I am on a tight budget right now, and I want a cat-back for my car. I was looking at the Flowmaster American Thunder systems, and they have a 3 inch cat-back with a single in, single out muffler for around $250. They also have the 3 inch in, dual out system for around $310. I want dual outlets, but $310 is way too much for me to spend, so here's my idea:

1. Buy the three inch American Thunder cat-back with the single tail pipe.

2. Sell that muffler to get some extra cash.

3. Buy a 3 inch offset inlet, dual outlet muffler, and install that on the cat-back I just took the other muffler off.

Will this work? Or are the pipes coming to the muffler different between the two systems? Also, does a dual outlet muffler restrict more flow than a single in/out? If so, is it a lot? Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks.

 

single in/out flow the best but looks gay.
single in/dual out looks tight and flows almost as good.

your idea might work

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Rick
90 Camaro RS 305 TBI
400 on the way!!

 

um maybe im dumb, but in a cat back system, all you get it the pipe that goes from the cat back to the muffler, and the muffler with tips right? so if you bought the cat back system, all you would be keeping would be the pipe from the cat to the nuffler, which you could buy at pep boys or a muffler shop for cheap. good luck man

 

The pipe from the cat to the muffler has to be custom bent for our cars. It is expensive to get 3" pipe bent, and most muffler shops don't do mandrel bending, so I need the Flowmaster pipe.

 

is it more expensive then the flowmaster kit minus what youd sell the muffler for? is there a speed shop around you that will bend it for ya?

 

I'm pretty sure that the Flowmaster would be cheaper, but then again I haven't found a speed shop that bends 3" pipe yet. So I don't really know.

 

heres what i did-
i bought an 80 series 2.5 in/out with two outlets, ordered dynomax 2.5in tail pipes, and used the pipe that was there from the cat back, which looks like it had been replaced, it didnt cause more than $175, and its real loud
just my $.02
oh yea, and if you want buy the three inch 80 series, and just have midas put it on for you, they will bend a three inch pipe back form the cat

[This message has been edited by dude12387 (edited November 08, 2000).]

 

man. flowmaster is expensive. get the Hooker Cat-back from www.jegs.com. i got part number 16822 for $199.99 and i had the local muffler shop install it for $125, they had to modify the cat-back because it was for a 4-bolt cat and i had a slip-fit cat. it sounds great. ive had it since yesterday i cant stop driving my car. i love the sound. it is just a little quiet at idle. but if you dont have much money, get Hooker. it comes with a 3" I-pipe, Duel outlets, and very NICE crome tips(part number 22301, looks the same as part number 22300(shown) but bigger, under specialty products at their site )their site is http://www.holley.com/HiOctn/ProdLin...cts/ES/ES.html

RED82TA5.7L

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1982 Pontiac Trans Am
Cross-Fire Injected 5.7l V8
Eldebrock Headers, 3" Hooker Cat-Back, 2 nice tips with duel outlet on each side.
Mods: 1.6 Proform Roller Rockers, electric fan.

Future mods: X-Ram( Aftermarket Cross-Fire Injection Manifold that proves to have as much power as TPI www.x-ram.com )
Cross-Fire Injection after market chip that says that it will proform like 90's injections.. http://www.turbocity.com/CorvetteCro...ECMUpgrade.htm

 

OK, this idea may be cheesy. I must admit, i pondered the idea before i bought the dual tailpipe setup. Buy the single tailpipe setup, and then weld on the other tailpipe on the passanger side. No one will know, unless they see you starting the car in 30* weather. Good luck.

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"Ever notice how imports sound like weedwackers"

 

I don't think I would want to do that. Especially if I get on it, and some visible smoke comes out, it will look REALLY dumb. Creative idea, though. Thanks.

 

Or you can make it like the Borla cat-back where none/some/most/all of the exhaust is routed out the pass. side tailpipe before going through the muffler. I know of some 4th-gen guys that have done that with SLP and other cat-backs. You could even have the exhaust shop weld it up with a 3-bolt flange so you can put in different plates just like the Borla for different sounds and power. Looks like dual-tip exhaust, flows better than a single going through the muffler.

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Greg Westphal
'87 IROC 305TPI/A4

 

I think I figured out an idea that will work. I could try buying the Dynomax 3" madrel-bent cat-back. It's only $155 in Jeg's. Since this setup is already made for dual outlets, I can just replace the Dynomax muffler with a Flowmaster muffler. The intermediate pipe should be a perfect fit since it's supposed to be a stock replacement. What do you guys think? Also, which Flowmaster should I get? (Headers, high-flow cat, Competition Camshaft) Thanks.

 

CamaroX84 - that 3" Dyno max system is actually a 2.5" mandrel bent pipe with the 3" flange connector for the converter. Dynomax use to make a CVX "system" with the true 3" mandrel pipe and an older version "Super Turbo" system that had 2)2.25" pipes exiting the same side,,, but they've quit offering those kits. However you are in luck. They still offer the true 3" pipe seperately as 2 part numbers - intermediate pipe #44063 (with the 3" converter flange) - should be around $65 bucks,,, and the "over the axle" 3" pipe #43248 - should be around $40. So both should run you around $105,, and you could run what ever muffler you want,,, like the Flowmaster,, or the new Race Series Dyno max #17227 (3" x 2) 2.5" crossflow design). Dynomax claims this muffler flows 940cfm,, but it's $100. You can also buy the 2.5" tail pipes from Dynomax as part numbers 43243(RH) and 43244(LH) for around $50. Anyway,, I haven't made my mind up to replace the muffler I have with that 17227, a 3" Borla Sportsman,, or go cheap with the $60 3" #17221 Dynomax Race Series single in single out. I may buy the 3.5" mandrel bends and run a custom 3.5" exhaust,,, who knows. Anyway,, hopes this helps you some.


[This message has been edited by BadSS (edited November 10, 2000).]

 

BadSS - Where can I buy the 3" madrel bent pipes that go from the cat to the muffler? Thanks.