Would it really be worth it to me to spend the extra $$ and get a catback? I was thinking about just getting a Flowmaster 80, but if the differnece is huge, I might get the catback... does Flowmaster make a catback w/muffler that sounds like the 80?

Also, anybody had any significant +/- results with a hi-flo cat? I'm thinking about getting one of these, too, but don't know if it's worth it.

Sorry for the low-level newbie post... thanks for any responses.

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-------------
Joel Geerling
91 Formula, 305 TBI
Edelbrock 14x3 open element
TBI 1/2" spacer
Hypertech street chip
Pulleys and exhaust are next!

 

The Flowmaster American Thunder catback comes with the 80s series muffler if I'm not mistaken.

 

hi flo cat = good.
gutting ur cat and putting pipe inside it = better
flowmaster 80 series muffler = better then stock
flowmaster cat back = even better
however there ARE better systems out there then flowmaster, but the fact ur getting a cat back would help out some, and you'l get a nice exhaust tone.

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- David
88' GTA 5.7L TPI MODS---> air foil, K&N, Shift Kit, 180* therm, TB bypass, Gutted CAT, Flowmaster 80 Series

http://www.geocities.com/david_angel_16

 

Thx for the replies. AaronK, you're right, I checked on the Amer. Thunder w/80 series.

What better catbacks would you reccomend?

If you had to choose between adding (1) a hi-flo cat and flowmaster 80, or (2) a cat back, which would be better? (I'm guessing the cat back, but I don't know sh-- about exhaust flow)

If I gut my cat, wouldn't I fail emissions? If so, how do you get around this? Why leave the cat shell on? Is it to fool anybody (PD/emissions) peeking under the car?

 

if ur car is tunned well, usualy u can get around emmission, mines been off for like 6 yrs and passes everytime, just make sure u either put a pipe inside the cat and leave the shell on, otherwise u will fail visual. i would probably go with a catback and a gutted cat, not sure what brand though, flowmaster would be cheap.

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- David
88' GTA 5.7L TPI MODS---> air foil, K&N, Shift Kit, 180* therm, TB bypass, Gutted CAT, Flowmaster 80 Series

http://www.geocities.com/david_angel_16

 

No doubt about it get the Hooker cat-back. Awesome sound and definately provides power. There is a sound clip in a recent post, also it's probably the cheapest, comes with dual tip dual exit chrome pipes.

------------------
"Rice burners are like tampons...Every pu$$y has to have one"
'86 IROC
T-TOPS, TINTED WINDOWS, BRAKE LIGHT BLACKOUTS
GM GOODWRENCH 350
EDELBROCK TES HEADERS
3" Hooker CatBack w/Aero Chamber muffler
EDELBROCK 600CFM CARB.
KN AIRFILTER
ACCEL HEI DISTRIBUTOR
160* Stat, just switched to 180* b/c of winter coming and going to college in the mts.
3:73 Posi
Rebuilt 700R4
B&M Megashifter, 5" Autometer Tach w/shift lite

 

if I could do it over again I would probably get a hooker cat back, but I am happy with my edelbrock which comes with a warranty unlike flowmaster. the guy at the speed shop said flowmasters are cheaper because they always rust off after a couple of years.

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late model 91 rs, fully loaded, auto, t-tops, red leather, paint- gm red and yellow blend (light red), custom painted 16" Camaro rims
305 tbi flat base 14"x3" with K&N, hypertech chip, accel super stock plug wires, only use full synthetic oil and delco filter, 2 1/2" cat delete pipe, Edelbrock 3" cat-back
MTX sub and amp, Bose all around
vic_v8@yahoo.com
street kills: New v-6 stang, 96 v6 camaro, totally killed '86 SC Camaro (305), 91 z 28 with 305
15.854@87.57 (I think I could have it 15.5 with good tires and two more runs)
next month: rest of ultimate tbi

 

The dude before me had the 80 series cat back installed. So is that American Thunder?

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1988 Jet Black IROC
5.7L W/ 64000 miles
Flowmaster Exhaust
Fully Loaded
------------------

My IROC In Readers Rides
My IROC

 

thats why u paint them. and thats why their only $80



------------------
- David
88' GTA 5.7L TPI MODS---> air foil, K&N, Shift Kit, 180* therm, TB bypass, Gutted CAT, Flowmaster 80 Series

http://www.geocities.com/david_angel_16

 

Is there any way to get the Hooker system without the "dual-dual" tips? I don't like how that looks on third gens, I just want 2 pipes coming out, that's it.

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'89 Camaro RS 6cyl. auto, don't know how much longer I'll have it.
'90 Iroc TPI 305, 5 spd B&M Ripper shifter, hopefully I can rob a bank or something and get more
www.geocities.com/irocnroll90

 

just leave the tips off. Maybe get some chrome 4thgen z28 tips like me Don't just get the muffler. I wish I didn't but I was straped for cash at the time.

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-Tas
'89 Formula WS-6

305, TBI, 700R4, P.A.W. 14x3 open element with K&N, Milodon 160* thermo, functional Formula hood, cross-flow Flowmaster, '99z28 rear pipes and tips, Hooker 1-5/8" 50 state legal headers, Dynomax 3" I pipe (PN 44063 and 43248)
Super GRK_Taz World
F-Body Dual Exaust
EFI & Intake Options
AOL IM: superGRtaz



Got Beach?

 

true, a muffler will change the sound but a cat-back will increase power.

------------------
'86 IROC 5-speed
305 LG4
edelbrock performer rpm intake
edelbrock 600 cfm carb
msd pro billet hei distributer
'95 3.23 rearend
hotchkis rear suspension
PST front polygraphite suspension
"speed kills. buy a f@&d, live forever."

 

I think the dual tips is cool looking, it's just a little different than the avg. single tip, but ehh to each his own. You can buy single tips out of summit.

------------------
"Rice burners are like tampons...Every pu$$y has to have one"
'86 IROC
T-TOPS, TINTED WINDOWS, BRAKE LIGHT BLACKOUTS
GM GOODWRENCH 350
EDELBROCK TES HEADERS
3" Hooker CatBack w/Aero Chamber muffler
EDELBROCK 600CFM CARB.
KN AIRFILTER
ACCEL HEI DISTRIBUTOR
160* Stat, just switched to 180* b/c of winter coming and going to college in the mts.
3:73 Posi
Rebuilt 700R4
B&M Megashifter, 5" Autometer Tach w/shift lite

 

Hmm..could be. Do you have dual chrome exhaust tips? Because that's what the Amer. Thunder cat back comes with, or at least mine did.

------------------

 

Yeah I agree. In St. Louis we have strict emmisions where you have to pass visual, sniffer, gas cap, and a few other tests. I would go with the gutted cat with pipe inside. Personally I like Flowmaster, Mac, and Hooker. Depending on your budget. Mac runs $300, Flows are about $340, and $260 for Hooker. All reasonably priced, good sounding systems.

If you are only looking for the sound and think your engine is exhaling fine with stock pipes get the muffler for any of these systems.


------------------
1984 Camaro Z28 - Black w/ Grey int.
-GM Goodwrench 350 with Edelbrock 600 Carb, Edelbrock Preformer RPM intake, AC Delco plugs, AC Delco wires, 14" Accel filter, Homemade Cold Air Indctn., Edelbrock Chrome valve covers, breather, and Air cleaner.
-Profesionally Built Turbo-350 with Hurst shifter & B&M shift kit.
- Eagle Alloys 15" Alum. Rims surrounded by P235/60R15 BF Goodrich Radial T/A's
-Comming Soon:
3.73's, MAC Cat-Back, hollowed cat. & Paint: Navy Blue Metallic w/ Silver strips
Pics at: http://members.fbody.com/flashz28/

 

Hey Flash, I know this is a little off the subject, but do you know anywhere in town (StL) where I can pay for a dyno test (to get a baseline before I really start into my car)?

How 'bout a track to get a baseline 1/4mi?

I've been asking around, but I don't have any acquaintences into cars much...

Thanks!

 

Buy a G-Tech, this way you won't have to keep paying and you can test all you want. Plus it's darn near accurate. Measures 1/4, HP, 0-60, 60-0 braking, and G force.

------------------
"Rice burners are like tampons...Every pu$$y has to have one"
'86 IROC
T-TOPS, TINTED WINDOWS, BRAKE LIGHT BLACKOUTS
GM GOODWRENCH 350
EDELBROCK TES HEADERS
3" Hooker CatBack w/Aero Chamber muffler
EDELBROCK 600CFM CARB.
KN AIRFILTER
ACCEL HEI DISTRIBUTOR
160* Stat, just switched to 180* b/c of winter coming and going to college in the mts.
3:73 Posi
Rebuilt 700R4
B&M Megashifter, 5" Autometer Tach w/shift lite

 

Sure. I live in St. Charles (right across the river on 94) There is a place called Steigemeyer that makes racing heads, custom cams, and dyno's. It's right on my way to school (Francis Howell North) and I could get a price for you. As far as quarter mile, everyone I know goes to Gateway Int'l Speedway (in Ill.).

Hope this helps,

-Matt

 

Wow - thanks for the suggestion, Mark (I probably seem like a know-nothing punk). I'd never heard of the G-Tech... I checked out the website and it looks so cool that I just ordered one!

I never thought something like this would be accurate (high-school physics at work!).