i've got stock everything on my car and want to swap in shorty headers while keeping the stock exhaust. is it going to make my car much louder? or will it just sound deeper? kinda worried because cops here hassle everyone for loud exhaust. 350 tpi engine

 

Deeper note, generally a touch quieter at idle. Also depends on everything else you've got. I hope you go with a better catback soon after headers

 

I have a reverse question to that...I kept my stock exhaust manifolds as I have a daily driver. I want to add exhaust later and want to know which mufflers will work best with stock manifolds. Same motor...350 TPI.

 

Honestly, it really doesn't matter. You won't see more than a 5hp gain even if you hacked your exhaust off after the y-pipe. The stock exhaust manifolds and y-pipe are the most restrictive choking exhaust that GM has ever used, and it only gets worse with swirl-port heads!

 

Im not after power, more after a good sound...will the manifolds affect the different brands sounds very much?