Cheapskate cat back on my 2012 PPV

Discussion on fuel delivery & intake/exhaust tech & mods.
Arcticolds442
Posts: 25
Joined: Thu Dec 17, 2015 1:30 pm
Location: Middle Tennessee

Cheapskate cat back on my 2012 PPV

Post by Arcticolds442 »

https://youtu.be/vwUF1NWNDHc

I just threw this vid together of a before and after of my black and white. Everything is bone stock at the beginning and then i used an old 2.5" kit for a '68-72 A-body and some Borla mufflers from a C4 to piece together a cat back to get rid of the stock, rusty system. It has a great sound under load and doesn't drone at all. Very mellow in my opinion with the factory manifolds and primary cats still intact.

I will try to post some pics of the tips and how they fit, as well as the underside of the car showing what i did.

I think the whole thing cost me 35 bucks (not including the Summit-brand A-body kit that i bough 6+ years ago or the mufflers, since i had them lying around).
2012 9C1 DD - stock for now
'72 Olds 4-4-2
'65 AMC Rambler - LQ4/T56 work in progress
"No Bucks Given" '84 VetteKart
'65 Cutlass
CrashTestDummy
Posts: 2300
Joined: Sat Feb 07, 2015 2:31 pm
Location: Pearland, Texas

Re: Cheapskate cat back on my 2012 PPV

Post by CrashTestDummy »

I fear the flex joints on our '12 will be like the ones that were on your car. Yes, that does sound nice.
Gene Beaird,
Pearland, Texas
2012 Caprice 9C1
1992 B4C 1LE Camaro
2018 Tahoe PPV (her car)
1995 DGGM Impala SS
1985 Firebird - 310 LS1 C Prepared autocross car.
1980 Bluebird Wanderlodge
And some others
Do YOU have my SPID?
Arcticolds442
Posts: 25
Joined: Thu Dec 17, 2015 1:30 pm
Location: Middle Tennessee

Re: Cheapskate cat back on my 2012 PPV

Post by Arcticolds442 »

Thanks.

This car spent the first 3 years of its life up in New England so the rust you see set in that quick. I have been trying to clean up the rust underneath whenever i can using a wire wheel and some aeresol E Coat.
2012 9C1 DD - stock for now
'72 Olds 4-4-2
'65 AMC Rambler - LQ4/T56 work in progress
"No Bucks Given" '84 VetteKart
'65 Cutlass
CrashTestDummy
Posts: 2300
Joined: Sat Feb 07, 2015 2:31 pm
Location: Pearland, Texas

Re: Cheapskate cat back on my 2012 PPV

Post by CrashTestDummy »

Yeah, ours came from the Winsonsin highway patrol, so I do see evidence of salty roads. That expansion joint in the exhaust system is a big sign. I _think_ the mufflers are still good, I don't hear anything, but time will tell. I have an exhaust to install, just haven't had the time yet.
Gene Beaird,
Pearland, Texas
2012 Caprice 9C1
1992 B4C 1LE Camaro
2018 Tahoe PPV (her car)
1995 DGGM Impala SS
1985 Firebird - 310 LS1 C Prepared autocross car.
1980 Bluebird Wanderlodge
And some others
Do YOU have my SPID?
xcidmigs
Posts: 783
Joined: Fri Feb 13, 2015 8:12 pm
Location: SE PA

Re: Cheapskate cat back on my 2012 PPV

Post by xcidmigs »

It does sound good but I wish you had shown some pics of what you actually made up. From your description I fear you still have a major restriction in place which is the factory mid pipe section that has the OEM front cats in it. They have a neck down section and where they attach to the manifolds is actually only 2" diameter. Oddly the manifolds on most of these LS cars are the same part. I believe the ones on our car even are the same as a CTS-V? however the midpipes vary greatly. I found that a 2010+ camaro with Manual trans has a great set that are fully 2 1/2" and include both cats in the one part. The exit is a slip fit 2 1/2" piece that it would seem you could mate up to what you have made pretty easily. The best part is they are being sold off super cheap on Clist and camaro forums all the time.
There's a good thread in the exhaust area that shows all these pieces.

viewtopic.php?f=16&t=121" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Arcticolds442
Posts: 25
Joined: Thu Dec 17, 2015 1:30 pm
Location: Middle Tennessee

Re: Cheapskate cat back on my 2012 PPV

Post by Arcticolds442 »

You beat me to it xcidmigs! i am working on a follow up vid that I'll post showing what I put together. I was trying to wait until I could work out some of the kinks (I have a vibration between two pipes that I am currently addressing.)

I did leave the factory manifolds and primary cats with the restrictive areas for now. My plan was to do this exhaust in two phases. Phase one was to do the Cat back to get rid of the rusty crusty factory stuff. Phase two will be a set of headers that will eliminate the manifolds, factory cats and the restriction you mentioned.
2012 9C1 DD - stock for now
'72 Olds 4-4-2
'65 AMC Rambler - LQ4/T56 work in progress
"No Bucks Given" '84 VetteKart
'65 Cutlass
Pursuit
Administration Staff
Posts: 969
Joined: Tue Apr 23, 2013 3:39 pm
Location: Omaha, NE area

Re: Cheapskate cat back on my 2012 PPV

Post by Pursuit »

I have been lucky enough to acquire several different types of LS style manifolds. They consist of the cast iron PPV, Camaro SS/ZL1, tubular Z28, tubular LS3 HSV, and tubular Camaro LT4. ALL, except the HSV, are 2" I.D. at the manifold flange. The Australian HSV is 2-1/4". The head pipe of the PPV, with the flex joint, the I.D. is less than 1-7/8". That is the very first point of restriction for us on the stock PPV exhaust. The other points of restriction I have shown in the thread that XC listed in this thread.
The 2017 LT4 tubular manifolds mimic the Z28 tubular headers in basic design, but the cylinder head flange bolt pattern is unique to the Direct injection head of the LT4. The collector and 4 bolt flange are in a different position also. But all four heat shields are a direct swap back to the Z28 set.
I am currently having the Z28 headers fitted to my car. (While some other work is being done :D ) I am having my guy snap some pictures of the header install. I will post pictures of the cast manifolds next to the headers this weekend once I am back home.

Regards,

Maurice
Maurice Sheil

mhsheil@gmail.com

2011 Caprice Phantom Black 9C3
2012 Impala 9C1
1995 9C1 Caprice
1996 GMC Sierra C1500
1996 Chevrolet K2500 Extended Cab, long box, 454, 91,000 rust free miles
1974 SJ Grand Prix 455 well optioned with factory moon roof
xcidmigs
Posts: 783
Joined: Fri Feb 13, 2015 8:12 pm
Location: SE PA

Re: Cheapskate cat back on my 2012 PPV

Post by xcidmigs »

Are the z28 "headers" what comes factory on a LS7 then?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2014-2015-Chevy ... jS&vxp=mtr" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Last edited by xcidmigs on Wed May 10, 2017 2:40 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Pursuit
Administration Staff
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Joined: Tue Apr 23, 2013 3:39 pm
Location: Omaha, NE area

Re: Cheapskate cat back on my 2012 PPV

Post by Pursuit »

XC, yes sir. I got mine as new takeoffs several months ago for $250 (eBay), without the four heat shields.

Maurice
Maurice Sheil

mhsheil@gmail.com

2011 Caprice Phantom Black 9C3
2012 Impala 9C1
1995 9C1 Caprice
1996 GMC Sierra C1500
1996 Chevrolet K2500 Extended Cab, long box, 454, 91,000 rust free miles
1974 SJ Grand Prix 455 well optioned with factory moon roof
xcidmigs
Posts: 783
Joined: Fri Feb 13, 2015 8:12 pm
Location: SE PA

Re: Cheapskate cat back on my 2012 PPV

Post by xcidmigs »

Will be interesting to see if the z28 factory parts just bolt on in place of the cast iron manifolds?
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