Ok guys, before I get chastized, I did try and search all night, but never really found the answer I was looking at, and then the search engine seemed to go down... so here is my question. Im about to aquire a 98z a4, and it is bone stock. I previously had a 94z, bought it with some kind of catback, but no idea what. I am looking for a good, deep, throaty sound, but not obnoxiously loud, because my fiance will be driving this car as well I was thinking flowmaster american thunder, but wanted to get some opinions and ideas from you guys first. i would have to say budget is 500 or less, preferably. Also, eventually there will be a set of headers (probally shorty's) involved, and if you guys highly recomend doing it all at the same time, I probally would, provided I can get some suggestions as to what headers/y pipe/catback to get.

by the way, im not worried aobut emissions...

Thanks for all the info guys

 

I wont flame... but I know it is coming.

www.ls1sounds.com

great site to listen to stuff, better to hear it in person.
almost noone one this board likes the flowmaster catback. most people like gmmg, but it will cost more than 500. I went with a magnaflow catback. I like it alot. sounds good and good flowing. For headers, fine the cheapest ones you can, but if you are not worried about emissions, get long tubes and an ory (off road y-pipe). I saw someone who was selling a magnaflow on ls1tech for 350 shipped, that is a very good deal on a system that retails for $420 + tax and shipping (you can find better deals on ebay or used systems on forums).

You should also get an air lid and if you want to get some good times at the track, a torque converter. Later, you should get an LS6 intake.

 

Holy cow... yeah, if you're not worried about emissions, long tube headers w/ off-road y pipes, all the way!

 

i second the magnaflow exhaust. it sounds awesome and flows great. not to mention it's well built with good materials and looks good.

however,
due to it's design, it will get raspy if you remove your cats.

an inexpensive and very commonly used system is the hooker. down side is some say it rusts out faster, but i have no personal experience on that.

you could always go the cutout with electricplate route. should be about $200-225 installed (cutout welded in) and will allow you to run a very loud and free flowing system when YOU are driving, but cap it up and run stock when the little lady drives.

 

awesome.. thanks guys. I have always wondered, what exactly the AIR tubes are for, and why the "emissions" shorties have them, and the LT's dont. you must still put in the o2 sensors, im assuming, so whats the difference between stock y pipe and an ORY?

should I do it all together, as in headers/y pipe and catback at the same time?
what do you guys think of the edelbrock tubes? obviously im getting coated...

 

The AIR system pumps fresh air into the exhaust stream on startup to trick the O2 sensors and keep emissions down. It's simply an emissions system. Some LT's are offered with the AIR provision. You're getting a '98 so you'll have an EGR system on the car as well. Another emissions system, which some headers will have provisions for. The "race-only" headers will not have the provisions for either AIR or EGR systems.

Doing all the exhaust work at the same time will make the install easier and you can make sure all the components fit with each other off the car beforehand.

An ORY (off-road y-pipe) does not have cats. I think the OEM y-pipe & cats will work with shorty headers, but I can't remember off the top of my head at 8:00 a.m. with only one cup of coffee in me.

I second teke's suggestion. E-cutout so you can have your fun and not **** off the wife. If you get everything before you install it, you can have the cutout(s) welded in at any exhaust shop with it off the car for probably $5. Are you planning on doing the install yourself?

Abe

 

Yah, I am planning on doing the install myself. Is the car going to throw codes and check engine lights if I dont have the EGR lines hooked up? I know in Minnesota we dont have emmissions inspections, so I could probally run without a cat without having any issues, but the main idea is I do want everything to fit and work, without any negative impacts.. I dont know if I would want to use a cutout, because I dont want it to be too horribily loud as to attract the attention of "ze popo". are long tubes around the same price? do they install as easily? and how do i know wich headers, wich y pipe, and wich catback will fit? i think the catback is pretty brainless, but Im not sure of the others.. do they make a complete kit in any brand you guys would recomend?

 

Pacesetter Long tubes (summit racing # PSM-72C2256), corrispnding Y-Pipe (summit racing # PSM-82-1163) and magnaflow Cat back (summit racing # MPE-15684), and O2 sims (summit racing # CEI-104033). Just get some header bolts, and gaskets and i think thats about it. (fill me in if I'm missing anything) And i'll bet you a million bucks that you will love the Magnaflow.

 

he'll need o2 extensions unless the headers come with them (my flowtechs did).

by myself, first time ever, basic tools in the driveway...10hrs start to start up

 

Ok guys, I am coming from a 97 Mustang Cobra. Some of this stuff is a large change.. Can someone explain the AIR system and the EGR systems to me? Also, I never really researched a cutout.. what exactly is it? Whats it do? And most importantly, why do I want it?

 

a search would probably answer your questions.

but...

AIR is the air injection system of the emissions. it pumps air, via an electric pump under and behind the driverside headlight, into the exhaust to help heat up the cats on startup. it only pumps for a few minutes to get everything up to operating temp so that the cats function properly.

the EGR is "exhaust gas recirculation"....not 100% sure how/why it works. but i think it pulls some of the exhaust out of the manifolds and re-injects it into the engine to burn again. it helps reduce the emissions from the engine.

a cutout is a muffler bypass basically. it is a Y that is welded in the exhaust. one side goes to the exhaust, the other has a cap on it. if you want to run a wide open exhaust, no muffler...you uncap it and the exhaust bypasses the rest of the system.
it's louder and outflows just about any muffler...so more power.

 

You are correct about the EGR. It takes exhaust gas and puts it back into the intake manifold. There is a valve that will turn this on and off. Basically, the gas is hotter, and mainly CO2 and H20 vapors. This will be less oxygen into the engine, less emissions, and less performance. The vavle is not open all the time so it will not always be putting exhaust gases into your intake.
That is the idea behind it.

 

well, the budget won, and I could not afford to do the intire thing at once, so I just got the magnaflow catback.. Holy moly.. that is one sick sounding exhaust. Installed very easily, once you got the factory setup out of there. That, took a bit of sawing..
Thanks for all your advice guys. It is greatly appreciated.

 

If price is not an issue, GMMG is the way to go. $700 but the sound is well worth it. And the qaulity too. And with headers.....

 

very glad to hear you like the magnaflow.

it is a great sounding, great performing, great looking and affordable exhaust.

looks like you have been doing your homework on the starter mods. you'll like the SSRA, great boost in power when you need to pass on the highway.

i would hold off on the tune till after headers, not much point in it till then.