So first off, This system is going on a 1991 T/A GTA 5.7L

It has the original exhaust minus a 3 in custom bent (stainless i think?) cat-back + unknown flowmaster muffler. This part is welded to the y-pipe (I guess I will grind it off)

My goal is to complete the whole exhaust system all at once (Go big or go home :P) I want it to be pretty loud but also sound good. I also want to hit the track sometimes too so thats why I chose to put in a cut-out as well (and I want it to just be insanely loud sometimes). This is also the beginning of my "engine modifications" aka bolt ons because I want the option of going back stock if need be.

I have no access to welders and I don't want to pay to have anything installed, so a shop is out of the question.

Here's what I have so far...
Headers-Hooker 2055
Y pipe- Hooker 2055
Cat - Catco high flow
Cat Back- Unknown, just not borla because of cost
Cut out- Unknown, But definetly electric (so I can close it before the cops catch me :P)

Here are my questions:
Will I need to cut any exhaust to fit in the cut out?

Where is the best spot for the cut out.. I'm thinking between the cat back and the y-pipe.

Will it be possible for me to do this without welding?

Any suggestions for cut-outs or cat-backs?

Finally, Any other suggestions/comments such as "you are absolutely nuts for trying this without welding it!"


EDIT:
And about header coatings, I was thinking about wrapping them to save some money on coatings, and i think they look badass :P

Is this a bad idea?

 

The spot you are thinking about is the best spot. Take out the cat and put the cut out in it's place. The slight bend going under the car where the cat is mean with a cut out the exhaust will flow straight out. The other spot is at the end of the intermediate pipe right before the axle. You don't have to weld. You could use a butt connector style band clamp to hold it in place. This was you could swap the cut out and cat back and forth. So far as brand I think most will do the trick.

 

Thanks a lot for the help.

But in Maine, where I live, they do emission (very lax but i'll tell you what they do) First is a visual, which it would fail without cats. Then they check to see if the cel is on, which it would be, and then you fail.

 

What I did was put a cutout right after the y pipe. It netted me a .3 better.

 

did you weld yours in? Thats where I plan on putting mine but i dont know if cut-outs and y-pipes are slip fit or not.

 

Its a weld on

 

It looks like that catco cat has one slip fit (for the y-pipe i assume) and a three bolt flange. I searched and found thats the only cat that "fit". Is there another cat that has dual slip fit and a cat back that is also slip fit?

 

Do you still have a cat installed. I have an 89 Camaro wit a single cat and I am trying to install a cut out and stay legal. Your help is appreciated.