Full cat-back vs muffler
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 11
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From: Phoenix, AZ
Full cat-back vs muffler So I have called around some exhaust shops to get quote's on how much a custom fabricated exhaust would cost from them and it turns out most of these guys suggest I just get a magnaflow muffler to stock piping. They claim that since the pipes on my stock system are pretty big that unless I am running other stuff on my car there wouldn't be much difference in power from adding new piping from the cat back. Any thoughts on this? I have the weekend to decide and pick a shop. I trust professionals opinions over an ad for X company exhaust ad with HP gains.
Sidenote: I live in Phoenix, Arizona and need this done to my 00 Trans Am, so if any AZ people are looking and have shop suggestions I am interested.
Sidenote: I live in Phoenix, Arizona and need this done to my 00 Trans Am, so if any AZ people are looking and have shop suggestions I am interested.
most cat back systems have a slightly larger intermediate pipe than a stock system. will you notice anything on a stock vehicle? probably not but its one of your best starting points to adding power.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 11
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From: Phoenix, AZ
Thank you for the input. The only odd thing was that one guy I called said the stock piping was fine if I get an aftermarket muffler 90% of power comes from that switch, then he offered to do the flat pipe under my drivers side because his buddies contest that flat pipe losses a touch of power. I thought that was a nice point to make to show his knowledge on the car.
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 6,216
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From: Wichita KS / Rancho San Diego
Hooker makes a direct fit Aerochamber to the stock piping and Magnaflow may also. If you're keeping the stock manifolds & cats and Y-pipe, that's good way to go. If you're planning to move up to LT's or anything beyond that, I'd go with a full catback, which has a 3" I-pipe and 2.5" tailpipes vs. stock 2.75"/2.25".
TECH Addict
Joined: Mar 2013
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I just had a Flowmaster Stainless crossflow replacement muffler installed in my stock system and it ROCKS. Sound is fantastic and it runs much better all around.
I drove a 02 Z28 that just had a Magnaflow complete exhaust system installed and it sounded good too and ran excellent. Quite an improvement over the stock system.
Honestly I don't think there is enough difference in power or sound in either. Both sounded great. I personally like the way the Flowmaster pulls down low, the Magnaflow pulls a slight bit better up high but its almost nothing more.
Flowmaster has a classic muscle car sound everyone digs without any drone plus its just loud enough to be noticed. The Magnaflow has a modern sound and is not quite as loud.
I've also heard the Hooker cat back and Hooker muffler<sounds fantastic! BUT it doesn't come in stainless AND their quality is poor.
I drove a 02 Z28 that just had a Magnaflow complete exhaust system installed and it sounded good too and ran excellent. Quite an improvement over the stock system.
Honestly I don't think there is enough difference in power or sound in either. Both sounded great. I personally like the way the Flowmaster pulls down low, the Magnaflow pulls a slight bit better up high but its almost nothing more.
Flowmaster has a classic muscle car sound everyone digs without any drone plus its just loud enough to be noticed. The Magnaflow has a modern sound and is not quite as loud.
I've also heard the Hooker cat back and Hooker muffler<sounds fantastic! BUT it doesn't come in stainless AND their quality is poor.
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,324
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From: Marengo, Ia
hooker makes a direct fit aerochamber to the stock piping and magnaflow may also. If you're keeping the stock manifolds & cats and y-pipe, that's good way to go. If you're planning to move up to lt's or anything beyond that, i'd go with a full catback, which has a 3" i-pipe and 2.5" tailpipes vs. Stock 2.75"/2.25".
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Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 11
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From: Phoenix, AZ
Thanks all for the advice, I think I'll still get one fabricated but with 3" piping all the way to a magnaflow muffler. Time will come for LT but I don't have enough cash since I need a Y-pipe with cats for emissions in Phoenix... College money problems here!
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