Max Rehbein

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.

ULTIMATEORANGESS

iTrader: (4)

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.

Max Rehbein

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.

RevGTO

iTrader: (12)

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".

RockinWs6

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.

MikeWS6

Stock catback with a cut out.

Fry_

+1...

Max Rehbein

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!

mean_greenZ

iTrader: (1)

Magnaflow replacement w/ cutout or dynomax catback is my vote

Fry_

You can get a 3 inch i-pipe and over the axle pipe from Rock Auto for $110 and they're mandrel bent, most shop's can only do crush bends which reduce flow.