Got my car back today. Power Effects review...

[SurfnSun]

I got my car back today and I am not too happy with my Power Effects system. The car sounds great at idle, nice and powerful. But for me it is too damn loud. I cant hear my turbos spooling anymore under normal driving and certainly not under WOT, unless the windows are down. The sleeper aspect of my car is lost. I will be removing it very very soon. The sound a WOT wasn't what I was looking for either, this system belongs on a car that revs, like an LT4 or ZR1.



Probably going back to my stock system or possibly the 2.75 stock LTx system. I liked the sound alot better plus it was way quieter at cruise. The stock exhaust has that vacuum cleaner subdued roar to it...the Power Effects sounds like a race car. With the system closed it wasn't much louder than stock, but was WAY weaker, probably to the tune of 60+rwtq. Boost would peak at 50" with the system closed. I could adjust that and leave it closed the whole time, but thats pointless... waste of a good exhaust system and my money. Im absolutely willing to sacrifice a few ponies for the sound and quiet that Im looking for....thats probably blasphemy in the Corvette world



Ive thought about Corsa, but Im sure it will be somewhat loud as well. I can't decide if I want to further my $$$ investment for something I might not be happy with.

On the plus side my initial dyno numbers showed almost 30rwhp/40rwtq increase with the PE. The boost builds insanely fast and blazes the tires with no effort.

Overall I think the PE is an awesome exhaust system, I just don't like it on my B2k.

 

[*89x2*]

I recently heard & sampled a B2K with the full "McArdle" exhaust - THAT is the exhaust a B2K NEEDS

Trash the power effects, or sell on e-bay, either way - you need megaphones :cool

Callaway Cars is looking at a "Cat back" (starting where the Vette main cat would have remained) 2.5" megaphone set-up that would utilize the investment quality stainless steel (much thicker than the original megs) for a true bolt on component package - possibly part of the upcoming C4 parts line that will on display at Bloomington :cool

 

[TurboLuigi]

Bloomington, 19 days and counting!

Josh, I'm sure that there you will be able to see and hear the product and effect that you seek.

-Luigi
:cool

 

[EricVonHa]

Surf- I know what you mean about "loud". You can still hear the turbos when you drive next to concrete barriers and such though. The Callaways have such a unique sound even with the straight thru megaphone exhaust. If you haven't heard a car with the megs up close and personal-- check it out before you do it. I really enjoy the sound myself. At idle the car sounds like an animal and it's bearable cruising. I can't imagine any aftermarket exhaust being much quieter than the megs. The Dynomax stuff is about the quietest that I've heard-- but that's at the sacrifice of flow. If you wish to make power-- it's gotta be uncorked!

 

[*89x2*]

Surf, Is your exhaust still "totally free"?? I know the last two cars that got the Megaphones had small (very, very small actually) Cats put in place...
The final Speedster also got that treatment (but has the center exhaust muffler instead)

 

[FX GS]

possibly part of the upcoming C4 parts line that will on display at Bloomington :cool

Gotta love it

 

[callaway4fun]

Get the McArdle Exhaust

Hey Josh it is truely a magnificent piece of work. Not only does it look great it also sounds like a monster. You can hear the Turbos spooling up and down and when you mash the peddle watch all the heads turn. As I was pulling into a local cruise Imashed on the peddle and when I was in the people came running to see what the car was. I can tell you this it is very pleasant on the highway. It is worth the investment Like Chris said Callaway might be offering this as a cat back system my advice is JUMP ON IT!

Surf- I know what you mean about "loud". You can still hear the turbos when you drive next to concrete barriers and such though. The Callaways have such a unique sound even with the straight thru megaphone exhaust. If you haven't heard a car with the megs up close and personal-- check it out before you do it. I really enjoy the sound myself. At idle the car sounds like an animal and it's bearable cruising. I can't imagine any aftermarket exhaust being much quieter than the megs. The Dynomax stuff is about the quietest that I've heard-- but that's at the sacrifice of flow. If you wish to make power-- it's gotta be uncorked!

 

[SurfnSun]

Surf, Is your exhaust still "totally free"?? I know the last two cars that got the Megaphones had small (very, very small actually) Cats put in place...
The final Speedster also got that treatment (but has the center exhaust muffler instead)

Yes the exhaust is still totally open. When I was driving home from orlando I closed the exhaust down all the way. I couldn't believe the difference it made in the cruising sound levels.

You guys understand that the stock exhaust on these cars is quieter than a C5. I was hoping it would be just a deep sound but not too loud....I got deep and loud.

Even when I had my stock exhaust on, I could free rev the motor and hear the turbos spooling down...it sounds really cool. If fact I could hear it better b/c the mufflers were so quiet. When I drive the car now, if I short shift from first to second and give it some gas I really can't hear the turbos spooling up b/c its so loud. If I roll the windows down I can hear it then.

In the end its all about personal preference. If I had any other Vette, I would be stoked for the way it sounds. But for my Callaway, I want it to be the silent missle that no one hears coming.

 

[*89x2*]

Yes the exhaust is still totally open.

Cats??

You guys understand that the stock exhaust on these cars is quieter than a C5. I was hoping it would be just a deep sound but not too loud....I got deep and loud. ...But for my Callaway, I want it to be the silent missle that no one hears coming.

Sounds to me like the Megaphone re-release would be perfect for you then, the full exhaust that is custom fitted at the shop in Old Lyme -vs- something that could be shipped to you in Florida

 

[TurboLuigi]

OK,

I was hoping to make it a Bloomington surprise but since Chris let the cat out of the bag, here are some pics of the Mc Ardle Exhaust as installed in my car...

BTW, the sound is phenomenal at any RPM, doesn't drown out the sound of the turbo's and looks like a work of art. Its Street Legal, free flowing, and sweet humming. Folks, it doesn't get much better than this.

-Luigi
:cool

They route around the e-brake cable...

P.S. 18 days and counting

 

[SurfnSun]

As much as I would like it, Im 99.9% sure that its out of my budget according to my conversation with Pete.

 

[callaway4fun]

Megaphones

Josh they are probably going to make a catback system. You can get that.

As much as I would like it, Im 99.9% sure that its out of my budget according to my conversation with Pete.

 

[EricVonHa]

If they make the system for bolt-on C4 applications across the board.. it'll obviously bring the cost down. I would think that they'd be able to offer it at a competitve price as compared to Borla, Flowmaster, etc because there isn't any muffler with the Megaphone setup. There's a HUGE market out there for this stuff as C4's become more and more affordable for people just getting into motorsports.

 

[*89x2*]

a lot of this (possibilities of production) depends upon feedback from the owners - Let them know you are interested when you see the folks from Callaway @ Bloomington

I know I would buy the Meg's w/ a rr y-pipe That was the sound that introduced me to these powerful cars back in the Summer of 87

 

[TurboLuigi]

Yes. If you look at the 1st picture you can see them on either side of the tranny. However, since they are small bullet type cats, if you weren't looking closely, you missed them, but they are there. Here is a view from a different angle.

Josh, I don't know what you spent + labor, being dissappointed, and then the labor of taking it out. Save up and get this truly spectacular exhaust system. Its like no other, much like the difference from Callaway Twin Turbo Corvette and a stock L-98 Corvette.

-Luigi
:cool

-Luigi
:cool

 

[SurfnSun]

With labor, parts, and custom install of the LT4 system to my car i have just under $1k. From what I gather the "McArdle" exhaust is at least 2.5 times that much. Im not saying I wouldn't like to have it, but at this point I'll probably just put the stock setup back on as I like the way it sounds w/o cats. Its gonna cost me power though.

Yes. If you look at the 1st picture you can see them on either side of the tranny. However, since they are small bullet type cats, if you weren't looking closely, you missed them, but they are there. Here is a view from a different angle.

Josh, I don't know what you spent + labor, being dissappointed, and then the labor of taking it out. Save up and get this truly spectacular exhaust system. Its like no other, much like the difference from Callaway Twin Turbo Corvette and a stock L-98 Corvette.

-Luigi
:cool

-Luigi
:cool

 

[*89x2*]

With labor, parts, and custom install of the LT4 system to my car i have just under $1k. From what I gather the "McArdle" exhaust is at least 2.5 times that much. Im not saying I wouldn't like to have it, but at this point I'll probably just put the stock setup back on as I like the way it sounds w/o cats. Its gonna cost me power though.

Surf - Just the Megaphone ends w/ a rear y pipe to where it joins the 3" pipe should be much less than the custom fabrication for the McArdle exhaust - You will have plenty of time to see & hear it in Bloomington

Megs = :cool