Hey everyone, I just got an 88 GTA, I used to have a scoungy ol' 89 V6 Firebird 3 years ago and finaly found a great 3rd gen.

The car has no exhaust from the cat converter. The car is completely stock. I have been digging through exhaust forumns here and found great info on dual exhaust systems people built.

I want to put a good true dual exhaust system on the car but I still have some questions:

What parts will I need to build the system besides brand new headers, mufflers and x-pipe? I do not have a good lift to jack the car up so I will probably have to pay some cash to get the stuff tossed on there.

If anyone has any suggestions on how to get started please give me a hint. Otherwise I might just settle for a cat-back system for now until I have more knowledge in setting up a true dual system.

Thanks!
Dan

 

You want to build it yourself? That will be difficult to do if you cant get the car up in the air. You can probably buy all the tubing peices you'll need at most parts stores though. Also, for the record, there is no need for an X-pipe. In fact, a "true dual" setup does not have an X- or H-pipe in the system at all.

 

Thanks for the help, I was thinking about getting SLP Headers for the build, but I was wondering, do I require to have my catalyc converters on for emmission testing? Its an 88 so I'm not quite clear. I am in NY by the way.

Thanks,
Dan

 

I think it depends on where you live - I live in Maryland, and we are required to pass an emissions test still for all cars newer than 1977. I passed emissions with my cat installed. Some states have been reported to still do visual inspections (NJ maybe?), in which case they might miss the AIR system being removed, but would definitely catch a missing cat......

 

I don't know if you've seen it or not but jump in the search and look for willie's setup i know there were a bunch of posts on it when he finished and he listed pretty much everything it took to do the install.

Tim:lala:

 

Thx, i sure will, what do u guys recomend for headers? Since i'm doing the exhaust I might as well do the whole thing.

 

If you have the AIR system and want to keep it, you can't beat the Hooker 2055's - I installed them a few weeks ago and they look awesome. It seems that many of the folks on this forum like these - they have an especially nice Y-pipe. I had mine Jet-Hot coated and they turned out great.

 

Damn, I have no owner's manual, how can I find out if I have the AIR system? The car is a 88 TransAm GTA, everything stock. Can you guys give me a hint? I bet its something obvious that I just did not see, hehe.

Dan

 

on the stock manifold there will be small metal tubes coming off of it to the top, I'm 99% sure yours has it. I got Edelbrock longtubes and well I would have probably gone for some shorties, because now i cant Lower the car very much.

I've got Spintech catback, and i love the way the car sounds now....also there was a very noticible increase in power after i got it all installed.