I need exhaust help!
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Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Florida
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I need exhaust help!
Okay i have $550 that i can spend right now, is this gonna be enough to buy it and pay for installation? i dont wanna wait until my next paycheck i want to get it as soon as possible...but i need some help can some1 tell me what would be the best for my 97 3.8 automatic? i hear about different kinds of pipes, stuff about cat back ETC..and i dont know much about it and i want to really bad.... and i just want to make sure i buy a good one,thats gonna sound really good and give performance.... And one last question do i have to buy one 1st and than bring it to the shop? or can i just show up and they order it? Thank you!
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i dunno about installation it depends on the shop. but if you want a flowmaster american thunder then tat'll fit your budget. also a lm should as well. but def. no borla. and some shops are dealers for exhaust companies, i know this one place over here is for flowmaster, but it's cheaper probably to get it online.
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Originally Posted by 1hottcamaro
Caleb where u at, i know u would be able to help on this one!
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honestly it isnt that hard to install a catback. theres only two hangers on the stock exhaust, one for over the axle, one for the tip. just unkook them, unbolt the pipes from the cat, and cut it all out. the new catback will reuse the old hanger locations and will clamp together. its not worth having a shop do something this simple, unless you wanna have it welded.
a good and cheap catback is the american thunder. i'm going for sound, and flowmaster offers excellent sound. good thing is with the 3.8 theres a built in resonator after the cat, so it isnt very raspy, it sounds really nice. it wont give as much or a performance gain as say a borla, but at less than 300 bucks its worth it. you might wanna look into a magnaflow, i think they offer better performance gain if thats your thing.
and sorry, i was at the auto show all day
a good and cheap catback is the american thunder. i'm going for sound, and flowmaster offers excellent sound. good thing is with the 3.8 theres a built in resonator after the cat, so it isnt very raspy, it sounds really nice. it wont give as much or a performance gain as say a borla, but at less than 300 bucks its worth it. you might wanna look into a magnaflow, i think they offer better performance gain if thats your thing.
and sorry, i was at the auto show all day
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how was the show? btw i got my light bulbs in 2day..my left headlight went out and its been rainy, so today when it quit raining i printed out ur directions u sent me and i got them in! thank you!
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Exhausts are so one of the 'personal opinions' things. I don't really like flowmaster, i like magnaflow better, and the loudmouth(but the lm is one of those ones that some people will love, some will hate). Borla is very expensive, won't fit your budget. So, I'd say go for a magnaflow. They are very nice. That's what I considered before i got the lm.
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I wish I had a clip of mine, because it sounds amazing for a six cylinder, though I'm tempted to hear how much quieter it is with that snail now in the way of exhaust flow. 
My recommendation, Stef:
If you can afford them, RKSport 3.8L headers are definitely a good idea. Ceramic coated is recommended. If you're able to run without a catalytic converter in your state, do it, and install an O2 sensor simulator. I picked mine up from www.thunderracing.com. Otherwise, pick up a high flow catalytic converter, and make sure it's a 3" in/out so it fits up to the next step in the system...
...the Cat-back; Get the Flowmaster American Thunder series part number 17199. It's designed for the LS1, but it fits ours cars just fine. This is a 3" mandrel bent system. When you first get it installed, it will be fairly loud. As you drive it, the system will break in, and the sound will mellow out. It will take a thousand miles or so, but it's DEFINITELY worth it. When the car comes out, it'll be further muffled by the snail, but when I go start it for a mid-winter check-up, I'll make sure to get a sound recording for you.
My recommendation, Stef:
If you can afford them, RKSport 3.8L headers are definitely a good idea. Ceramic coated is recommended. If you're able to run without a catalytic converter in your state, do it, and install an O2 sensor simulator. I picked mine up from www.thunderracing.com. Otherwise, pick up a high flow catalytic converter, and make sure it's a 3" in/out so it fits up to the next step in the system...
...the Cat-back; Get the Flowmaster American Thunder series part number 17199. It's designed for the LS1, but it fits ours cars just fine. This is a 3" mandrel bent system. When you first get it installed, it will be fairly loud. As you drive it, the system will break in, and the sound will mellow out. It will take a thousand miles or so, but it's DEFINITELY worth it. When the car comes out, it'll be further muffled by the snail, but when I go start it for a mid-winter check-up, I'll make sure to get a sound recording for you.
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hey torque dog have you had problems with your header flange leaking? i heard that the rksport ones do.
anyway steph, the magnaflow has a deep growl, but when gettin on the throttle i've heard on a v6 its still quiet. brian and derek both have it and i've heard sound clips. its quiet. the flowmaster is cheaper and has a distinct tone. very american muscle!
go to www.ls1sounds.com for a good idea of what each one sounds like.
anyway steph, the magnaflow has a deep growl, but when gettin on the throttle i've heard on a v6 its still quiet. brian and derek both have it and i've heard sound clips. its quiet. the flowmaster is cheaper and has a distinct tone. very american muscle!
go to www.ls1sounds.com for a good idea of what each one sounds like.
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I Had a 3.4 I would not recomend the Flowmaster for your car it is real raspy maybe a SLP, FlowTech, or my fav. Borla it will run about $550 and I put mine on myself so if you can find anyone who knows anything about a car they could do it for you its not hard at all.
