Hey there, I've owned an '83 Base Firebird for a little over a year now, and last July took the plunge and bought a near-mint '86 WS6 Trans Am. I'm not entirely lost working around cars (added power locks to the Firebird, and I've just about got the air induction from an '84 TA hooked up to the '86), but I'm still fairly new.

Anyway, I'm posting this under exhaust because some of my fellow T/A owning friends have suggested aftermarket mufflers and maybe headers for first mods. My questions are, what are good ones to get? I'm looking for something middle of the road. I don't want cheap junk, but I don't need racing-level stuff. Just something that will give me a nice little boost and not break the bank.

Thanks all, I've heard you all know everything there is to know about these cars

Scott Holder

 

As far as headers go, would go with Edelbrock TES. Gett'em ceramic coated though. SLP is good too, but it's more expensive.
As far as mufler, ya can't beat a flowmaster cat-back system.

 

I agree with the headers, but you can beat Flowmaster, it's call Hooker cat-back, looks and sounds way better.

------------------
"Putting any amount of money into a RICE BURNER is like wiping your a$$ with a turd. "
'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

 

I have SLP Stainless headers.They're expensive, but they're well made and should last a long time.Also using Flowmaster Cat-Back 3", and 3" cat.Very satisfied with this setup.
Whatever headers you get, if you want 'em to look nice,have 'em coated.This also heps fight corrosion/rust and keeps engine compartment temp down a little.
Edelbrocks are less expensive, but aren't built quite as well.Still, lots of people run them.
As far as the Cat-Back system,a lot of good ones are out there,Flowmaster,Hooker,Dynomax,Borla,etc.
Different ears like different sounds, so if you get a chance, listen to some installed systems before buying one.I think all the better brands are very close,horsepower-wise,
so it's mainly up to your ears, as to which system to buy.I prefer the tinney sound of Flowmasters over others I've heard,and I used to have an SLP "two-on-the-left" sytem.
-Rich-