Ok, here's the deal with what I'm doing.

For a while, I considered getting a muffler, then my friend convinced me to get a full system. Tomorrow my car is going to the dealer to get new cats. and a y-pipe under warranty. If I'm basically getting a new exhaust, I'm probably just going to get a muffler instead of a full system and having a brand new exhaust taken out.

My question is, which sounds better, a muffler, or a total catback? I plan on going with Magnaflow. I really don't care that much about HP gains, I just want a good sound.

 

a lot of it depends on the size piping you have and what muffler you choose. I have a loudmouth setup which is really loud, but its basically a wide open system because the "resonator" is just a pipe that reflects soundwaves and it just travels on out the back through the tailpipes. If you get a muffler they usually have baffles in them which will quiet your exhaust down and reduce flow. So you have to figure out which muffler you plan on buying and how big your pipes are. The brand has more of an effect than the piping because the stock pipes arent exactly small when compared to most catback systems that are 3". JMO

 

best thing is to hear one in person... i personally just have a flowmaser muffler.. LOVE the sound, but... not loud enough for me.... i will eventually get a full exhaust (headers, y-pipe, cat back... not sure which one i want.. SLP long tunes, SLP y-pipe, GMMG catback... that setup is very expensive though, love! the way it sounds and good performance too...)

cory

 

since the stock system is mandrel bent 2.75" stainless you really arn't losing much performance.

i say just stick with stock and install a nice muffler (magnaflow is a choice). you could always have a shop install a piece of 3" pipe from the ypipe to a 3" cutout, then weld that to the rest of the stock exhaust...so when you are at the track you can uncap it and take advantage of the 3" system, but the rest of the time it's the stocker with an killer muffler

 

GMMG

 

I actually like quiet mufflers. I want my music to be heard instead.

 

I'll just be getting the Magnaflow muffler installed in place of my stock muffler and have my factory Z28 tips welded back on. Out of curiousity, how much HP would I gain from this muffler swap, about 5? There's a website that states this Magnaflow muffler flows 94% better than the stock one.

 

When and if I evnetually go w/a cat back I'll probably go mufflex 3.5 or 4". Not much point in going from a 2.75" to a 3" IMO.

 

You don't want a 3.5" or 4" exhaust unless you're putting out some serious power.

A 3" is more than enough for most purposes. Bigger doesn't always mean better.

 

save the money and just get the muffler. especially if all u are really concerned with is the sound

 

It just depends what you plan on doing in the future. If you plan on some day getting headers I would go with the complete system. If not, flowmaster and hooker both make replacement mufflers. If you think you might be putting on headers in a couple years you should buy a complete system.

When I first got my 2001 Z28 I put on a Flowmaster 80 series muffler and it sounded much better than stock. Then I made the mistake of putting on a Loudmouth. My wife hates it. Next year I plan on putting on Hooker LT headers and Hooker catback.

When I had my 12 bolt rear end installed at Exotic Performance Plus we listened to Bob's Z28 (the owner) and it has the Hooker LT headers and Hooker catback is it sounded pretty good. His exhaust is definately more in line of what I would like to have.

Why waist your money on a muffler if you plan on changing it later.