can move quickly and unrestricted from the engine and out the car's tailpipe. High flow systems often have less noise deadening properties, so be aware that the new system could be louder than the stock exhaust system.
Mandrel Bent Tubing
Most performance exhaust systems use mandrel bent tubing with fewer kinks or dimples in the pipe. Imperfections inside the system can affect the flow because they cause turbulence inside the system that breaks the exhaust stream.
Exhaust systems designed for peak performance often have mandrel bent tubing and transitions from the muffler or catalytic converter to the pipe with very tight tolerance to avoid the turbulence problem. They are lower-priced options, but if you are looking for the best performance possible from a street-legal exhaust system, the details are critical.
Buying Online
Buying an exhaust system online from a performance shop or through the exhaust manufacturer can make getting the right system more manageable, and you can get the parts shipped to you or to the shop installing the exhaust system. Once the exhaust arrives, it is essential to inspect the components to ensure everything is in the box and is in good condition.
If the kit has dented pipes, muffler problems, or missing hardware, it should be reported to the dealer where you purchased the kit right away. In some cases, the parts are not critical, and the exhaust repair shop can substitute some hardware for the missing bolts. However, a damaged pipe on a high-end, high-flow exhaust system is not something you want the shop to try and work with.
If they try and fix it, it often compromises the original design and could reduce the flow enough to cost a few horsepowers from the engine. In a street-driven vehicle, that might not matter, but a performance car that competes on the track needs every bit of power it can make, and compromising it because of a part that is not right could be critical.
Contact a local auto shop to learn more about getting parts, such as a Chevy Corvette exhaust system.
