My car is a stock 305tbi.
I'm looking to spend around $300, or course less is always better. I want my exhaust to sound a bit louder and give more of a deep throaty sounnd. My main two questions are how much of an exhaust can I get for this, do you think ill be able to do the whole thing, or just a muffler? Is it even worth doing the exhaust will I loose power over it, will I see any gains at all? Is there anything that you guys could recommend to me in this price range, or should I save up a bit more for a better system. I really don't know what I should do as far as pipe size etc, and I don't think that I can ditch my cat.
Basically I guess is there a nice cat back system I can get in my price range, or do I need more money?

I plan on getting a mildly built 350 somwhere down the line, so if there is somthing that will work with both, but I don't want to really sacrifice power with either engine due to the exhaust so if it would be much better to get a completley new exhaust at that point thats fine.

Another thing, can I take out the old exhaust and put in a new one myself, or does it require a muffler/exhaust shop?

Or would I be much better off dumping that money somwhere else?

 

You're starting at the right place. Main issue is that the restrictive manifolds, y-pipe, and cat will still be there. But, when you've got the money, you can upgrade those - hopefully before the 350 goes in.

Another consideration is that the cat-back will be made to attach to your current restrictive cat. Best bet would be replace the entire exhaust from the heads to the rear bumper with parts made for '86-'90 TPI single-cat stuff. You could do that now with just the cat-back, but some adaptation would be required at the cat outlet (modify the cat, not the cat-back).

The typical do-it-yourselfer can handle this job. The adaptation complicates things, though.

 

I would suggest spending your money on some headers. They will give you the most bang for the buck, while improving the exhaust note at the same time. For a 305 or 350, I'd recommend something with 1 5/8" primary tubes. If you go with a set of "shorty" headers, you will have better luck fitting them to your existing exhaust system, though you may need an aftermarket Y-pipe. Even if you need the Y-pipe, $300 should cover the expense.

 

Use the money on a nice cat back (250 to 300) and use the rest to have it welded. You can do headers for 300 but it is hard. If you want quality gaskets, bolts, and coating not to mention fabing it up to mate with the rest of your exhaust you are going to spend more than 300 easily. I have the cheapest headers out there and I still spent 100 before I even laid a cent down for the things. By the time you add everything up (not reusing any bolts or gaskets and having to fab the y-pipe to rest of exhuast) you will spend between 300 and on up to 800.

 

Whats a good catback in that price range, and what size pipes should I get that I can hopefully put on the 350, or am I going to have to redo the exhaust?

I'm not 100% sure but i'm pretty sure the 91rs with a 305 would have the 2.5 pipes, what would it take to put in a 3in catback, would I need to go to an exhaust shop for some custome work, will it go right in anyway, or will it just not work?

 

get some hedman longtubes=100
some hedman universal 2 1/2 in x-tensions=32.00
and some dynomax bulletsx2@32.00 a piece
all that equals one hell of an exhaust....trust me. oh and plus u will have money to spare!!!(so you can get some pipe to make longer exhaust and turndowns at the rear end)

 

Wouldn't they setup really kill the groud clearance? And how much of a PITA is it to do this, expecially getting those headers in?

What would I have to do to get this in, rip out the entire old exhauset, put in the headers, but where do I go after that. I need to go to an exhaust shop for the rest of it? What do you think I can expect to pay them for doing the rest of it, or is there more that I can get done?

Is what you are describing basically a true dual, if so where would the cat fit in here, out would I just put one somewhere in each pipe?

 

This picture is of 88Spinner's exhaust, is this basically what you are describing there? If it is where do the cats fit in, or do I just have to put one on each pipe? As much as I would love to do somthing like that I cannot afford the loss of ground clearance, I got board one day and figured out I make it into my driveway by 1.5in in the worst spot.

 

I would spend the 250 and get the hooker cat back. You can order the kit made for your car and it comes with the correct reducer already attached so you literally just bolt everything on that comes in the kit. You do not have to buy anything else. It is 3" so when you go to a full 3" (up stream from the cat-back) down the road you can cut off the reducer and add your 3" cat or whatever.

 

Good advice do this

 

That hooker catback is looking damn good right now. Is this a complete bolt in or will I have to get it welded?

 

Looking here http://www.thunderracing.com/index.c...ategoryid=1034
what about that random technology one, is that better than the hooker?
Anyone know any other places to get them cheaper?

 

Your best bet is to buy your cat-back from any of the big distributors. I love my hooker catback and it is proven to be one of the highest flowing cat backs out there. You do not have to have it wleded because it comes with all of the necessary clamps and gaskets and what not. You may want to spend the rest of your 300 to get it welded. Should cost you from 20 to 50 bucks and it is well worth it. No leaks.

 

Another shot. The kit does not come with those tips though. I added those. However, the stock ones look pretty good. Hooker also has made them out of stainless now so they don't rust like they used to.

 

I'm pretty much convinced on those hookers, I was wondering if I could get a better deal that $270 plus. What did shipping run you on them or did you buy them locally?

 

I bought mine through jegs. They range from 200 to 270 on jegs depending on your application. Shipping is free but the handling is what gets you and should be around 12 to 20. Still within your range.

I just checked out jegs and it looks like you need jegs part number 520-18620. It is 265 + oversize fee. Should come to 300 after taxes and handling. You will love it and it will bolt to your stock cat without any problems. I loved the way mine sounded. When I got headers I bought a 3" cat and had a shop cut off the reducer and slip on the new cat. So now I have a full 3" from the y-pipe back.

 

That part number does work. I think I need 520-16820 Camaro/Firebird 1983-92, 305(non-H.O.). Anyway ill probably call them to order it, so ill make sure then. Thanks to everyone, I cannot wait to get this thing.

 

Yea you are right and that was a typo on my part. Sorry about that. I am glad you double checked. I was disslexic with the 6 and the 8. But that is the one you need.

 

umm if you are really gonna get a cat back and its not too late, you miht wanna look into random technologies, they make one of the best catbacks, of course thats my opinion and we all know what those are like, but they really are one mean catback, all mandrel bent, and some really mean 3" tips, and it definitly sounds nice!!!

 

Are there any pros/cons between the two, or is it really just opinion?
Is the random technologies as easy to install as the hooker?

 

Got my kit for 99.99 brand new on ebay.. Guy owns a shop in texas and had a truck load of these.. Shipping was like 40.00

3", aerochamber muffler, even came with stainless steel tips..

It was the 82-84 or whatever with the stupid flange. Cut that off and welded the cat to it. meow.

Search around..

-- Joe

 

honesty, i dont know if its easier to install that a hooker cat back and yes, but after all, it is just my opinion, but im pretty sure it is louder than the hooker and i know it is all mandrel bent but as stated earlier, it just an opinion
later, john

 

$300:

want more power and SLIGHTLY improved sound : get headers

want a great sound but no more power: get a catback.


both can be had and installed for less then 300.


dont get longtubes. for a 305 not only are they overkill, but they take up ground clearance. my opinion would be diff if you had a wild 383/400 or somthing, but for a regular 305, you really dont need more then some nice shortys and a decient y pipe.

 

It is very hard to do headers right under 300 bucks. I geuss it can be done but you take a risk using cheap gaskets and bolts. Not to mention if you want them coated. Not necessary but can eliminate future headaches. Your exhaust will only flow as good as the most restrictive part. The stock catback flows better then the stock exhaust manifolds so although you will see a power increase with just a hesader install it won't be as much as if you had a cat-back to go with it. You will still see some power with a cat-back. You need both anyways if you want to make power and cat-back is a fail safe way of keeping this under 300. Even if you got a set of headers under 300 most of them do not have the stock hookups to attach to the stock cat. Edelbrock makes afew sets that will but most under 300 sets do not. Now you have to spend more to have it fabbed up to your cat. I spent 400 for coated "cheap style" headers, and about another hundred for quality leak proof gaskets and locking bolts. Even more cost was added to have the y-pipe connected to my new cat. I wish I would have spent more on headers so I do not have to deal with these blow...excuse me flowtechs.

 

As I said its getting a 350, the car it was in had about 325hp at the rear wheels, and I plan on slowly building it up more. So I don't want to spend $600 on a good set of headers that are just going to be junk once that goes in. I'm definatly doing the catback for the 305, but i'm thinking, do you think that it will be enough for that motor?

 

If you want to know if the cat-back you choose is enough for 325 rwhp than your answer is yes. A 3" exhuast system can support well above 325hp at the wheels. Since you are getting that screamin motor you will want a nice set of 1 3/4" headers. You do not want to skimp here and will want to spend over 300 to get the most out of your combo. Even if you spent more than 300 now you will still be able to use the headers on your new motor.

 

i saw get the flowmaster american thunder cat abck i really like the sound and its deep and really loud when you get on it