obviously I have a v6, more specifically, a 3.1 liter

I am currently running a stock catalytic converter, and stock pipe size from manifolds... I also have the dual outlet setup, single pipe from manifolds

I have the 80's series, dual outlet version, and I was told that the 40 series would flow much better than the 80... is this true?

I am going to get this shop to replace my cat with a high-flow version, and I just figured I'd match it with the right muffler...

the 80's series flowmaster sounds great to me, what I really want to know is if there are any performance gains by switching to the 40 from the 80, and can I keep the dual outlets? what sound difference will I get from simply switching the muffler to the 40 series, and what will happen when I switch that cat at the same time? I figure it will become more riccealicious once the cat has more flow, maybe I'm wrong.

also what cat would you guys recommend, and what size pipe from the manifolds to the cat, to the muffler, and outlets, for best sound and performance?

Thanks in advance,
Steven

 

40 Series would flow more and would sound more.I recommend Magnaflow High Flow Cats.

 

I got a delta flow high flow cat I'm pretty sure...I didn't really notice much improvement when I got it put on, granted I drove the car to the shop with the exhaust ending right where the cat would be so I was about as unrestricted as it gets...

 

You can go with Catco since their only like $70.

 

would it be worth it to go with the 40 series, when I already have a perfectly good 80's series?

 

Screw it then..just get the cat.

 

I have a 40 series and a magnaflow and everybody says it sounds like a V8

 

so everyone likes magnaflow cats? what do these run, because I was quoted $110 for parts and labor to redo the exaust from manifold to muffler with a high-flow cat... should I change the pipe size while I'm at it? I may get better outlets/tips while I'm at it to, just for looks/sound...

what's a good combo?

I think stock is 2.5" right? from engine to muffler, then outlets are slightly smaller...

 

No I belive are piping is 2.25 if you can go and get 2.5 like I did go ahead. It's easier for me to say it though, I don't pay for exhaust work because my girlfriends uncle owns a muffler shop, so when my headers come in I am giving it to him so he can weld the whole system together. But yeah magnaflow makes good cats, and the piping will help too.

 

I just called the shop and for $216 parts and labor for 2.5" pipe manifold to muffler, and the new convertor

$109 parts and labor catco high-flow convertor

$107 parts and labor on 2.5" pipe to rear, no change to dual outlets.

 

Get the parts and put them on urself, save ya lot of money there

 

I have a friend who does welding, I may just do that.

 

I made the mistake of getting the Flowmaster 2 chamber for my 1985 Blazer.
I shoulda gotten the three chamber, which is what you probably have.
Stay with what you have, muffler wise.
NOW IF ya want the best cat convertor you can invest in
Ask around at wrecking yards, for a low milage AC Delco Cat Convertor.
When I swapped in a 3.4 into my Blazer, I was givng the 1995 Camamro "Y" Pipe including the AC Delco CC.
My 1985 F Body previous owner replaced CC was "destroyed" so bad, it hindered performance. When it fell to the ground, it came out (the guts) in chunks!
Point being, I had this spare CC.
I wondered....
This 1995 F Body CC fit like a GLOVE!
Not only could I see how HUGH this thing was (2 1/2" inlet & 2 1/2" outlet) this thing just "Rebolts" right up to the 1985 stock exhaust. Absolutly zero modification. My street performance really shot back up, too. I hadn't realized how clogged was old CC.

Want real performance?
Contact this guy
fgerle@pacesetterexhaust.com
You are now intouch with Pace Setter Exhaust
They sell COMPLETE SYSTEMS from starting from exhaust manifold to CC & Intermeidate pipes & mufflers.
AND STREET LEGAL HEADERS FOR US, too.

Mr. Fred Gerle will steer ya in the right direction, too. PS Thank him for making us street legal headers, too!

Stay with the muffler you ow have, it's better choice of the two AND CHEAPER! BUY THE HEADERS WITH SAVED MONEY!

 

good point, but I hear that the price of the headers really isn't worth the performance gain

 

Best performance gain for the money is a 3.4 powertrain upgrade.
The PaceSetter Exhaust headers make that engine sing!
Headers alone is NOT gonna help an aged 2.8 or any aged engine, 3.4 included.
It's part of package that helps overall engine performance.
And they are finally available. Street Legal, too. Try pricing Corvette headers as comparison

 

well the 3.4 has 160hp stock, what do you get buy redoing the exhaust, headers on back?

 

THE GAIN OF WAY MORE EASY REVS ON ENGINE
Example!
I literally just replaced my used muffler that was installed a while back with a new muffler. Within last hour!
I also replaced the CC, installed several years ago.
Anyway, guess what I saw/fell out of inside this just replaced old muffler?
CHUNKS OF THE PREVIOUS BAD ALREADY REPLACED CAT CONVERTOR, BLOCKING, THE INTERNAL MUFFLER PIPING!!!!!!!! It traveled from CC to entry of muffler at rear of car, never exiting the tail pipe!
Needless to say, my car now revs so much more freely to the upper RPMS!
That's what headers will do. HELP ENGINE BREATHE!
Now power gain
A 60* V6 is a small engine
A 90* V8 is much larger.
The free flowing exhaust horsepower gain will always be incremential to engine size. That said, more horsepower gains will be on the larger engine.
Yes you will gain HP on the 60* mills BUT I'd say atleast 15 HP would be expected from installation of the headers. GREATLY depending upon subject engine health.
Horsepower gains cost money.
How much ya want horsepower gain & how much time & money you willing to spend?
I spent $800 upgrading to a 3.4 powerplant, $1200 on transmissions (so far I'm on second tranny), $200 or so on exhaust parts until I get the headers. My car cost me $300 to purchase, with a near dead engine. I'm right at 150-160 HP in this 3.4 solid engine. I can't wait to get my suspension fixed so I can enjoy these current horses, better!

 

at least you got your car cheap, otherwise I'd say you spent too much money on all that!

I thought that the 3.4 got 160 stock, no headers, stock cat and stock muffler...

do you mean 160rwhp?

 

No
160 HP at flywheel
You know something?
SOME PEOPLE SPEND MORE FOR THE CAR & STILL DO ALL THAT EXTRA SPENDING!
But let's not let your thread go there!
My Wife reminds me enough about that point anyway!!!!!
I really can't wait to get the Pace Setter Exhaust headers installed, to see what I really now got under the hood. Cause my Firebird does fly rather fast, using 3.4 power!

 

Karl,

Why do you like the 3 chamber vs. the dual chamber? What were the differnces you noticed?

 

QUIETNESS!!!!
I MEAN THE TWO CHAMBER IS REALLY RASPY/LOUD AND I ONCE GOT A NOISE TICKET ABOUT IT, too!
When I swapped in the 3.4 mill, I went thru the pipes & discovered one extra leak, that is now fixed, but serioulsy, I do like/would more enjoy the three chamber. I believe when I do replace that flowmaster (wish it would wear out!), I will definetly be going with the three chamber set up.
More cost up front but better enjoyment of coversations in car & such like that. Resonance is also another detail. The 2 chamber does give "resonance at a certain rpm frequency" & I'll bet the 3 chamber with that extra bit of "silencing" will counter act that noise.
Realize, also my Bazer has the muffler under middle of vehicle.
I'll bet this "noise issue" may be slightly different due to location of F BODY VEHICLE muffler at tail end of car.
I just had installed a Walker muffler on the V6 Firebird. Still gives a nice tone, I accept it.
I do need another CC, tho.....drat. I think I'm gonna price out an AC Delco unit.
It's not that my ears have aged, I grew up on my 1966 Corvette factory exhaust pipes & mufflers, Glass packs under the 1968 Firebird with a 400 engine, Hooker Aero Chambers in the 1967 Camaro.
Some V8 ENGINES always sound better than a 6 cylinder set up. I can't wait to try these Pace Setter Headers to see how well they add nice tone to the F Body.

 

Yes the location on the F-body helps a lot with the noise!!

Also in regards to one of your previous further up the page. Scrap yard in California are not allowed to sell CC's.

EPA belives there is to much risk of getting a bad and having the owner of the car driving around beliving that it working fine.

 

I want to hollow out my cat... would that perform much better? I can easily do that at my friend's shop.

If what this guy at the exhaust shop was correct, he told me the 40 series was dual chamber, and the 80 is four chambers

I have the 80 and it's great, when you are sitting behind the car at idle, you'd never tell me I had a 3.1... when I ask people what do they think I have... its always "at least a 350, bro"... I say... "how'd you know?" -- it's a shame my hood lever malfunctions in the middle of the conversation!

does anyone know the flow difference between an 80 and a 40? and I guess they are both dual-outlets? I can't stand the look of a single tail pipe

 

I THINK the 80 is a THREE chamber.
Flow or power is a difference of a hill of beans!
IF YOU HAD A 454 & supercharger, then you MAY notice difference!
BUT WITH THESE SMALL ENGINES, serious, stay with the 80 you'll be as pleased.
My new Firebird muffler is a dual outlet tipped set up.
My CC hallowed out itself! Damn!
Was quoted $140 for the new CC set up
Atleast I got until June or later for it to be replaced. Smog time.
I want to get a price quote on an AC Delco unit. Those just bolt right up, no welding or other "work".
BUT for fun I hope to get a smog check prior to that new CC installation, to just see results!

 

well, assuming I don't care about the legalities of it...

would a completely hollowed-out CC flow much better than a high-performance high-flow CC?

common sense says it would always be better to have the hollowed-out version, but I thought I'd ask anyways.

 

In all seriousness
ya got choices
Do it illegal (hallow it out, stick back up)
or
just replace that item with a straight piece of piping.
Flow better?
It's been proven that a GOOD Cat CONVERTOR cost maybe 3-5 HP.
It's your call. The horsepower loss with the NEWER STYLE CCs is so small, to cover your butt with smog checks it's a moot point to undo good a CC can offer the air.
NOW a CC design from 1975 to atleast 1990 period, that's a reason to remove those old design CC (from factory). They were so restrictive!
Myself I got a hallow out oune & I gotta get one.
I'm trying to find out cost for an new AC Delco unit, cause it is such a good design & it fits Firebird with no modifications, at all.
SO far I'm quoted $140 for parts & labor.
I can slip on the AC unit myself.

 

hrm the parts and labor on a new high-flow cat is cheaper than that...

people tell me that there is hardly any difference between CatCo CC's, and MangaFlow CC's...

 

The Cat Convertor parts and labor from my muffler shop is $140.
A good one, so told.
AC Delco unit, so far, no cost available to me. I await Mon. for phoning a local AC Delco parts store.

 

will the pacesetter headers make our car's sound more like a v8 or more like a 4 cylinder?

 

i think that headers would improve performance, but it would sound more like a 4 banger.

 

i have no idea whats goin on

 

I think that there really shouldn't be much difference between a catco cc and a mangnaflow cc

 

I have a magnaflow high flow cat.Cost me $100

Catco's run for like $60 or so?


I would not run a catco simply because its cheap...After all this is America..You get what you pay for.


Just take the whole ****er off...

 

hrm the catco was $109 parts and labor

the magnaflow was gonna be like $100 more... maybe I'll check out another shop.

 

I can source out another shop. Local paper has several options.
I've priced this AC Unit Cat converter (#25146927) & it runs.... ready......
Like $400-$500 dollars!
Yeah
GM parts direct.com
I've got several months
In end may buy a Pace Setter Cat. Converter unit as my way of thanking them for headers.
I have no idea what running headers on our rides sounds like.
I can say it'll perform bitchin! running headers by Pace Setter.
ONLY way around "sounding like a V6" in all seriousness is up displacement and that option includes running a V8!
My Blazer does sound nice running the FlowMaster now that I got more power (3.4) & cubic inches (207) in front of it!
Be happy ya finally got the option of Pace Setter Street Legal headers for our 60* V6!

 

I need the emissions tabs on mine All the brakets match right up for the power steering and what not right? I would get a magna flow cat.