Ok, before you quickly post to do a search, or even the answer, here is my question(s). And yes I've searched, in fact I've been researching this for a few days straight. So here it is:

1. I need a new exhaust, duh.
2. I was looking at the dynomax system, cheap but decent. But its not 3". I can get the part numbers to make a 3" system from previous posts, BUT it adds up quick, plus I dont like the big dent in the OTA pipe. So I think dynomax is out of the picture.
3. I DONT want flowmaster, been there done that, I'm sick of the sound and the highway droning.
4. Every system I look at, it seems, that advertise 3", eventually gets reduced somewhere in the system to like 2.5" or something similar.
5. Is the Hooker catback I've been reading so much about a TRUE 3" mandrel bent system? ie, does it stay 3" into the muffler, and start 3" at the cat? I saw something mentioned about a small dimple in the OTA pipe, but that sounds like not a problem. I dont want any restrictions anywhere, I believe an exhaust system is like the saying, a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. I DONT WANT a reduced down exhaust! That would defeat the whole purpose of the 3" pipe, and I may as well get a 2.5" mandrel bent Dynomax system that is at least consistent in diameter througout.

Can anyone help me out here with some input?
edit: If this IS a true 3" system, I'd like to order it. Can anyone supply me with a P/N for that specific kit?

Thanks!
Ben

 

I have mine sitting in my living room. The pipe is 3 inch all the way until the muffler. Out of the muffler it exits in 2 2½ inch pipes, into the quad 2½ tips. It does have a small dimple in the piping. No real worry. Its a good system and the 2½ inch tips are huge. I was suprised. Youd be happy with the setup.

 

Thanks, thats exactly what I needed to know! I knew they came out 2 1/2, just worried abou the IN side of the muffler, needed to be sure it was 3".

 

The Hooker cat back exhaust is sweet. Nice mild idle but when opened up it screams. You wont be disapointed!

 

Great! I get sick of hearing my flowmaster when just cruising around, it gets old.

FYI, I just ordered the hooker catback from Jegs, P/N 520-16822. I figure I can fix the little connection to the cat and hack it off, mate it up to a 3" extension to the ypipe. Can't wait to get it installed! Throwing my junk custom ypipe away and went with the mandrel bent hedman ypipe, I'll probly end up 'fixing' that too, but not sure yet. Should sound nce!

 

The only part of my Hooker cat back that wasn't 3" was the flange to mount to my stock cat (2.25"). However a 3" catco cat took care of that once the headers went in.

 

Doing the same thing 87Formula4bbl is. Waiting for the cat-back to come in from summit. It was on back order

 

I love my hooker catback... Great sound... easy to put on... Yeah it is 3" all the way into the muffler...

 

Phew! I just got done 'talking to the wife' about my little purchase. To my surprise and utter happiness, she is not upset! My day just got better!

Anyhow, cant wait to get this on and running.

 

My XLerator muffler is 3" in dual 3" out. My entire system is 3".

 

Got the sytem a few days ago. Looks NICE! A REAL exhaust here. IMO, worth every bit of what it cost. Can't wait to hear it still, hope to have it on by Saturday, and I'll try and get a sound clip of her.

I dont think it looks that big in the pic, but 3" is pretty dang big pipe. It's huge.

 

That looks great...can't wait till I get mine. First summit said april 1st now they say april 19th...I think I should get a discount!!!!

 

I see you got the 4 bolt cat version. I am not sure about the version Shifty got that reduces to 2.25, but I got the one for 86-90 TPI cars and it had a HUGE flare at the end to go onto the cat.

BTW: did you look into the muffler and notice that it's basically a huge hollow chamber with glasspacking around the shell? Opening my cutout barely gives me a tenth in the quarter, so I figure the Hooker 3 inch flows pretty darn good.

 

Yep, I got the generic version of the catback, I'll be trimming the oval flange off anyhow, and running a straight 3" pipe to the ypipe. Saved a good chunk of money with this system.

Ya I noticed the muffler! Haha, I was looking in it and I could practically see out the other side! Definitely no restrictions in that thing. Oh man, I've been itching to get this system on all week and tomorrow is my day, woohooo!

 

Dont feel bad, i ordered my Hooker cat-back from Jegs, and they on backorder too. They said there getting it April 1st.......so well see.

 

I just installed my Hooker 3" catback, and I cannot complain one bit!!! I have to mess around with my pass. side tailpipe a little bit, but other than that it was pretty straight forward.

Here's a little video I took-

http://bewilderment.geeksanon.ca/media/hooker.wmv

 

Hey the only thing i hate about this catback is that everyone and there brother is gettin it or has it. i remembered when Mark A. Sheilds first posted a video or sound clip of his hooker cat back back in the day and there were very few people who even knew about it. around my county i say theres atleast a dozen people that have it and half of them are my friends and got the idea from hearing my car. the only reason im keepin my hooker muffler on my car is to keep the cops happy until i give in and get the Spintech pro street muffler . its a good exuast system dont get me wrong but im just ready for a change.