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Cheapest way to do catback

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Old 01-28-2011, 03:26 PM
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Default Cheapest way to do catback

I just bought a 99 formula, and my first plans are to do an oil change and switch to royal purple 10w30 , k and n oil filter, and change the brakes and get new tires.

after that i wanted to put exhaust on it, ive definitely decided i want magnaflow, i love the way it sounds way better then flowmaster and i think even better then borla. the catback kit is around 500 on summit, but i can get just the muffler for 100, and then have my guy at the muffler shop fit pipes to the muffler.

what would be any cons to doing so that way?
Old 01-28-2011, 03:35 PM
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Royal purple is a waste.
Stick with the 5w30 and get a medium priced filter.
Just get the mag catback from for sale forum or get it new. I personaly wouldnt mess around trying to make a new muffler work with old pipes.
But hey, Just "MY OPINION"
Old 01-28-2011, 03:37 PM
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Check out the sponsors > a lot of them have the magnaflow kit for less than $400 right now.
Old 01-28-2011, 03:50 PM
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Royal purple is a waste? i was under the impression it was a good synthetic oil. what oil would you recommend?
Old 01-28-2011, 03:59 PM
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Give it a shot. People get too caught-up on this catback stuff...its just a pipe when it comes down to it.
Old 01-28-2011, 04:11 PM
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Originally Posted by GIMMExTHExLOOT
Royal purple is a waste? i was under the impression it was a good synthetic oil. what oil would you recommend?
IMO its over priced. I say the regular pennzoil every 3k (or depending on your driving) is the way to go. Thats what I use. Sometimes ill get the synthetic pennzoil. Just as long as you change it when it needs to be changed its fine.

If you plan on just getting a muffler, chances are you wil spend more than what you think on labor unless you do it yourself. I say just get the catback and do it yourself. Or have you thought about just keeping your stock catback and getting a cutout?
Old 01-28-2011, 04:52 PM
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The shop i use is located inside a small town that I work for the police department for, when I had him install a catback on my civic he only charged me 75 for labor and for the piping.

and that was with just a tanabe muffler, he supplied all the piping.

i just didnt know if id notice a performance difference.

im also considering getting a loudmouth2 because its a little cheaper but im not sure
Old 01-28-2011, 05:02 PM
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I would still just get a magnaflow. But its your choice. There maybe a increase of a little hp if any by getting the whole new catback vs just muffler. I think the pipeing is a little bigger than stock I dont remember. I had a mag on my 98z. I have a borla on current car and like it alot more. I would personaly stay away from the loudmouth though but thats just my taste.
Old 01-28-2011, 05:14 PM
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Get regular conventional oil and change it every 3-4k miles.. royal purple is a waste. If you change every 3k miles any synthetic is a waste.

Get a stock paper filter, kn shows zero gains over stock.

I like magnaflow.. loudmouth will sound like *** woth headers and ory.. hooker is nice but quiet.
Old 01-28-2011, 05:57 PM
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i though with synthetics you change every 5-6k ?
Old 01-28-2011, 06:08 PM
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cat back is a waste you can make a cat back using 3" pipes thats abt it. just make sure you make it with mandrel bends.
Old 01-28-2011, 06:48 PM
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Originally Posted by GIMMExTHExLOOT
i though with synthetics you change every 5-6k ?
If you change synthetic before 10k miles you are wasting your money.
Old 01-28-2011, 06:54 PM
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Originally Posted by lemons12
If you change synthetic before 10k miles you are wasting your money.
I hear ya Bro

But dirt and debris still enters the intake,

It's not much about Viscosity as much as it is about dirty oil

Oil gets dirty no matter what brand you use

Lucas Redline,Amsoil,Castrol, are all really good oils
Old 01-28-2011, 07:02 PM
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Cruise the classifieds, there are several Magnaflow catbacks right now at a fraction of the price, muffler and tips. I saw for $150 for sale.
I am a Mobile guy, have had good results, does not burn oil. Royal is alot more expensive, its your $$$, just go with what you want. Its not like you are going to gain alot of HP by switching to a diffrent brand.
Old 01-28-2011, 07:08 PM
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I run conventional Mobil one. I change my oil about every 1k miles or so, 2k would be absolute max.. It also takes me a few months to get to that point since it is a weekend toy. If i go to the track it gets changed.
Old 01-28-2011, 07:08 PM
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Buy a magnaflow bullet ,and dump it at the y, that is the cheapest exhaust set up,but I would just buy the magnaflow cat back or buy it from someone on here,I made the mistake of getting a lm1 for my first mod ,sounded great stock but after all the bolt ons ,cam,heads etc it was crap,I'm waiting on the powerflo conversion for mine but I wish I just got the magnaflow cat back from the start,if your staying stock get the lm1
Old 01-28-2011, 08:14 PM
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Originally Posted by lemons12
I like magnaflow.. loudmouth will sound like *** woth headers and ory.. hooker is nice but quiet.
You have never heard my car then
Old 01-28-2011, 08:17 PM
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Originally Posted by SOMbitch
You have never heard my car then
Compared to the others being discussed it is.

We are also talking a stock car, not a stroker.
Old 01-28-2011, 08:18 PM
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On my former LT1, I just went with a Magnaflow muffler with the stock pipe since I didn't plan on going with headers and it sounded great. Here's the reason why I didn't go full catback; the Mag catback has the truck cannon tips which I don't like. So I just bought the muffler for $100, tips for $80 and had it installed for $80. I was told (whether it's true or not, dunno) that since the stock pipe is 2.75 inches and the catback is only 3 inches diameter, the gain would small.

On my new LS1, again I'm going with a Mag muffler and corsa-like tips I bought for $60 but I'm going to see how much it will cost to have the intermediate/axle over pipe done/bought separately. I was told it would eventually cost the same as the "regular" Mag catback, but I'll have the tips I like.

Funny thing is that when I called Magnaflow a few years ago regarding selling me the pipes and muffler separately, they said it couldn't be done. Now they have a different catback with better looking tips, but it's about $200 more that the truck cannon catback.




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