Need some help/votes between some options here (note: college student) in order of cheapest to most expensive!

1) Hooker Aerochamber Muffler (2.5'' in and 2.25'' dual outs) direct replacement for stock muffler. Stock I-pipe, stock tailpipes and tips. Will this setup still sound significantly better than stock? or way shy of a full Hooker catback?

2) same muffler above but with 2.5'' mandrel bent I-pipe

3) (3'' in and 2.5'' dual outs) muffler with 3'' mandrel bent I-pipe; stock tailpipes and tips

4) full Hooker Catback System

My reasons for asking and not making up my own daym mind is a question of performance, sound, and value... I would like the exhaust note to be definitely different in tone and a bit louder than stock.

Will a 2.5'' I-pipe + muffler accomodate possible intake and headers in the future? or do I need a 3'' system in there?

Opinions appreciated! thanks | Brian

 

*ehem* ignore my punk friend ^above^

any valuable opinions? thanks, Brian

 

I would just get the entire catback otherwise a few months down the road you're going to regret just getting a muffler. Either that or you could go the really cheap route and get a $30 cutout.

 

if your going to replace the I-pipe, definitely don't get a 2.5 as thats even smaller than stock. On both my T/A's all I did was the muffler and I was OK with that...the only problem is unless you can do your own welding, the cost of the muffler + install is enough to want to just go with a full catback (cost me $190 total for muffler + install on a Dynomax ultra-flo for my 96)

if your into cheap, have you considered the Dynomouth setup? Basically you weld a dynomax bullet into the I-pipe then split off the I-pipe where the muffler is at and attach your old tailpipes to it. Most shops will put that together for around $100-$125, then you buy a $35 bullet from Summit. Do a search for ratio411 (username) on this board for his sig.

I was able to do some of the welding on my own, so the whole setup cost me $80 with the muffler. Had I had any place with a lift I probably could have done it all on my own (with my $60 70 amp arc welder I got off ebay )

 

Go ahead and get the cat-back it will give more power than just the muffler and youll need it to enhance fute mods as well, DO IT NOW, you'll end up putting one in later anyway so why spend twice as much money.

 

ok, so definitely no muffler with completely stock piping...

But how about a 3'' I-pipe, Hooker muffler, and stock tails/tips? That set-up should run about $280-300 installed...

Hooker 3'' catback is $290 + shipping + installation.

Will there be differences between these set-ups? i.m.h.o. I like the stock tips, or rolled-lip slash cuts better than the Hooker tips.

thanks | Brian

 

I'm thinking the same way as you. I like the stock TA quad-tips over some of the cat-back tips out there. I've finally decided to install the hooker cat-back and then have a set of Mecham oval tips installed. Here's a link to them... http://www.mechamperformance.com/d_docs/e_tips.html

 

I guess LT1 stock I-pipe is 2.75''? i heard it narrows over and past the axle however, maybe that's why the "bolt on" Hooker muffler is 2.5'' in and dual 2.25'' outs?

once again:

Is there a disadvantage by having a shop installed I-pipe + Hooker muffler + stock tails VS the Hooker CatBack system?

They are essentially the same, right?

Could there be a huge tone, volume, and performance difference btwn a 2.75 and 3'' I-pipe? How about 2.25'' stock tails versus 2.5'' hooker tails?

info please | thanks | Brian

 

Just get the ful catback. i had just a FM welded on there when I bought mine, and I wish I had a true catback. Now I have True Duals

 

Here is one I know nobody has. When I had my 92z I had a flowtech terminator muffler on it. It sounded louder then stock at idle and damn loud wot. It had a very odd sound to it, I liked it alot. Thinking of putting one on the 94