I have a few questions. I just got an '87 Iroc and want to get exhaust for it. I'm looking for a catback system for around $300.

1)What's the best one to get? (I'm more into the sound of it, then the performance benefits of it)
2)Do most require welding or are most bolt on? How expensive is it to have a shop install a weld one? Cause if I don't get bolt on, I won't be doing it myself.
3)Is there any performance benefit to replacing the cat, or is it just for emissions stuff?
4)Does anybody take out their cat and replace it w/ a straight pipe? I don't have emissions to worry about in Georgia.

I guess that's it....I know NOTHING about exhausts, so any answers to my q's is appreciated. Thanks.

 

1. Sound Flowmaster, but thats my opinion
2. Most kits bolt on
3. They make high flow cats.
4. I took my cat off, much better sound without it.

 

i thought flowmaster just sold mufflers. do they sell catback systems also? what is the actual benefit from getting a catback system as opposed to just replacing the muffler? does it have bigger pipes or something? if it does, does it come w/ an adapter piece to transitiong it from the stock size to the bigger size?

lol i know i'm askin dumbass questions but i've just never had to mess w/ exhausts before so i dont know much about 'em

 

yes they have cat backs.

http://www.jegs.com/cgi-bin/ncommerc...07&prmenbr=361

go there and look for part number 389-17233

thats one of a few.

 

flowmaster sounds great IMO
spintech mufflers also sound sweet..

i would get the flowmaster cat back, i put one on a buddys camaro, and it fit great. replace the cat with a straight piece of pipe, it will sound better, and perform better at higher rpm's.

 

so i'd have to have a shop weld the straight pipe in, right? i mean there's no way it could bolt in....will a shop even do that? i mean technically, the car wouldn't be street legal then, so would they do it?

 

If I were you(Which I was 4yrs ago)I would buy a set of hedman longtubes(120$) and two moroso spiral flow mufflers(50$ each)and 15 feet of 2.5 inch exaust pipe(75$)and run dual exaust.

 

how much would it cost though to have a shop bend all the pipe to fit right?

 

That would greatly depend on weather you wont the exaust to go over the rear end or stop in front of it.Most people let it end in front of the rear axel because they are scared to try.On my 89 IROC it goes over the axel on both sides without any rubs or dings.If I were to do it,it would cost bewteen 150 to 300$(exaust pipe included)Depending on how you wont it.Any decent exaust shop could handel it but I cant guess on how much they would charge. Since I have done it on several F-bodys I would have less time in it so my price might be on the low side.

 

so are the only bends in the pipe where it goes over the axle? if i decided to stop it before the axle, would i not have to get a shop to bend the pipes at all? so would it just go headers, straight pipes back, mufflers, then straight pipe till the rear axle?

 

If I were to do it myself at home,this is how I would do it.I would put the headers on.(slight tweaking of the upper a arm will be needed)I would use a 3inch to 2.5 inch header reducer with the o2 bung welded in.(part # 88314 made by dynomax)Next I would use hedman x-tensions.This will get you under the trans mount(part # for 2.5 inch pipe is hed-18804)You also will have to cut these back on the 3 inch side so that it will slip into the reducer.If money permits I would also use a h-pipe(part #389-15920 made by flowmaster price is about 37.00$)Next I would put the mufflers where I had the most clearence and run the pipe to them.(The smaller the muffler the more ground clearence you will have.)I use moroso spiral flow mufflers.They are VERY LOUD but sound deep and powerful.Next I would put everything on with clamps(Do not tighten clamps till your happy about your exaust placement)After you have done that take it to a shop with a mig welder and have all clamps removed and the whole system welded in place.(should cost no more than 40 to 80$)Last make sure you support the mufflers with exaust hangers(The header is not strong and will not support the weight of the exaust system)All these parts can be bought at JEGS 1-800-345-4545 hope this helps.FLIROC-Z.

 

I recently purchased and installed a complete exhaust system. I believe that if you look at the Banks Catback system you will probably find the best system for the money. Banks sells an all stainless steel catback system. It is fairly quiet at cruise but when you get on it the system really tells the news!

I started the system off with ceramic coated hedman headers followed by a carsound cat and finished with the Banks catback.

If you go with the carsound CAT there are two that fit our cars. buy the longer one othewise you will be about four inches too short in making the connection to the CATBACK...

Good luck!

 

Since you kept saying how little you knew about this i thought i'd throw this in there for ya.

Headers sound better than manifolds.
Duals sound much much better than singles.
A pipe at the back of the car is much quieter in the car than a pipe under your seat.

 

Don't fprget that 99% of the time you will have to make your own straight pipe in place of your cat. With emmsions these days no exhaust shop will take that chance. You will either need a buddy at a shop, do it yourself, or slip the guy a few jacksons.

 

is there any way to put in straight pipe w/ clamps? or would it have to be welded?

 

You could put a slip fit straiht pipe on and clamp it on. That way you can separate your cat back from your cat and y-pipe.

 

do not fall into this assumption, if for any reason, a state trooper looks under your car and does not find a cat, you could be up for a pretty big fine. there is no reason why you should not run a nice high flow cat.

<-----looks at location

 

I live in Georgia - South Georgia where there have been no emissions checks for at least 20years and then only random.

At one time emissions checking was done commonly in the metro Atlanta area and you had to have a sticker. I don't think this has been done for a long time now.

You could probably get away without installing the CAT and never get caught, but if you were ever checked you could look at a hefty fine. If your exhaust is obviously not stock you run a greater risk of having someone visually check for the CAT.

I agree with mw66nova, you are better off putting the CAT in the CAR. I had to consider this when I bought my exhaust system back in November. The common assumption has been that the CAT creates a great deal of backpressure and a loss of efficiency in the system. Flowtests don't quite hold up this assumption. There is a slight loss of efficiency with a High Flow CAT but the difference is almost negligible. The odds are that you will never push the system to the point where it would actually make a diffrence ad if you did you would most likely not be on the street where but on a track where emissions would not even be an issue.

I put the CAT on my car with the new exhaust system for several reasons. 1. ReSale Value. If you can state that the car is 50 states emissions legal that is a plus. 2. Legality - it is required by law. 4. The CAT cost 30 bucks. I am guessing the pipe to connect the Ypipe and the CATBACK was going to cost me at least $20... 5. I felt that the presence of the cat signaled to anyone looking, the diffrence between someone thoughtfully upgrading their car, and someone just jacking around.

Do it right. It won't cost you that much more and you will reap the benefits in the future.

 

This is very well put. Cats range between 50 and 300 bucks so it is cheap insurance. I saw a dyno comparrison with and without a cat and the difference was just ever so barely 1hp and 1 ft lb. This test vehicle was also making 400 to the wheels thru a single 3" exhaust.