I'm looking to add, above all else, sound to my '87 350 TPI. Without removing the cats or mufflers, what can I add to give me some really loud, crisp sound while getting nice HP and tq. gains at the same time? I'm looking for specific cat backs, headers, and any other applications that will help. Thanks a lot.

 

This is an Aftermarket Board question, but I'll give you my experience before you catch any flames. I had a full Hooker Super Comp system (shorty headers, Y-pipe, and cat back) with a 3" Cat-Co high-flow cat. A friend of mine had dynomax headers and a flowmaster cat-back. His car was 10 times louder than mine, a very chunky sound even at idle. My car at idle had kind of a lower snore like a sleeping giant. Once you hit the gas it would come alive, not quite as loud as the flowmaster and a little smoother sounding. Hope this helps. Ask on the Aftermarket board and see what they say. Sound is a fairly hard thing to describe over the internet.

 

This is my second Firebird and I had 350's in both with Flowmaster cat back and mufflers. Both were and are loud and impressive sounding. I have many people ask me what kind of exhaust I'm running because the love the sound.

 

Borla is too dang expensive, but is the loudest when you open them all the way up.

MAC has the throatiest sound from thier system.

Everyone has a flowmaster, not really different than anything else you've heard.

I would go MAC with 3" and larger out, dump the pipes at the ground, this will make them a little louder for the driver.

 

As far as performance goes, are Flowmasters generally good in that area? I know they give out good sound, but haven't really heard much about that aspect of it.

Also, will long-tube headers generally give better sound/performance than shorty's?

 

Long tube headers generally give better performance if you can fit them. But you should pick a well made one and choose whether 1-5/8" or 1-3/4" primaries better suit your motor. I don't know the performance gains from Hooker versus Flowmaster, but I can tell you that I was very very happy with my system which was reasonably priced. And my car was faster than my friends with the flowmasters I don't know if anyone has any hard dyno or track evidence on either system. Not to sound too ricerish but I think you'll be happy in the long run if you choose an appropriate sized system based on facts and the manufacturer based on sound.