Right now I've got Jet Hot LT's going into stock exhaust piping through a flowmaster muffler, with both cats removed. The headers are 1 3/4" primaries to a 3" collector. After that, it is 2 3/4". How bad is this setup for my car? I would like to get an electric cutout installed after the Y-pipe. Is it bad for the car at all to have the headers flow into a restrictive exhuast? Thanks in advance for the replies.

 

kinda putting the buggy before the horse....the cat back is the most restrictive part of the system. change that out first, then to headers etc afterwards.

 

actually most headers give you more hp than a new catback will, so really, the manifolds are the most restrictive
no, it won't hurt it, but yea, it will just be taking power away when the cutout isn't open

 

hmmm..i disagree....4th gen exhaust manifolds are not nearly as restrictive as previous generations. but everyone has their own opinion. headers on a stock cat back will add maybe 5-7 hp. where as the reverse, an aftermkt. cat back on stock manifolds will add 10-15 hp.

 

I understand what you are saying, foxbat. I feel that headers provide more hp. overall But since I got headers first, I am not seeing much gain since I is still going through the restrictive exhaust. Thanks guys!

 

well i was just talking 4th generation, sorry for not clarifying
most header gains though, with a catback, get about 20 right assuming longtubes or maybe lower with middies, shorties
a catback, according to dynos, gives about 7-10
but yea, opinions are like...well you know the rest