Catback?
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Catback? I was just curious about something. I have a 94 Z28 with LT headers and the matching Y-pipe. Should I get some type of catback to go with it? I have a flowmaster muffler which gives me some back pressure. I'm pretty sure after the Y-pipe, it connects to the stock pipe all the way to the back into an 80 series flowmaster. That pipe really isn't that small. I think it's 2 and 1/2. The Y-pipe is 3. Will I notice any gain putting a catback on it, or will it just be a waste and my car is fine the way it is?
I personally thought it wouldn't make a difference, but I'm not sure. Anyone know? The car sounds pretty free flowing the way it is.
I personally thought it wouldn't make a difference, but I'm not sure. Anyone know? The car sounds pretty free flowing the way it is.
Launching!
Joined: Feb 2005
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From: Los Angeles, CA
yeah I agree. I am doing one of two things on mine. I am doing either a full true duels chambered which I am unsure of since I live in Michigan and our roads suck. So I will probably go with an electric cut-out. listen to some clips www.ls1sounds.com will tell it how it is. You may seem to be a waste of time listening to cars on the net for hours but its the research you need to do if you want to find that one badass sound that fits you. I personally want something that girls will say "holly **** you drive a race car to college everyday!" Thats me but it might not be you.
So basically long tubes and off road y-pipe manditory.
But cat-back is a sciences and personal preference. Go with your gut on this one. I made too many mistakes on choosing cat-backs for my last cars, which were imports. Now imports are hard to make sound good. So at least if you **** up picking at cat-back on this car it will still sound kinda badass.
As far as power another 1/4" can't hurt. I think stock is 2 3/4. Thats my best guess because I wouldn't know, I droped the stock exhaust the day i bought my 96 formula.
Research
and
then pick a good one
my only suggestion is if you do a cam get some chambers.
So basically long tubes and off road y-pipe manditory.
But cat-back is a sciences and personal preference. Go with your gut on this one. I made too many mistakes on choosing cat-backs for my last cars, which were imports. Now imports are hard to make sound good. So at least if you **** up picking at cat-back on this car it will still sound kinda badass.
As far as power another 1/4" can't hurt. I think stock is 2 3/4. Thats my best guess because I wouldn't know, I droped the stock exhaust the day i bought my 96 formula.
Research
and
then pick a good one
my only suggestion is if you do a cam get some chambers.
If you don't want to dish out the money for a catback then just get a cutout and open it when you want to. If you have the money then you should just get the whole catback. The stock pipe is 2.75".
I would certainly get a catback. There is power to be made by swapping out the stock I pipe for a larger pipe even tho its only a 1/4". Besides that your Flowmaster is probably stealing at least a few ponies from you as well. If you are looking for a good catback at a reasonable price the Hooker or magnaflow really cant be beat. Both are nice, the hooker is steel and the Magnaflow is stainless steel. With LT's/ORY you car will sound much better with them over the flowmaster as well.
A cutout is also another very good option if you do like the sound of the flowmaster, but want the extra ponies at the track. However if you are look for more power on the street think about the electric cutouts over the manual ones....makes opening and closing much easier. And you could keep them open on the city streets, but close it up for highway cruising.
A cutout is also another very good option if you do like the sound of the flowmaster, but want the extra ponies at the track. However if you are look for more power on the street think about the electric cutouts over the manual ones....makes opening and closing much easier. And you could keep them open on the city streets, but close it up for highway cruising.
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I already have LT's and the matching Y-pipe. All I really need to replace is the stock 2.75 pipe going to the flowmaster. Couldn't I just make it a 3inch pipe or something? I think the flowmaster is good for some back pressure. The car ran an 8.4 in the 1/8 and I don't want to make my time any worse. Honestly, If I replaced that pipe with something better and a different muffler what kind of numbers would I see. It's an A4 with just the LT's and intake that puts down 284Rwhp.
Originally Posted by Camaro 0wner
I already have LT's and the matching Y-pipe. All I really need to replace is the stock 2.75 pipe going to the flowmaster. Couldn't I just make it a 3inch pipe or something? I think the flowmaster is good for some back pressure. The car ran an 8.4 in the 1/8 and I don't want to make my time any worse. Honestly, If I replaced that pipe with something better and a different muffler what kind of numbers would I see. It's an A4 with just the LT's and intake that puts down 284Rwhp.
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Teching In
Joined: Oct 2005
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From: Roosevelt, UT
i have a 96 ta w/6-speed. my personal choice of what i did was LT headers 3" off road y pipe, and a slp loudmouth catback. basically its 3" mandrel straight pipe. course this all depends where you live(emissions) and how friendly you are with the local cops. EXTREMELY LOUD! as far as hp and torque #'s go i currently have 300hp 330tq with that exhaust and 117000 miles on the ticker.
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Thread Starter
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So, basically I have the hard part taken care of. LT's and the matching Y-pipe. So, whhat do you guys suggest I do from here? Should I replace the stock I pipe with a bigger pipe (3inch) and have it go into a dynomax? Would that give me a noticable gain?
Depends on your power level whether it will give you more power. The stock I pipe goes down to 2.5 into the muffler which is the problem. I have stock I pipe and flowmaster also and put down 320 rwhp 320 rwtq then added a cutout and put down 346 rwhp 338 rwtq.
What you should do is this:
Get a good catback system, you can even find a used one on here like I did. I bought a used Random Tech cat back and it sounds good. You can probably find a good new/used catback for a decent amount of cash if you look hard enough. Also, get a cutout. You will not regret it. It's going to be loud, but it's def. a hell of a lot better. A manual cutout should be like 30 dollars.
Get a good catback system, you can even find a used one on here like I did. I bought a used Random Tech cat back and it sounds good. You can probably find a good new/used catback for a decent amount of cash if you look hard enough. Also, get a cutout. You will not regret it. It's going to be loud, but it's def. a hell of a lot better. A manual cutout should be like 30 dollars.
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Basically a cutout is going to give me more power than anything, right? I would kind of like the power at all times, but not have the car insanely loud. (I think a cutout would be very loud)
Why couldn't I just make the 2.5 I pipe a 3 inch I pipe, get a different muffler and call it a day? If I did something like that, would I need another tune, or would the car run fine?
Why couldn't I just make the 2.5 I pipe a 3 inch I pipe, get a different muffler and call it a day? If I did something like that, would I need another tune, or would the car run fine?
Originally Posted by Camaro 0wner
Basically a cutout is going to give me more power than anything, right? I would kind of like the power at all times, but not have the car insanely loud. (I think a cutout would be very loud)
Why couldn't I just make the 2.5 I pipe a 3 inch I pipe, get a different muffler and call it a day? If I did something like that, would I need another tune, or would the car run fine?
Why couldn't I just make the 2.5 I pipe a 3 inch I pipe, get a different muffler and call it a day? If I did something like that, would I need another tune, or would the car run fine?
That is a video of my car with an open cutout.
Here is a random video of me driving my car with no catback system on, just the y-pipe...
I was scared to drive it because I thought it was loud as ****. But, it got softer...It just seems loud at first. It was the first day I finished my headers. You can hear me misfire in the end.
You will feel a few extra ponies in higher RPM's with the cutout open. I ran a .250 better at the track with it open. One way you could go is ditch the y-pipe and the catback system...then buy true duels with bullet mufflers and you should be all set. Maybe just have some cutouts for the track only.
Here is a burnout video of my car with NO tread on my tires and my tires just wouldn't smoke...here is what it sounds like WOT and idle..
Oh yeah, enjoy the Saturn burnout haha. My friends GF was like STOP and my friend was like uh he's got front wheel drive. Then he just ****** slams on the brakes.
Last edited by blind527; Feb 2, 2006 at 12:46 PM.