Xcal and Mods Questions

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broggi007

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Hey All,
I have searched all around the forum and couldn't find an answer so I thought i'd post. I have a stock 2000 LS V8 Sport and I am starting to give it more "umph." OK... I know that the Xcal works better with exhaust and intake and I plan on doing both those modifications later, but can I get the new Xcal3 for my LS now and have it provide any benefit? Also... what are the exhaust and intake mods that most of you guys do? Like... 2.25" pipe from the Cat back with Magnaflow Mufflers and a K&N cone filter with an Aluminum Pipe from LSK?

Any advice and/or comments are greatly welcomed! I figure most of you will tell me to get the exhaust and intake work done first but I don't know what the future holds and i'm ready to get some extra "umph" now.

One final note... oddly enough all three mods cost closely around the same. $400 for the Xcal3, $320 for CAI with shipping from LSK, and around $400 to go to my local exhaust shop and have 2.25" pipe and stuff welded on. In what order, in you all's opinion, should the mods be preformed. Thanks

Broggi007
 
yes - many of the LSes using the SCT tuner are otherwise stock. SCT claimed 14rwhp from their tune on a stock LS.
 
If you have a shop weld up an exhaust, try to make sure they mandrel bend the tubing. If they don't, the bends severely decrease the overall flow; they might try to say "don't worry about it, just run 2.5" But the reality is, the changes from restriction to open, restriction to open and so fourth creates a lot of turbulence; something you don't want.

When I had all my off-the-shelf pieces modified for true dual on my F-150, I ordered mandrel bent stainless pieces from Jegs and Summit (trying to find someone with a mandrel bender is damned near impossible), then had a welding shop set me up.

I'd do the K&N first... Think about just buying the Magnaflow exhaust (it'll end up cheaper, and they've already engineered it!), then tune.

On a side note, can someone possibly take some really good pictures of the factory exhaust on the pre-03 LS? This would greatly help me in deciding if I want to buy the magnaflow exhaust and have it modified as I did with my truck's exhaust. I've just got to figure out how different the two systems are.
 
Nate... thanks for the reply. when you say, "... Think about just buying the Magnaflow exhaust" do you mean just the mufflers or the entire cat back system? I ask because the entire magnaflow cat back system is like $700 and the exhaust shop I went to get a quote told me $400 for 2.25" piping installed and I believe he has a mandrel bender (being a respectable shop in the area) but thanks for letting me know so i'll double check! Yea... 2.5" piping would eat at my torque which is really more important to me than sheer horsepower. I need to get up and go... you know? lol
 
broggi007 said:
Nate... thanks for the reply. when you say, "... Think about just buying the Magnaflow exhaust" do you mean just the mufflers or the entire cat back system? I ask because the entire magnaflow cat back system is like $700 and the exhaust shop I went to get a quote told me $400 for 2.25" piping installed and I believe he has a mandrel bender (being a respectable shop in the area) but thanks for letting me know so i'll double check! Yea... 2.5" piping would eat at my torque which is really more important to me than sheer horsepower. I need to get up and go... you know? lol
Click to expand...

Nope, I mean the entire system. They put a lot of testing into it. And you know, it's 409 stainless steel right? Should last you nearly for ever!

Honestly, I'd be very supprised if he has a madrel bender; I checked with a great number of shops around here and in detroit... could not find anyone with a mandrel bender. Livernois speed shop didn't even have one!! (they are a pretty well known shop in the mustang realm)

But yeah, non-mandrel bent pipes usuall decrease the flow at the bends anywhere from 20%-50% depending on angle of the bend. And you can't even use stainless without a mandrel bender; it crumples altogether.
 
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