I am looking for a new cat-back for cheap and I heard a lot about the hooker setup. I called jeg's and asked about it because it didn't say in the catalog what size it was. The guy said it was 2.5". I asked if it was 2.5" all around or just the two tailpipes and he said "all around". Is this guy wrong? I want a 3" intermediate pipe, and two 2.5" tailpipes. This is part numbers 520-16820, 22, & 23. Also, what are the differences in those 3 part numbers, since one is $60 cheaper!! I don't know which one to pick because I don't have the original engine in my car (see my sig) and I plan on upgrading the cat at the same time to a high flow one. Does this mean that it doesnt matter which one I get because I can just get a cat to match it? ( I beleive that the only differences in the cat-back are how it attaches to the cat, but not sure) Thanks, and sorry this is so long.
John

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84 Firebird with Trans am ground effects- 350 4bbl GM crate motor (LM1), T-Tops, automatic, K&N filter, 180* thermostat, ram-air hood scoop, flowmaster muffler, Accel cap & rotor, MSD Super Conductor Wires. Coming soon: new interior (grey), rear end work, subframe connectors, polyurethane bushings

 

Mine is 3 inch all the way, even the tips are 3 inch.

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1987 Chevy Camaro IROC-Z
L98 TPI 350 (5.7L)
TH 700R-4 Transmission with 2.77:1 Rear End

Current Mods: Edelbrock TES 1 5/8" Headers, Hooker Aerochamber Cat-Back System, Performance Resource Chip with 160* Thermostat, Accel Ignition Components, K&N Filters, All Free Mods, Falken ZIEX Z-Rated Tires.

Best ET : 14.3 @ 97mph
(corrected for elevation)

 

ok, the cat-back i got(dont have the part number right now) is a 3" cat-back into a 3" 1 in, 2x2.5" out pipes, the tips are 2.5" y'ed into 2x3"

the diffrent part number go for diffrent cars(i.e 305 tbi, 305 tpi, 350, etc), but most of us want a 3" anyway(right?)

so get the one for the L98, its a 3"

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(A.K.A FireBird88)
AOL SN: Zander0710
1992 Camaro RS 25th anniversary edition Adopted Feb,14 2000

Mods:
14x3 Open element w/ K&N filter, MSD GM blaster Coil and 8.5 SC wires, AFPR, 60psi. Fuel Pressure gauge, 3-Row Al rad. , 180* t-stat, Hooker 1 5/8 headers, 3" Catco cat, 3" Hooker Aero Chamber cat-back

[This message has been edited by UnderDogRS (edited October 01, 2000).]

 

The system for 86-92 single cat 305 TPI and single cat 350 TPI cars is the 3" I-pipe, dual 2 1/2" outlets w/ quad 3" tips. The other two systems I don't know about.

Now you need a 3" cat that bolts to the I-pipe for this setup to work. Summit sells a Catco 3" cat for $100 that will work, it is the replacement cat for those same 86-92 single cat 305 TPI and single cat 350 TPI cars. Works good w/ that cat-back. But you need the exhaust manifold setup from the same cars, or a set of headers made to fit them to work w/ that cat (IE you need a 3" y-pipe, slip fit to the cat). What header/exhaust mani setup do you have?

I am running the Edelbrock TES headers, that catco cat, and that Hooker cat-back and love the whole setup. You may need to buy it all at once in order to be sure everything will fit right since you don't know whats on your car already. I suppose a shop could custom do a neck down from the 3" cat to the y-pipe if you have a 2.5" y-pipe, but that would rob power, might as well get the 2.5" cat-back and cat if thats the case and you don't ever plan on shelling out for a nice set of headers...

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Ray87Z
-Vortec headed 350.
86 IROC w/ a cammed 305 TPI.
Formerly Ray86IROC.
www.inter-scape.com/Ray

[This message has been edited by Ray87Z (edited October 02, 2000).]

 

Thanks guys, I do plan on getting a set of headers in the future but for now I was going to get a reducer for the y-pipe because it is stock. I dont have $700 - 1K to spend on a full system right now. I didn't think that the type of engine would have anything to do with the exhaust from the cat back to the tips. Shouldn't all 3rd gens that came with a single exhaust from the factory have the same exhaust routing? That is why I got confused by the ad. I was just trying to figure out which one was 3" intermediate and why one is 60 bucks cheaper. I guess the guy at jegs was wrong, he said "we dont have any 3" exhausts" UMMMM..... Wrong, dude. Thanks guys.

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84 Firebird with Trans am ground effects- 350 4bbl GM crate motor (LM1), T-Tops, automatic, K&N filter, 180* thermostat, ram-air hood scoop, flowmaster muffler, Accel cap & rotor, MSD Super Conductor Wires. Coming soon: new interior (grey), rear end work, subframe connectors, polyurethane bushings

[This message has been edited by johns84bird (edited October 02, 2000).]