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Exhaust System Exhaust Q & A

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Old 09-26-2018, 01:50 PM   #1
AlloyPony
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Cat-back vs. muffler swap

What are your thoughts on having new mufflers welded in place of the factory mufflers vs. buying a full 2.5" cat-back kit?

I'm currently running a Mac 2.5" H-pipe into the stock 2.25" cat-back. I'm trying to decide if the $500 is worth it for a 2.5" cat-back, or if there would be no performance difference over keeping the 2.25" piping and having different mufflers welded in.
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Old 09-26-2018, 01:54 PM   #2
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Re: Cat-back vs. muffler swap

Since your motor is basically stock, then all you are doing is adjusting the sound when changing mufflers or cat-back. I say if you like the sound now then leave it alone.
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Old 09-26-2018, 02:30 PM   #3
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Re: Cat-back vs. muffler swap

I agree with Sutyak I just put my factory cats back on after 14 years of being off the car (i removed the factory exhaust at about 1,500 miles in 2003) I have noticed no HP drop just a noise level drop. The car is quiet now with a nice little rumble but nothing like what it was with a catted Bassani X-pipe and exhaust which is what I put on it back then. Currently I have the MRT mufflers and pipe after the factory cats and I feel it sounds like it did with the stock mufflers. I still have the factory mufflers and pipe but had to cut the pipe to remove it. The rolled tips are what i really like about the factory exhaust the MRT is rolled also just a larger diameter.
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Old 09-26-2018, 07:24 PM   #4
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Re: Cat-back vs. muffler swap

I would love to find a complete factory set up to go back too.
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Old 09-27-2018, 07:55 AM   #5
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Re: Cat-back vs. muffler swap

In the end it comes down to grand total price, and if you got a deal on a cat back and are installing it in your driveway, it's usually worth it(especially for us North easterner's dealing with 15 year old, crusty, rusted metal).

If you know what you want, and aren't going to be spending more and more chasing a certain sound then the catback is one and done. If mufflers are $70 a piece let's say, that's $140. Maybe $80-100 for a shop to cut your old mufflers out and put new ones in. You're looking at $220-240. That's a decent discount vs most catbacks, but what's another $250 if you're keeping the car for years? Just wait for the catback you want to pop up used, and save yourself some money. You already have the midpipe, may as well match it up(plus, you get a good size set of exhaust tips). Not that the mufflers aren't the bulk of the gains, but it also helps each mod moving forward if you have plans.
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Old 09-27-2018, 05:05 PM   #6
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Re: Cat-back vs. muffler swap

Quote:
Originally Posted by AlloyPony View Post
What are your thoughts on having new mufflers welded in place of the factory mufflers vs. buying a full 2.5" cat-back kit?

I'm currently running a Mac 2.5" H-pipe into the stock 2.25" cat-back. I'm trying to decide if the $500 is worth it for a 2.5" cat-back, or if there would be no performance difference over keeping the 2.25" piping and having different mufflers welded in.
i've got some lightly used magnaflows if you're interested.
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Old 10-01-2018, 10:00 AM   #7
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Re: Cat-back vs. muffler swap

Thanks guys. I'm not necessarily looking for a certain sound. I'm more interested in squeezing power out of this thing. I figured that 2.5" pipe running into 2.25" pipe isn't doing my car any favors. And there is a small chance I will be doing some more power adders this winter. I was just wondering if anybody had experience with testing pipe sizes to see what the difference really is. If it's 5 HP I'll pass but if there's say, 20 or so to be found I'd go for the full cat back.
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Old 10-03-2018, 07:31 PM   #8
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I could tell a difference in my Impala when I upped the exhaust size. These 4V’s should move enough air to tell a difference too.


Pick your poison.
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