I'm trying to decide on just getting an aftermarket muffler or going for the whole catback. How much bigger of a gain will come from the catback over the muffler? Is there that much difference with the exhaust pipe? Any comments would be helpful.

Thanks,

HF

 

I would definitely go with the whole catback. Just getting a muffler isn't even going to be worth the money. I'd go for the Hooker catback. It's pretty cheap, and I along with many others on this site will tell you it sounds awesome.

 

Thanks,
HF

 

Are you looking for a performance gain or just your car to sound badass?

 

Both, but the car sounds pretty good with the headers and the stock exhaust. So I guess performance is more important.

 

Then get a cat back, or i guess you could go with a cut out? or a cut out and a muffler?

 

So, let me get this straight. You have headers and Stock exhaust. YOu would benefit GREATLY from the addition of a catback as opposed to a muffler.

 

a whole catback will give u double the power of a muffler maybe more...if u want a real bargain gran a 30 dollar cutout and get more power then both

 

On a stock engine, you will see most of the gain by just replacing the muffler. That's where the restriction is. If you want to keep it less expensive, buy a low restriction muffler. The stock pipes are 2 3/4 on the intermediate and twin 2 1/2's out the back. The muffler is what plugs the exhaust up (for noise pass-by requirements). Now, on more modified engines, there is a gain to be had by upping the pipe size.

I'm not saying there is no benefit to going larger on stock engines, just that most of the gain comes from a lower restriction muffler. There is no way that the power increase is double when going to 3" pipes on a typical catback versus staying with 2 3/4 and replacing the muffler.

 

Thanks guys!!

HF

 

The right muffler has the same gains as the whole catback. Your best $/HP gain is to use a bullet or other straight through design in the stock muffler location. For more gain, but increased cost, put a bullet just before the axle and either exit on passenger side or fab false duals.

The 3" pipe on a catback is better but you have to be pushing some serious air to come close to stressing the flow rate of the stock 2.75" crush bent(~600HP unimpeded). Not to say that catback isn't a good investment, I know my i-pipe looks pretty crappy after 8 years and welding a 3" muffler isn't exactly a pretty sight but it's cheap

 

One small point: The stock pipes were mandrel bent, not crush ( compression).

Also, by replacing only the muffler, you get the benefit of retaining the stainless steel of the stock pipes. Affordable replacements are all mild steel, some with aluminized coatings.

 

Pretty sure only the SS comes with mandrel from the factory but if you are right, woot

 

My company made them. High volume compression bent pipes have extremely noticeable cross sectional area reduction in the bend areas, on the order of 20% or more on deep bends. High volume mandrel bending results in <10% reduction on deep bends, and obviously, less reduction in the shallower bends.

 

Thanks for all your input!

HF