EXACTLY, LM is the way to go. I had flowmaster muffler not catback and it was louder then stock but nothing impressive. The LM is a little bit louder then the FM, i got the 3.5" slash tips and i think they look good on my car, but you def dont want to have the tips sticking out like 4"s other wise they look more like ricer tips. Mine stick out 1.5 inches just enough so you can see the SLP logo. I def noticed more power with the LM. I have stock cats and manifolds and this thing sounds mean but not raspy, and doesnt drone.

 

The reason I am not getting the true dual right now is that I only want to spend not more than $500, my wife is ordering ground effects for her Jetta SO I want to get what I can for the money and the best thing I could think of was exhaust. If I didnt get the cat back and just got an electric cut- out, would it give me the same horsepower as if I had a cat back when it is opened up? If so then maybe I should get a cut out and use the diffrence for another mod? Electric cut outs are like $150 right?

 

Also yea I know I should just do a search but this is more direct especially since I am really gonna buy in at the most 2 more days. If I wasnt gonna buy soon and just asking to ask and get everybody started on a thread that has been done probaly over and over again for a couple of years now, I would consider myself and a@@! lol

I dont want to buy one and be thinking a week later, I shouldve got the other, so appreciate everyones time! This site has alwayz been awsome!

Also the mod order are diffrent from what I qouted in my sig because as I'm sure everyone can agree that money does'nt come the way we wanted most of the time, so the order and the list changed somwwhat. I'm simply getting what I can for the money avail.

 

If you want want to save the most money and at the the same time get the best mod then I would say get the electric cut-out. But if the cut-out cost 150 then check how much to install an electric cut-out. Because it would probably sound similar to a loudmouth maybe? I've heard. But one advantage to the loudmouth is you get ride of the rear muffler muding the rear of the car. Not having a muffler sticking out the rear really kicks *** and looks dam good.

You can pick up a loudmouth "used," then get a performance lid, this combo is kickass.

 

Just get a dual system bent. It should be in your price range and its only about 1-2hp diff between pressure bent and mandrel. If you're not going over the axel I'd expect less of a difference.

 

Talk about hitting the nail on the head. Simple and to the point. I'll have to agree. I have to say though I have heard LS1's with LM's and headers, and well it sounds like liquid poo coming out my rear Hooker is a nice buy for the money too.

-Dustin-

 

You cant go wrong with a Cutout!!!

 

Loudmouth flows alot better then the flowmaster...I had the blowmaster on my 1st LT1 and I was far from impressed w/ the sound or power gain

 

Between those two I would pick the Loudmouth. But you may want to consider the TSP rumbler. It's made exclusively by Texas Speed & Performance and is the exact same setup as the loudmouth except they use a bullet race muffler instead of a resinator. That gives you the same power gains as the loudmouth but with a slightly more refined sound IMO.

 

Wow, when did so many people decide that FlowMAster sucked?

 

I've been on this board almost 2 years now and Flowmaster has had a bad rep the entire time I have been around. My very first search was on exhausts because I wanted a deeper/louder car and a few extra ponies I probably read twenty different "which exhaust is best threads" and all had pretty much the same results.

Flowmaster sounds good but flows bad and robs you of rwhp compared to other catbacks.

Loudmouth sounds awesome and flows awesome but only on stock manifold cars. LT headers and ORY with LM sounds BAD and should be avoided.

GMMG and Borla are top of the line but with a big price tag which isn't in everyones budget.

Hooker and Magnaflow are both very good for the wallet, flow well and sound good but are not quite as loud and defined as GMMG & Borla. Hooker probably gets the bang for the buck award if you can live without stanless steel.

Corsa is the only one that is kind of middle of the road. It's pricey, flows good and looks sweet with the premium tips. But people tend to be torn on sound. Some love it and others hate it.

But IMO hands down best is true duals with bullets

 

My vote goes to loudmouth. I switched from flowmaster to loudmouth and liked it better. I run short tube headers through a cat, and it really is not loud at all, but you def. get more power.
NM
Just saw, its an ls1, save the money and wait for your dual, ive heard loudmouth ls1's and it was raspy as hell to me, they prolly had longtubes tho.

 

loudmouth IIs arn't too bad, but yes if you get headers, they will become straight pipes for all intents and purposes. You might want to consider a longer bullet muffler if you go with a LM.

 

GMMG sounds like crap.


http://www.ls1sounds.com and decide for yourself which you like best. Budget systems would be

Flowmaster, Magnaflow, TSP rumbler, Loudmouth, cutouts, etc.

 

Hahah
Ya know, I have been around for this board for quite some time... In the LT1 section there is no "Flowmaster" is bad talk.. Come to the LS1 section and its the worst thing you can do for your car...

I have seen where people flow bench tested the exhaust using a liquid flow bench.. Dont see how that compared to air when baffels are placed in the muffler for a reason..

On my LT1, I had a Force II Flowmaster exhaust.. With that and just a couple of other mods (CAI, Underdrive pulley, Y pipe) I was putting down 270 rwhp 290 rwtq. In an 1995 auto Z28. Was that bad? No. I was beating other LT1's on the same day on the same dyno. So, me personally, I dont buy into the Flowmaster being ALL THAT BAD. I dont really like dual tips when its proven that a single out flows better. (my LT1 system was a single 3" out)

Looking at your future mod choices, I think you dont need the electric cutout. Why? Because you are going true duals eventually. I would call around now and get some prices on trueduals and see about that.

Call http://www.lanesperformance.com/custom_duals.html about his custom true duals. I hear he is prefabbing and shipping them. I would personally make a drive to Dallas myself.

Are you wanting to get any suspension? Power is nothing if its not getting to the ground. I would suggest perhaps some LCAs, Panhard Rod, and a STB. That would cover your $500 and be simple do it yourself installs. You will have a crisper handling car too afterwards.

The K&N filter is hurting you. Swap it out with a stock AC Delco paper filter if you want 3rwhp more. I have done over 40 pulls in different configs on 2 seperate days to prove it.

You have a 2002 so you already have an LS6 Intake. so thats off your list. Its standard on 01-02 models.

Alternatively, save your $500, get a few hundred more, and get some coated headers then get the true duals. (another reason to at least talk to Lane since you will be wanting headers in the future.. I would personally work front to back if I were modding and never forget my goals.)