hooker/magnaflow cannot decide
hooker/magnaflow cannot decide I know this has been gone over again and again, I have spent alot of time figuring out which catback I want. Something that is quiet at idle/cruise but still sounds strong (especially at WOT), from reading alot of posts and listening to alot of different setups I'm down to the Magnaflow and Hooker. My concern about the hooker is the fact that it is not stainless, will it rust and fall apart after a couple years? I have heard the magnaflow gets louder over time and it is a few bucks more.
Basically I just want to know if the hooker will hold up. Sorry if this has been gone over many times, I have done alot of searches
oh yeah its a 2000 z28, will be running stock manifold/headers.
Basically I just want to know if the hooker will hold up. Sorry if this has been gone over many times, I have done alot of searches
oh yeah its a 2000 z28, will be running stock manifold/headers.
magnaflow is perfect. quiet at idle and great at WOT. very good material and easy to install. ive also heard how the sound gets better once u start really modding. the tips are also very nice. got mine shipped for under 400.
Good call on this thread. These are the two I'm also debating on... but it's hard to make a judgement for my setup as not many have actual experience with a magnaflow or hooker setup on a 408 with LT's and ORY. Most are running true duals or something of the likes. The bigger cubes make a hell of a difference in the sound and rasp.
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TECH Fanatic
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,118
Likes: 0
From: TX
I've had magnaflow with LT's and with stock manifolds... I like the magnaflow with stock manifolds, but its too loud with LT's... I really like the hooker with LT's...
So i suggest magnaflow for stock manifolds and Hooker for long tubes
So i suggest magnaflow for stock manifolds and Hooker for long tubes
Another vote for the Magnaflow. That's what I'm running on my '01 SS and '03 Cobra, and both cars sound great. Quiet at idle, but open up real nice when you get on it. They're one of the best flowing catbacks made for the F-Body, and you really can't beat the price for a full stainless steel catback either.
i have magnaflow and couldn't be happer. 
i get compliments on how good it sounds all the time. all my friends say it sounds like there is a stock car coming down the street. i can't imagine how mean it will sound with headers.
i get compliments on how good it sounds all the time. all my friends say it sounds like there is a stock car coming down the street. i can't imagine how mean it will sound with headers. 
I just got a magnaflow installed about two weeks ago, and it is simply amazing! I have also heard that magnaflow is the second best flowing exhaust behind the loud mouth so that should be even more incentive to get the magnaflow.
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 321
Likes: 0
From: Buffalo, N.Y.
I can't speak for Hooker, as I have no 1st-hand experience with their product. I have installed stainless Magnaflow cat-backs on 3 F-Bodies; two '02 WS6's, and a '97 Camaro. In my opinion, the Magnaflow sounds great. Also, if you're like me, and do not drive your car in the winter, or in the rain, I wouldn't worry about an aluminized/galvanized steel system. I installed an aluminized/galvanized steel Flowmaster on a '95 Trans Am I used to own, and it remained spotless for 2 years.
I have heard good things about Random Technology on LS1's, but, again, I have no 1st-hand experience with their product.
Funny thing about LS1's...to me, the selection of cat-backs that sound good is far more limited than it is for LT1's. I don't know why this is...probably subjective...but I've heard systems that sound bichin' (Borla) on an LT1, but when I hear the same system on an LS1, I don't like the sound. It seems like a lot of cat-backs do not produce the "rumble" I like when fitted to an LS1, but sound "crackly", or "raspy". Maybe it's due to the differences in engine architecture...I dunno...but I DO know that cat-backs sound different between LT1's & LS1's.This is something you may want to consider.
Listen to as many good-quality sound clips as you can, or, better yet, head to your local track and give a listen to what guys are runnin' on their LS1's. Like I said, this is purely subjective; what sounds bichin' to one guy, might sound like crap to the next guy.
I have heard good things about Random Technology on LS1's, but, again, I have no 1st-hand experience with their product.
Funny thing about LS1's...to me, the selection of cat-backs that sound good is far more limited than it is for LT1's. I don't know why this is...probably subjective...but I've heard systems that sound bichin' (Borla) on an LT1, but when I hear the same system on an LS1, I don't like the sound. It seems like a lot of cat-backs do not produce the "rumble" I like when fitted to an LS1, but sound "crackly", or "raspy". Maybe it's due to the differences in engine architecture...I dunno...but I DO know that cat-backs sound different between LT1's & LS1's.This is something you may want to consider.
Listen to as many good-quality sound clips as you can, or, better yet, head to your local track and give a listen to what guys are runnin' on their LS1's. Like I said, this is purely subjective; what sounds bichin' to one guy, might sound like crap to the next guy.
