Hey everyone, I have a completely stock 87 camaro Iroc Z28 350 TPI and want to start doing some basic upgrades. So obviously the number 1 spot to start it the headers and exhaust. So I was thinking of doing a complete upgrade and totally removing the cat because I do not need to do emissions anymore. Would removing the cat effect anything? Also, what do you think the best combo of header/exhaust is for this car. Thanks for you input

Nick

 

Headers: The best headers are by Dyno Don. Available from Don on this very website or from Top-downsolutions.com 1 3/4 primaries and coated. The best Y-pipe out there (more parallel flow rather than a T-shape like other brands). Available with or without AIR tubes. Single or dual cat choice as well.

Cat: Won't make a lick of difference. Lingenfelter tested a stock LT1 with and without a cat. 4 HP difference. Heck, a throttlebody bypass mod will get more than that. My car lost power when the cat came off. Made more when it went back on. I seem to be unique in this. But the 1970's days of restrictive cats are long gone. High flow 3" cats are around $150 (Catco or Magnaflow being the popular ones)

Catback: Your choice. Cost vs material vs sound.

As far as what to do? The headers will gain the most power but affect the sound the least (if nothing else is done). The cat delete will make it sound louder, but do nothing for performance. The catback will make it sound better and louder and do some for performance.

 

what do you want the exhuast to sound like and how loud?

personally i would love to do the following combo.

headers: hooker 2055 headers (includes y-pipe) (summit racing)

cat: magnaflow cat (bandit exhuast)

catback: magnaflow (bandit exhuast)

This combo should be very deep sounding, milder on idle/cruise but loud and mean up high and should be about as free flowing as they get without spending rediculous amounts.

Good luck (also follow reid's info also)