I am seeking advise on options for a improved exhaust system for my 1987, 350 cid, TH700-R4 GTA Trans Am. I am getting ready
to replace the engine with a new GM 330hp motor and the car still has the OEM exhaust. I've been told it's strongly suggested to replace the converter after 15 years and I have also been told that Cat exhaust systems are connected after the converter. Should I reuse my stock exhaust manifolds or go with headers, or keep the stock manifolds and just change the pipes, converter and muffler?

 

What's your budget?
I would say either SLP or Hooker headers, a Catco hi flo cat, and a Hooker cat-back.

Sound clip of my exhaust is in the sig.

 

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Flowmaster!! That and 330HP will sound great.

 

I would go with either Hooker or Flowmaster. I just put on a flowmaster 80 4 days ago and it sounds excellent :hail:, but I would recommend using a high-flo cat so it wont be as loud.

 

If you are concerned with HP, stay away from CLOGmaster. It is too restrictive, especially on a 330HP motor. It sounds good but you will lose a little HP with it compared to something like Hooker or Random Technology. But which sound really good and increase HP.

 

Ditto, except minus the cat if you don't have emmisions.

 

I should tell that to all the dudes out there with fast cars running Flowmaster. Yup, you will never get into the 12's if you use them.

Really the difference is so minimal. On a 400HP engine like 4HP less would not even be noticeable and thats about as much as an advantage as the other mufflers have, if that. I'd rather have the sound and added performance even if it might flow a little (and I mean that) less.

 

No one cares what you think.

 

I'd reccomend the Edelbrock RPM Series Cat-back. It doesn't give your car a lot of interior resonance that will give you a headache especially if you run a numerically higher rear end ratio. It sounds nice and rumbly and loud when you want it to be loud. I ripped off my 2-chamber Flowmaster Cat-back for the Edelbrock, and I definately noticed a power gain.

 

LOL.

I be right about it though and you know it!! Go paint your louvers. Or did you already??

 

They're painted now. Finally the car doesn't look naked anymore.

 

What'd you paint them with?? And was it high gloss or what??

 

I got gloss black, automotive spray paint. And some clear.
The clear made them look like crap, but the tip on the can was messed up so I'm not sure if that did it. But I just used the rest of the black to go over the little bit of clear I had on there.

 

If you do nothing else, do the headers now while the engine is out! It is a M/F'er to put headers in these cars. Buy the headers now and do the exhaust when you have the funds. I can't recommend an exhaust because me car is still in 100 pieces and my exhaust is still sitting in the box. My last two f-bodies both had the Dynomax system and I loved the sound and look of it, but I don't know if it is even made anymore. My last car had a hallowed cat., with a pipe welded through it, but the smell of the emissions wasn't worth the minimal h/p gain. Go with a high flow cat.