Which would you choose and why, on a more or less stock-for-now 305 TBI?

I was sold on the GMMG, but everyone seems to have good things to say about the Magnaflow too.

However with both I have a couple concerns, one is that the 3.5" polished tips on the Magnaflow just might be a bit too much for me, as I like clean and subtle. The GMMG (not with the optional oval tips) fits this bill, but the pipes are only 2.5" which is a little small. Sure it may be ok for now on a stock 305, but at some point when I finish the 350 I have sitting around I may regret going with a 2.5" system, and an expensive one at that. Ideally I'd like non-polished, non-flashy 3" angle cut pipes sticking straight out and dumping pretty much right at the edge of the bumper, but I can't get that in either of these systems so...

The other concern is fitment. I know both of these systems, despite the websites showing fitments for 82-02 Fbodys, are for fourth gen cars and thus require modification to fit on third gens. I know the hangers need modifications--permanent modifications to the car or can the mods be reversed if I ever want to go back to stock?

Also how good is the quality of fitment since neither system is really officially designed for our cars? Just how much custom fab needs to be done to fit one of these two systems?

As for what I'm looking for in sound, I tend to like a raspier, nastier sound, even for a loser 305.

Which would you choose and why?

 

Sorry, I don't have a lot of answers for you since I've never dealt with either exhaust. But IMO, don't base your decision on exhaust tips. You can buy the ones you really want separately anyway, and they're just for looks.

Get the exhaust that will fit your needs in the future and be done with it. What may seem to be too much now, might not be enough later if you plan on keeping the car and making it your money pit (like mine lol).

For instance, I thought my lowly TES headers and Hooker cat back was plenty good enough when I had my 305 L69 in the car (and it WAS) - but now with a 400 and a blower, not so much. Now I need to spend a butt load more $$ upgrading my exhaust to keep up with my modding. -Just a thought.

 

Yeah the tips were more just a side comment. Neither system has exactly what I'm looking for but I'm more interested in the overall system than to let the tips bother me too much.

I do worry a bit about the 2.5" size on the GMMG. Though a lot of research has shown 3" is overkill more often than not, even in higher HP applications, and that a 2.5" system will be comparable, I still wonder if a 2.5" system will be enough for the long haul.

Both systems are quality no doubt, but I guess for no particular reason I've always considered the GMMG the king of the crop in catbacks.

 

Magnaflow...

1. CHEAP, 300 bucks at bandit

2. very high quality

3. sounds great

4. loud when you want it, but quite on cruise

5. one of the very best flowing systems


For the tips you could buy some at shucks for usaually 10 bucks each OR look into the texas speed f-body catback, Its much like magnaflow but cheaper, doesnt include tips, and non stainless steal. Which i know sounds like bad things but you dont always need the SS and tips.

 

FTR I'm not sure where the hell I was getting 2.5" from for the GMMG, it's a 3" intermediate and 2.75" exits so that will be just fine size-wise.

$300 for Magnaflow? The systems I'm looking at list at $600:

http://www.magnaflow.com/02product/s...ayproducts.asp

 

check out bandit exhuast, and sorry i ment 320 but still your not going find any better price.

 

They have it listed at $465:

http://banditexhaust.com/catalog/per...tem-p-450.html

Is this place legit? Never heard of them.

 

sorry, where it says name your price just put in something like 300 and there tell you the lowest they will go is 320, sorry for the confusion.

check out the tsp exhaust to though, its alot like magnaflow's catback as it uses an magnaflow bullet muffler but the piping (which is madrel bent still) i belive is made by tsp.

 

having had both exhausts on my car (link to videos in my sig) I say they are both great. The GMMG is a very well made system and supports my 370rwhp L98 Just fine. Its LOUD though which is the main reason I sold it. All it took to bolt on to my car was some 4thgen hangers in the back.

I recently sold the GMMG for Magnaflow 16829. Fits perfect, the tips look great compared to the obnoxious oval GMMG tips, and it sounds great. Its quiet on idle and crusing but has enough of a bark at WOT to be heard. Plus my butt dyno says I may have even picked up a little on the top end!

I had the GMMG for like 4 years and the magnaflow for like 4 weeks and I kinda wish I got the magnaflow 4 years ago.

I got mine for $360 shipped at autoanything.com which was the absolute cheapest I found. Kinda wish I knew about that banditexhaust website.

 

Do you by chance have part numbers for all the required hangers for the GMMG?

Also did you need fourth gen hangers for the Magnaflow?

 

my muffler shop had the 4thgen hangers laying around, and he reused those hangers for the 3rdgen magnaflow :shrug:

 

Is 16829 a third or fourth gen catback? Sure it comes up as the result when I search for year 1990, but if I called GMMG they would tell me their fourth gen system is for my car too even though it's actually a fourth gen system so I'm wondering if Magnaflow actually makes a dedicated third gen version of this or if they are just giving me a fourth gen system as the result for my car.

 

GMMG is a 4thgen system but will fit a 3rdgen.

magnaflow 16829 is 3rdgen specific.

 

It re-uses the stock passenger side rubber boot. The driver side requires a different setup. GMMG includes this with their system. But if you need one, just order an SLP exhaust hanger set from Summit. It's the same thing.

Here is what the regular exhaust tips look like on a 3rd gen.

 

damn that car is hot

 

Sure is. I especially like that the Firehawks didn't come with the dust catching side sills on the doors, that the regular F-bodies had in those years.

Here is an old video of me goofing around at night with the GMMG. (I swear I don't remember fidgeting that much at the stop light. )



Here is the driver side setup. This is the SLP hanger kit. The bolt holes even lined up. Nice and easy. I got GMMG to send me their exhaust hanger kit later on. It's the same setup. Only reason I asked was to get a newer passenger side setup.

 

The above video is with stock manifolds and a high flow cat.

 

im gonna go ahead and assume those tailpipes look dinky because the tires are so massive?

 

Doubt it, they are only 2.5" tips on the GMMG.

 

Gmmg all the way

 

That's cool. I thought Magnaflow stopped making the 3rd gen catback? Does anyone know the difference between the 4th gen and 3rd gen Magnaflow systems?

 

Have you considered a Borla rather than Magnaflow?

 

Yeah but I have no need for the Borla adjustable system...as an added small aside, the tips are hideous (I realize I can change these).

 

I have had a gmmg system on my daily driver for 2 years know and love it. It sounds sweet when your on the highway. love the rumble.

 

On that pic above, the tailpipes are 2.5" (as would be the oval setup) but the exhaust tips themselves are 2.75"

 

Basically just the hangers on the 3rd gen vs the 93-97 4th gen kit. The 98-02 setup has a different y-pipe setup, which makes connecting it "harder".

I have a TSP Rumbler on mine, for the 98-02 4th gen. The 93-97 4th gen kit woulda been an easier fit, but the previous owner had it installed, not me.

Here is a link to the videos of my stock manifolds, stock y-pipe, Hi-Flow Magnaflow cat & TSP Rumbler Cat-back exhaust.

Cheaper than all these other systems people are suggesting, sounds great & definitely a quality setup.

 

uh where does it say "Name your price" o.O? I looked all over site didn't see that anywhere lol

 

WTF! im so confused, I cant find it now either, i'll keep lookin on there website because i doubt they would remove that but I just cant find it.

I still cant find it, can someone help us!?

 

might've been just a one time deal for that week? idk. its still 360$ the cheapest place.
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As towards the post. I've been debating between this Magnaflow and GMMG cat-backs for a long time lol. I love GMMG's sound w/ shortys but the price is just too high and the tips look like ****. The Magnaflow's Sound is almost as good or better. and it has big stainless tips that standout which i like.

When i get the money i might try to order a set of headers/y-pipe from Dyno Don on here and then get the Magnaflow catbacks and highflow cat.

 

i doubt it because I saw where you can name your price during several month's period, that really sucks tho that they took it away.

And yah, go with the magnaflow and I second the badass looking tips.

 

idk yo,
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and yeh its probably what i'm going to be doing. but since i don't have a job atm its gonna be a while til i can start building the car :x

 

I gottca man, It doesnt make near as much (obvisouly) as an actual job but in the summer I was cars round the neighborhood and last yr I got a few $$$ from it but that doesnt happen in the winter haha.

Btw your camaro should sound really mean with that exhaust setup, that was my plans before, magnaflow catback, magnaflow cat, and hooker 2055's, I havent heard an sound video of anything like it but your future setup is something close so it should sound pretty close so definlty post up sound clips ASAP!

Im assuming you already have a cai, if not GET ONE! An good made cai should make a fair amount of power as your also letting the air out once you get that exhuast on and who knows, it might also help the sound to

If im not mistaken your camaro is black/red right? Just wanna throw it in, she looks REALLY nice from what iv seen, the red louvers look really good to.

Good luck on the car man.

 

If i had a truck i probably coulda plowed for some cash but parents couldn't loan me $ for a truck lol go figure
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Yeah I'll definitely post some Clips once i get this done. I made a few already on youtube ( 1st day i had it(dec5th09), and once in may just as a base for when i do get building to compare) <Yes i'm aware they all are sucky vids rofl, I believe whats on it now is just stock exhaust w/ Dynomax muffler and a gutted cat>

Exhaust clip from first day home
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_xiMGWy_uM

Walk Around from First day home
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmQK80AEq_0

Exhaust Clip from May
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lia1viZsuww
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Its those typical one good side, one bad side sort've thing. The Driver's side is great(which is why all my pics are of that side lol)

The Passenger side front fender is Dented in, Any scratch/spot on the car was rattle canned(thank god only passenger side lol). He lost 4 t-top sets from not locking them down so entire roof had to be rattle canned and same with the hatch. The Dent can be seen in vid 2 listed which is a walk around, since then I've removed the rear louvers and that's pretty much it lol, the rattle can is a little harder to spot i'l post some pics below.

And yeah its black and red good memory. Though it might change once i get enough $$ for paint. I always liked the Black and Gray sort've feel, with the SS Hood.

And i love the Raised white letter tires and Outlaw 2 rims.. but they don't go with the red.

-
I think i have a CAI idk, I'm not that mechanically inclined haha, I think i just got the stock thing, underneth is 2 k&N filters and 2 alluminum tubes bent so that the air goign past the fog lights goes up and in to the filters and motor


-
Heres some pics of the passenger side lol

 

The intake is the stock setup & does draw cool air in, instead of hot underhood air. If it hasn't already been touched, it could be made to flow more air through it.
https://www.thirdgen.org/ramair

 

yeah previous owner did that already ^ Tho I'm probably going to have to replace the ducts lol he used very short pieces of the aluminum ducts and placed them in there loose.. so they move around easily.

 

in the last video she looks really nice! Other then the dent on the fender I really dont see nothing that sticks out bad, my car is the same, its not near perfect, it has its fair share of dents and damage, but I still dont back down from the daily clean up on her, and I say the work pays off.

She sounds pretty good to, have you seen the my exhuast clip video? you will find it by going thru the youtube link on my sig.

What wax/polish you use?

 

yeah I've seen your vids. and tbh i havn't waxed or polished the car. Just did weekly washes, atm its garaged for winter.

 

well she looks pretty damn good tho
get yourself an bottle of nxt gen 2.0 tech wax by meguiars and she'll look even better

 

its the original paint/decals too. I woulda been able to restore all the paint if there weren't the flaws covered up by rattle can shame lol >.<

 

Still tho she looks good

You got anything else planned for her?

 

Going w/ the Dyno Don headers+Ypipie, and Magnaflow highflo and cat-backs.

I was looking at Edelbrock or TPIS TPI Runners, Edelbrock performer intake manifold, Edelbrock elite valve covers, Shift kit, have B&M megashifter in box(came w/ car). More down the line i was thinking Edelbrock line lock, custom burnt chip, New heads, injectors, either a zz4 or zz9 cam. and about 125shot of no2. It would probably put it in the 12s for 1/4mile.
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exterior - Xenon(or w/e) headlights, clear turn signals, SS hood, Gonna try to customize the 5" spoiler from hawk's thirdgen and put a 3rd brakelight in it. Depending on Color combo i use on new paint job i'll either keep stock rims w/ Blk+Red scheme or Outlaw 2s w/ Raised white lettered tires for Blk&Gray.
-
Interior - Grant steering wheel, LED lighting in stock locations, either refurbish the current gauge cluster or replace with Intellitronix Digital dash(coming out soon exact same design Nordskog had), 4th gen seats, Alpine head-unit wrapped w/ HUmount dash mounting kit, Alpine 4x6s and 4x9s in stock positions, Hidden antenna under dash. Change all Gray plastics to Black.


Thats all i can think off top of my head atm

 

Not saying this thread was hi-jacked or anything, but puma's
last post was over 2 weeks ago. Puma, what's your current status?

The 16829 is a Magnaflow 3" stainless cat-back system, which I got
from Summit for $465. I'm less than happy (to say the least) with
some fitment issues. When everything is finished, I'm going to do
a detailed post here, with before/after pics, and what the pitfalls were.

 

I'm still undecided.

It seems like with any exhaust system, half the people say it fit fantastically, and half the people say they had issues...

 

I like the GMMG system because:

1. It sounds frickin' awesome
2. It flows well
3. It hangs right in the stock exhaust location
4. It is high quality
5. You can order it with round stainless steel tips

I wish it were cheaper, though.

I like the Magnaflow because:

1. It sounds good
2. It flows well
3. It hangs in the stock exhaust location
4. The muffler is stainless steel
5. It's cheaper than the GMMG

I wish it sounded meaner, but that's me

Tough choice, but I'd go with the GMMG. I think choosing between these two systems comes down to how loud and mean you want your car to sound.

 

tbh i love GMMG better but Magnaflow sound great. And for half the price i think they're the better choice. 750$+ for the GMMG and 360$ for the Magnaflow at BanditExhaust.

 

Holy shoot that's cheap for the Magnaflow system.


OK I checked, and it shows $464.18 at the bandit exhaust website, but that's still way cheaper than the GMMG.

It says, "Join us and affiliate" on their website for wholesale prices...I'm not sure how that works, though.

 

Im tellin you the GMMG gets annoying and obnoxious as you get older....just food for thought

 

Maybe im not old enough yet cause it puts a smile on my face everytime I drive my car : )

 

it did for me too like the first 4 years then last year everytime I hit 2k rpms while cruising it was going BLAT BLAT BLAT BLAT like a crappy glasspack muffler and I just thought man its time for something new

 

Yeah it is pretty nice to have it quiet when you're just cruising....depends on your mood mostly, I guess. Magnaflow makes an excellent system, and so does GMMG.