Thinking of getting new exhaust .... please help

[JT_02f-bird]

Hi, im new to the board and just recently got a 02 firbird. IT has the sport appearance package on it (body kit as well as dual exhaust). IM not sure what else is included in that package as far as suspension and stuff like that goes so fill me in if you can.. thanks. Ive read almost all of the stickies and just got out of the one where theres a HUGE arguement going on about the advantage of a 3" over a 2.5" or something like that. What i have come to get out of all i read is that I want a 2.5 inch exhaust with a high flow cat. (does this sound right?) I dont plan on doing engine work or any major mods like that... most likely just intake and exhaust.... maybe spark plugs/wires and even fuel injectors. Nothing dramatic. I really just want a little louder of a car with a better exhaust note. Thats what im aiming at. With that being said... what i have read tells me i want the 2.5" cat back with a high flow cat. (i think) I could even do without the cat if yall think that it wouldnt be that much of a gain or would make the car sound rediculously loud. I want a pretty deep rumble (well, as deep as a v6 can get while still sounding good) so i dont know the effect the cat would have.(?) I still dont know if the 3" would be deeper than the 2.5"? Help? I do realize bigger means louder, but not sure how much louder and if itll be deeper or not. DO yall think the 2.5" would be loud/deep enough for what im wanting? Should i get a high flow cat? What do yall think itll sound like with/without the cat?

ALso.. im really worried about getting someone to put the exhaust on for me. I know everyone is saying to just take it to a local exhaust shop... but if i do, are they going to do it right. I read some kind of write up on how to put a magnaflow 3" cat back on, and it sounded like there were mods that needed to be done to make it fit right that a local shop might not do, or care about. I really want it to be done right, just like everyone else... but i dont know where i should take it to have it done the way its supposed to be. What do yall think? Where would you take it? Are there any mods that I would have to tell the shop to be sure and do... to make it be right?

FYI.. i do have a preference when it comes to exhaust brand. I really like Magnaflow, so i have the Magnaflow 2.5" cat-back exhaust in mind. And if i get the cat... then the carsound(magnaflow) cat would be the one i would get. (not sure on diameter or anything like that... just the brand).

If yall have any input on this at all I would really appreciate it. I thank you VERY much in advance for all of your help. I really want the exhaust but i dont have the knowledge of exhausts to make the right decisions... so im coming to you all. I really hope you can help me out and remember..... any input is welcome.

Thanks,
Justin

[98 3.8]

Re: Thinking of getting new exhaust .... please help

First off...if you're just going to lightly mod, fuel injectors won't really help you car. the limiting factor in making power for you is going to be the air going into the engine...until you get to about 350rwhp. ;)

I think the setup you have picked out is a godd choice.

[99camaro-3.8]

Re: Thinking of getting new exhaust .... please help

with the 2.5" cat-back you wont have to do any modification. it bolts right up. the only reason why there were modifications made with the 3" cat-back is because it is made for a v8 car but will work with a v6 car just the exhaust hangers dont match up perfect. now you will have to do some modification with the cat. personally i have no problem taking my car somewhere to have them do my exhaust i just dont feel like paying for it cuz im cheap and its something i can do myself. you can trust most shops. just tell them that you want it done right and that if it doesnt meet your standards you will bring it back to have it fixed and continue to bring it back until it is fixed the right way. their a business and your an unsatisfied, paying customer. they will listen.

[Lurieh]

Re: Thinking of getting new exhaust .... please help

2.5" exhaust is going to be your best bet as others have said. Here's a couple suggestions:

High flow cats - Depending on your location, it may be unlawful to remove/replace your stock cat. Some places only allow you to fool with the cat if it's damaged, your car is older, or if it's over a specified mileage. You may not be able to get an exhaust shop to mess with yours if it otherwise doesn't NEED to be messed with.

I've had a couple exhausts custom made for various cars. They were all press bent tubing, aluminized, with my choice of muffler/tip. I saved a good bit of money on a non-stainless, non-mandrel bent setup. I realize the advantages of the higher priced "kits" that come stainless and such, but if you really aren't looking for high performance(your post implies sound over performance) you could save possibly hundreds on a custom bent setup from a local shop.

[JT_02f-bird]

Re: Thinking of getting new exhaust .... please help

First off... thank yall very much for your input. I really appreciate it.

98 3.8- thank you... i really didnt know if fuel injectors would be beneficial to me.. i just thought of something that sounded easy and might help performance a little. I see now that theyre something i really dont need to worry about.. so thank you for your comment.

99camaro-3.8 I see what youre sayin about the exhaust being made for the V8. What kind of modification are you talkin about that id have to do to the cat? OH.. and i do think ill be taking it to a shop somewhere local. i think theres a muffler shop about 10 miles from my house... ill go there and use the just tell em like you said. Thanks.

Lurieh- Thank you for your comment. Ill have to check up on the cat laws around here. I think you do have to have them around here... but depending on the shop.. i think i could get them to replace it. A buddy of mine has his taken off, and the shop just didnt give him a reciet and said they wouldnt take responsibility if he got into trouble for it. If i was to get a high flow cat, would it help the performance/sound at all? If so, by how much? With just the cat-back, do you think the sound will be a full note or more-so raspy? Is the magnaflow known for a raspy sound or a deeper sound at 3000rpms or higher? Just wondering. TIA for your input.

I think ive decided to go ahead and get the Magnaflow 2.5" cat-back. It sounds like what i want, and from what yall have said.. i believe im sure now. Ive alwayz loved the sound of Magnaflow on v8 cars, so im hoping its going to be what im looking for on a v6. (i would listen to sound clips, but im at school, and they have all kinds of stuff blocked on their server). Im figuring about 2-3 weeks i should have it on. Keep in mind im still gathering info from people/places, so please dont take this statement as a close to this thread. I would still love to hear from everyone and know all of your opinions.

Thanks,
Justin

EDIT: OH.. and i was wondering, am i going to have to buy an S-pipe from SLP to go with the Magnaflow Cat-back, or does one come with it? OR-- do i even need to buy one.. isnt the stock exhaust something like 2.5"? If so, shouldnt it already have a 2.5" s-pipe? If i got an aftermarket s-pipe, would the sound/performance be better? TIA -JT

[99camaro-3.8]

Re: Thinking of getting new exhaust .... please help

99camaro-3.8 I see what youre sayin about the exhaust being made for the V8. What kind of modification are you talkin about that id have to do to the cat? OH.. and i do think ill be taking it to a shop somewhere local. i think theres a muffler shop about 10 miles from my house... ill go there and use the just tell em like you said. Thanks.

EDIT: OH.. and i was wondering, am i going to have to buy an S-pipe from SLP to go with the Magnaflow Cat-back, or does one come with it? OR-- do i even need to buy one.. isnt the stock exhaust something like 2.5"? If so, shouldnt it already have a 2.5" s-pipe? If i got an aftermarket s-pipe, would the sound/performance be better? TIA -JT

the modifications about the cat was the s-pipe. if you are going to a shop just they will know what to do. instead of spending that insane amount of money on an s-pipe just ask them to take a u-pipe, cut it in half, and weld it together to make and S. much cheaper and simpler. the cat will also be a little shorter than the stock one so a little more modification there as well as a 3" to 2.5" reducer. all things the exhaust shop will know to do. any other questions just ask