Honestly, I feel you on the sound. The LT4 is a beast but it is way too quiet stock. Since you are hitting COTA, cooling is priority one over sound tbh. Here is what I would grab with a 5k budget that stays mostly warranty friendly:

• Roto-Fab Big Gulp Air Intake System for CT5-V Blackwing
• Standard for a reason. You will actually hear the supercharger whine and it flows way better. Usually runs about 650 bucks.
• Corsa Performance 3.0 Inch X-Pipe for CT5-V Blackwing
• Deletes factory resonators. Much more aggressive tone without the drone.
• Tapout Tuning Intercooler Expansion Tank
• You need more fluid volume for track days in the Texas heat. It helps keep intake temps stable.
• Weapon-X Triple X Heat Exchanger
• Definitely helps with recovery after a hard pull. The intake and x-pipe wont trigger a CEL so you are usually safe on warranty. Skip the pulley for now if you are worried about powertrain coverage... it is a solid setup that wakes the car up plenty without breaking the bank or making the wife too mad.

I remember being super nervous about my first track day. Saw a guy in a stock Blackwing pull off early cuz his temps were climbing too fast, and it really made me think about reliability over raw power. If you want sound without the drama, the Eventuri Carbon Fiber Intake System for CT5-V Blackwing is basically art under the hood. It sounds much more refined than others, tho it is definitely the luxury price option. For the exhaust, I personally like the AWE Tuning Touring Edition Exhaust for CT5-V Blackwing because it helps with volume but kills drone, which is huge if you actually drive this thing daily. It feels more solid than just slapping an x-pipe on. For the heat, maybe look at the CSF High-Performance Heat Exchanger for CT5-V. It is a direct fit and feels like an OEM+ upgrade that wont freak out the dealer since it doesn't require a tune. TL;DR: Eventuri for induction noise, AWE for clean exhaust volume, and CSF for cooling efficiency.

Coming back to this and ngl... im a bit disappointed with how GM handled the factory cooling. You're right to be worried about COTA in the Texas sun. I've seen too many guys limp home because they thought a simple intake was enough. Unfortunately, the LT4 just cooks itself if you don't address the fluid volume properly. I'd skip the flashy carbon stuff for a second and grab a C&R Racing High-Capacity Heat Exchanger. It is way more robust than the factory unit. For the sound issue, i tried a few setups and found some were just way too raspy or droned like crazy. If you want that deep growl without the headache, look at the AWE Tuning SwitchPath Exhaust System. It lets you keep the valve control which is a lifesaver when the wife is in the car. Just dont expect miracles from just an intake, honestly just get the Green Filter High-Performance Drop-In Filter and spend the leftover cash on better brake fluid like Castrol SRF React Racing Brake Fluid if you're actually hitting the track. Youll thank me when youre not fading out in turn 12...

> honestly im so frustrated with how quiet this car is from the factory Ngl the stock sound is definitely underwhelming for a car with that much power. If you want to fix the volume issue without blowing your whole 5k budget on just one part, you should look into the AWE Tuning Non-Resonated Performance Mid-Pipe for CT5-V Blackwing. It basically replaces the factory mid-section and resonators. The reason it works so well is because it removes that middle muffler section that acts like a massive sound sponge without messing with the primary catalytic converters, so you usually dont have to worry about a check engine light. It makes the LT4 sound much rowdier but you can still use the factory valve controls to quiet it down at night. Since youre worried about the heat at COTA, maybe grab a K&N High-Flow Air Filter 33-5047 instead of a full carbon housing. It lets the engine breathe better for way less cash. For Texas track days, just swapping to a better coolant additive like VP Racing Madditive Cool Down Coolant Additive can help with those peak temps without needing to tear the whole front end apart right away. Speaking of Austin, i was actually down there a few months ago for a conference and spent way too much time eating at Terry Blacks BBQ. I swear i gained five pounds in three days just from the brisket and mac and cheese. The line was out the door but it was totally worth the wait... i almost forgot why i was even in the city. Anyway, getting that mid-pipe installed is gonna give you the best bang for your buck on the sound front.

tl;dr: i totally feel your pain on the sound, just check youtube for the clips. Just catching up on this thread and honestly, im so satisfied with the Blackwing except for that silence. It really is a bummer... felt the same way when i first got mine. There are some really solid market comparison videos on YouTube if you search blackwing exhaust sound test that show how different brands stack up. Way easier to hear it there.