 ...and header bolts. Ours...  ...and header bolts. Ours came from the helpful folks at SLP Performance Parts. |  This close-up shot offers...  This close-up shot offers a good look at one of the beefy, CNC-cut flanges used on the SW headers. Also note the impressive plug and wire access afforded by the 15.8-inch primary tubes. |  With the headers in place,...  With the headers in place, Edgar raises the car once again and begins bolting up the remainder of the exhaust system. Thanks to its diminutive size, the Random Tech cat easily nestles into the space vacated by the clunky OEM unit. |
 Lovell raises the X-crossover...  Lovell raises the X-crossover into position just behind the cat pipes. Replacing the factory resonator with this piece pays huge dividends in the areas of looks, sound, and exhaust flow. |  A peek down the gullet of...  A peek down the gullet of one of the included "S Turbo" mufflers reveals a straight-through design conducive to maximum performance. The interior diameter does neck down to 2 1/4 inches (from an O.D. of 2 1/2) to help dampen the din. |  The final stages involve bolting...  The final stages involve bolting up the rear pipes and mufflers... |
 ...followed by the polished...  ...followed by the polished tips. The new tips mimic the look of the rectangular LT1 design in a brighter, more stylish package. |  With the work completed, we...  With the work completed, we strapped the car down on AntiVenom's Dynojet chassis dynamometer to gauge the power-enhancing properties of our new exhaust hardware. | |
Results
With all the parts in place, a quick testdrive revealed a freshly invigorated sonic palette sure to appeal to all but the most hard-core of Vette enthusiasts. At idle, the Stainless Works system evinced a deep, mellow burble only marginally louder than stock. Cabin drone-the bte noir of Corvette performance exhausts-was imperceptible at highway speeds, with only the faintest hint of popping evident during high-rpm deceleration. At wide-open throttle, the tone transitioned to a horripilation-inducing howl reminiscent of an old NASCAR stocker.
On the AntiVenom chassis dyno, the Vette cooked up 295 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque at the rear wheels, bettering its previous best marks by 9 hp and 1 lb-ft, respectively. That's a bit less than we would have expected for an all-encompassing exhaustsystem upgrade, but perhaps not all that surprising given the lightly modded nature of the car. Doubtless the extra flow offered by the SW setup will prove even more valuable as we get deeper into our power-building regimen. Until then, the reduced weight, improved looks, and enhanced sound characteristics of the system make it a worthwhile addition to our no-nonsense '96.