i kinda want to put a set of hooker 2055's on my car first but maybe i should get a catback first? what do you guys think? the exhaust i have on now is a 2.5 inch with a gutted cat and manifolds. the only problem is money i can do one or the other right not both, and i don't want to wait to buy it all at once.

 

I would say to invest in a catback system first as it will allow your engine to breath better. You can always install the headers later and the catback is much cheaper.

 

i had my headers installed first, and they welded a bracket onto the y pipe to bolt to the stock cat. when I put the cat back on, lets just say that it was "fun" to take off. I'd recommend catback first based off of my experience, but it'd probably be easiest to do them at the same time

 

The headers first. Hot Rodders rule of thumb. Buy the most expensive thing first, that way it is all down hill from there.

Hooker 2055's are a great choice.

 

Yup 100%

 

I'm in the same boat. What kind of fabrication would it take to get 3 inch collectors + 3 inch high flow cat into the stock catback?

 

I vote for cat-back first on the basis that aftermarket kits tailored to your car will have the nice 3" mandrel piping combined with the necessary flange and mounting features to mate to your stock cat. This requires simple hand tools without any fabrication. Although I agree that your biggest gains are with headers there will also be fab work involved. It isn't a big deal in the end but for those that don't have the ability to do the fab work themself and or pay someone to do it are at a bit of a disadvantage. You can run your new headers and weld a nice 3" cat to the end of the Y-pipe but you will need an reducer to mate your 3" cat to your existing 2.5" cat-back (which will likely result in cutting off the nice pre-fabbed cat flange that is provided). If you have plans to replace the entire exhaust with a 3" system in a relative short amount of time it is often better to wait and replace everything at once. This way you can buy all your parts (cat-back, cat, and headers) tailored to a '86 or later TPI car. That way all components will have 3" piping and 3" mating surfaces without any reducers. Everything will bolt up with minimal fab work. This can be the cheapest way in the end.

 

well whatever i do first will be within the next week or two and then the next step probably won't be until june or july. hopefully