New muffler and/or headers on a stock exhaust
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Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 37
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From: Minnesota
Car: 1987 Camaro
Engine: 305 CI of SBC Goodness
Transmission: 5 speed Manual
New muffler and/or headers on a stock exhaust
I'm trying to make heads and tails of this whole exhaust thing, and I was wondering about changing my muffler and maybe putting on headers. I have a 87 Camaro 305, and I'm looking for a better/louder sound. Can I do this and keep my stock piping, or is that a dumb idea? If it's not, what muffler should I look at? Thank you!
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 29
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From: Canada
Car: '91 Z28 Convertible
Engine: 305 TPI
Transmission: 5 speed
I have a 3" Catback with a Flomaster muffler and am still using the stock manifolds. I put back on the cat last year and it made a big difference in the sound to me. It wasn't that much quieter with the cat on but there it is noticable when you downshift especially. You won't get won't get any real performance from headers on a stock 305 as they breath pretty good from what I have read.
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 43,187
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From: Littleton, CO USA
Car: 82 Berlinetta/57 Bel Air
Engine: L92/LQ4 (both w/4" stroke)
Transmission: 4L80E/4L80E
Axle/Gears: 12B-3.73/9"-3.89
Depends on the 305.
TPI? Breathes pretty good.
LG4? Breathes through a soda straw.
If all you care about is the sound, get a muffler. If you want to improve performance, start with headers and work your way back.
TPI? Breathes pretty good.
LG4? Breathes through a soda straw.
If all you care about is the sound, get a muffler. If you want to improve performance, start with headers and work your way back.
Supreme Member
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,840
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From: Tigard, Oregon
Car: '86 Berlinetta
Engine: 350
Transmission: 700R4
Originally posted by Lumberjack
You won't get won't get any real performance from headers on a stock 305 as they breath pretty good from what I have read.
You won't get won't get any real performance from headers on a stock 305 as they breath pretty good from what I have read.
Peteman70:
The whole exhaust is probably the most restrictive part of the motor. If you are looking for performance, then you'll have to replace EVERYTHING in the exhaust, like Five7Kid said, eveything from the manifolds to the tailpipes will need to be replaced.
If all that you are looking for is a different/louder sound, then just put a new muffler on there and run with it.
Headers/y-pipe (they normally come as a package deal) will probably give you a louder sound with the stock piping, but you wont gain any performance from it. If you arent too concerned about performance, get a universal 3" Catco highflow cat from eBay, some cheap headers, and a 3" catback.
That should have you breathing pretty decent, and you'd be loooud espescially if you get the SLP Loudmouth system.
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