I know one of the first mods should be exhaust. I have a 92 RS camaro (305 tbi) headers and exhaust systems are expencive. im in college and paying for it but i know i need an exhaust stystem and i dont want to spend 600 bucks on a full exhuast styem plus instalation, but i got buddys that could prob install it. Does anyone know of o cheaper exhast stystem, where to get it (who makes it) and i know headers are prob most important cuz they let the engin breath but how much would just a cat back exhaust do. prices and suggestions would be much apprishiated. thanx

 

I have a 92 RS and I have heard many stories about headers. Ede;brock will give you a good bang for your buck but nobody that has them seems to like them, I am waiting on some SLP's but they are pricey

 

Personally, I think cat-backs kits are over rated and over priced. It is less expensive while leading to the same power gains to put one together yourself so to speek. Most exhaust shops can make you a system for much less $$$. Here would be my recomendation as far as exhaust on a budget goes and approx prices:
Muffler: Flowmaster or Borla, 3'' inlet........$100
Gutted 3'' cat if no emmisions..........$10 (junkyard cat)
Highflow cat " if smog legal..............$100 (I think, may be less)
3" aluminized pipe............check local shops for price

As far as headers go, it is something to think about. For one, I highly recommend getting them ceramic coated. I know it is more expensive, but I honestly think that it would be worth it to wait and save the extra money to but them. They won't rust on you and will keep engine bay temps cooler and also lead to a better scavenging effect. I really wish I would have done that. They are more expensive, but I have seen them new go on ebay for less than $300 (Hedman).
Also, if you plan on keeping the 305, then go with 1 5/8" tubes with 3" outs. If you plan on a 350, do yourself a favor, and go with 1 3/4" tubes. Long tubes are also something to keep in mind depending on your overall goals. It's also worth it to spend the $40 on copper blow proof gaskets, trust me.
You can find more info on the exhaust board. Best of luck

 

for cheap good headers get the headman ones... but remember you have to buy the Ypipe too.. (another $100)

as far as catbacks go.. you can get a muffler shop to make one.. but it will have crimp bends.. and its dependant upon the skill of the person who is making it.

or you can spend the $200 for a catback kit, and bolt it on in the driveway...

either way, its roughly the same price..

and yea, i think for the most part catbacks are overrated too.

 

Get the hooker 2055 supercomp headers. They are the best out there for our cars. As far as a carback, get whichever you think sounds the best.

 

i have a flowtech header and y pipe 210.00 plus a 167.00 for the 3" cat back from dynomax... it was for the tpi car but it works for ours!!! now these headers have no air tubes . works pretty good!! i would try to fab some kind of true duals!!! use the cheap 15.00 cherrybombs they are now perforated instead of louvered. which means they have little round holes!!! the louvers are like a cheese grater and slows you outgoing air down!!! lovered ones are smooth! just an idea!!

 

True duals are hard to fab up. But I'm gonna try it. I plan on ditching the y-pipe and running two 2 1/2" pipes and two gutted cats or high flow cats to right before the rear axel. Hoping to throw a H pipe in there somewhere, should be ok I still plan on running both pipes on the passanger side. No mufflers (I live in the country, hopefully no problems with the sound police). I would like to run them over the rear axel, but all the exhaust shops around here are to afraid to do it. They say it can't be done with 2 1/2" pipe, even though I have seen pics of it done over on the exhaust board.
I currently have an exhaust dump, but it is on the 2 1/2" y pipe right before the cat. I think the single pipe is holding me back as well as the lack of any scavenging effect. Oh well, it still yields a lot of gain as opposed to running it through the single 2 1/2" cat and back

 

That is the cheapest header/cat back combo out there. Brand new and not custom that is. Now quality issues and performace a side that set up will yeild you nice results on a 305. If your old exahsut can make it through another winter hang on to some cash and buy some coated 1 5/8" headers of your choice and get a slightly better cat back. High flow cats are expensive. I got a universal 3" catco and it was 245 bucks. I know you can go a little cheaper but a good quality high flow cat from catco, random tech, or dynomax is costly.

 

do not under any circumstances gut the cat!!! it does not work because it creates more turbulance and slows the exhaust flow!!! it you want to appear to have cats shove a pipe through the cat and weld it in

 

Dynomax cat-back $166

Hedman headers $319

Highflow 3" cat $130

TOTAL = $615

You're also probably going to need some good bolts and nice gaskets which will add about $50 or so to that. But, if you're willing to wait, ceramic coated headers would be the way to go.

(note: my example is emissions legal)

 

Just to throw in some extra info here, but 3 inch tubing is critical when getting headers. I believe there was a member here who dynoed their car just by adding the STOCK tpi 3 inch exhaust and gained 12 rwhp on a stock L03. If you can get those kinds of gaines going with a stock 3 inch system, then you will definitely get reat results with 3 inch headers on back. It's just not worth it to put on cheap headers with a small y pipe when you won't see nearly the same gains as you would by going with a complete 3 inch system. Spend the extra money and do it right.

 

when you say 3" system, are you talking about the y pipe and tailpipes, too? as i understand it, the choke point is the single pipe back to the muffler. a 3" pipe will flow as much air as two 2 1/4" pipes, so it'd be a waste to have a "y" pipe bigger than 2 1/4". if you do, any benefit will be choked out when you get to that single 3" pipe.

i bought my car with stock manifolds and "y" pipe, a single 3" catco converter, a 2 1/2" pipe back to a flowmaster muffler with two 2 1'4" tailpipes.

i'm getting ready to test fit my slp 1 3/4" headers before sending them off to jet hot to be coated. it's a dual converter system, with 2 1/4" pipes going to the converters. i'm going with two 2 1/2" random technology converters (they're the same price as the 2 1/4" converters and i figure the slightly larger diameter may minimize any restriction they offer.). from the converters, i'll go 2 1/2" to a "y" to 3" back to the muffler out to two 2 1/2" tailpipes.

i haven't decided on a muffler yet, i'm getting kinda tired of that "flowmaster sound".

 

not all shops have bending equiptment that crimps, most of the shops that i got around my state that being Az use mandrel bending machines. I agree you can make your own for alot less that is if you have welding and cutting equiptment. and have the necessary tubes bent the way you need. also cat-back systems are way over priced. cheap LT's wont fit with a standard tranny, and i dont think that even the most expensive will. i had to get shorties to gain enough clearence for the clutch master Cylinder. i was told if the headers are for a TPI engine get them instead cause they have 3" collectors and they will fit the tbi. i plan on going to true duals even with shorties if i can find the material i'd like to weld up a flat exhaust system like what nascar uses, to be used after emissions testing, of course.

 

Those are all great ideas, do you have emissions where you live? All I did was buy the edelbrocke headers for about $350 with shipping, and I went to a muffler shop and had them weld in a single 3'' pipe into a 3'' in and out glass pack and dump it before the axle, it only cost me $75. I gained .6 seconds and it sounds meaner than hell.It was hard to find a place to do it for me because I do have emissions,but well worth it. So all in all it only cost me $425 for .6 off my ets.If you do have emissions I wouldbt reccomend it unless you have a friend that can get you a sticker like I do.Good luck.

 

yes, by 3 inch i meant the single 3 inch pipe.

 

also mandrel bends are far superior to crush bends . a 2.5 inch crush bend does not flow as good as a slightly smaller mandrel bent one!!! go with mandrel bends if you can!