cat-back ?'s.

[Tobes]

I want to get a cat-back. I think I'd like either a Flowmaster or an Edelbrock

I've heard just the flowmaster muffler (not the cat-back) on a camaro and loved the sound. sounded like an old Muscle car. I have not heard an Edelbrock muffler. So, if anyone has sound clips, i'd love to hear them. (I've searched for a sound clip of an edelbrock and the links had expired)

I'm not looking for a really loud sound, just a good ol throaty sound (I realize more than likely it'll sound ricey at high RPMS) and I want the best HP gains I can get. I'm hoping to keep the $$ to around 300 installed. I'm not sure how do-able that is.. really, the more $$ just means me waiting longer, so i'm not gonna freak out if its more than that.

I plan to keep my stock cat for now, and get a Catco cat later on.

What is the main pros/cons to getting a 3" vs a 2.5"? I understand I have to get an S-pipe to fit the cat to the cat-back with a 3".

I've read that some people think that the 3" takes away from torque, is that true?

My car still has a year left of warranty, will a cat-back cause any trouble with the warranty that anyone can think of?


Thanks for the help

[Jaymatic]

2.5" pipes will free up low to mid range torque,
3" pipes will build on the mid to high range torque.

It all depends on preference, where will your RPM's be most of the time and where do you want most of your torque.

go here http://www.dynomax.com/techsupport.stm and scroll down to where it says Pipe Diameter. They also have a chart you can look at.

I have a Dynomax muffler and I am going with a 2.75" I-pipe into a 2.5" muffler. I was going to do 2.5" all the way but I couldn't find a mandrel bent 2.5" pipe anywhere so I settled for the 2.75". I wanted 2.5" because my car is going to remain completely stock except for a cat-back, so I will be in the low to mid RPM's most all of the time.

As for Edelbrock vs. Flowmaster, I do not have any first hand experience with either, but from what I have heard, Flowmaster sounds awesome at idle, but higher up it kind of looses all of its good sound. I have heard Edelbrock is not as loud as Flowmaster, but it doesn't loose its good sound as low in the RPM's as Flowmaster. Don't take my word for this because I don't have first hand experience with either, it is just what others have told me.

Flowmaster:

2.5" American Thunder System > Flowmaster Spec Sheet
Summit Page for the cat-back

3" American Thunder System
Flowmaster Kit 1
Flowmaster Kit 2
Flowmaster Kit 3
I believe that with minor fabrication you can use any of those three 5.7L kits on there. Just check the fitment with someone else who has the system.


Edelbrock:
3" RPM Series Cat-Back System Summit Page
I believe this is the one you can use.


I am not sure how well any of these systems fit, I do not have first hand experience with any of them, just find a conformation from someone who has one before you get it.

I hope this post was helpful.

[ June 04, 2004, 07:45 PM: Message edited by: Jaymatic ]

[HAZ-Matt]

I'm going to recommend a 3 inch Edelbrock system for you.

[Tobes]

thanks a lot for the links that helps a lot. I think Im going to go with the 2.5 flowmaster because i'm more interested in off-the-line HP gain right now. But, i'm going to search some more for an edelbrock sound clip before I make any final decisions.