So I really want to make my car sound MEAN
 

Well, I have been driving my car for 3 years with Loudmouth and an SLP Ypipe. I want a change

So I need some suggestions for a setup, here is what I want to change and try to maintain

Headers - Longtube is a must but I dont want to pay 1200 bucks for em
Dual cutouts (electric) - yes, two cutouts one at each header so that I can run open headers when I want the car loud!
Exhaust - Catback exhaust with a ypipe with cats. I need something that is suitable for daily driving with cats to keep it legal.

The idea behind this setup will be a sensible tone for everyday driving. The dual electric cutouts will handle my needs for loudness especially at the headers. I dont know if i really need cats or if I am just going to run O2 simms and have it programmed out. I was thinking that I would run cats since i have the cutouts to go around them when i want to make the car scream

I know this is a long post but I am very serious about doing this setup soon. I figure my exhaust budget will be 1000 - 2000 for the entire setup so I want to see what you guys can come up with for ideas because I really dont know where to start.

if you wanna keep it cheaper and a little simpler, dont install cats. like you said get em programed out and all that. i have no cats and knock on wood not light and it will pass OBD2. other than that, if you have a catback behind longtubes with no cats its really not insanely loud especially if you have a standard catback like magnaflow or something with a stock style muffler. if you do like loudmouth tho or bullets, thats when it gets really loud. good idea with the cutouts tho. good luck, cant wait to see what you do.

What about Magnaflow or Hooker, both sound pretty mellow at driving speed's but really open up at WOT.

I would go over to LS1Sounds.com to see what you like. I know Corsa would suite you perfectly but then again I know you wouldn't want to spend that kind of money.

I thought you put a chammbered muffler in place of the loudmouth one?

Pacesetter Ceramic coated headers- $400
Pacesetter 3'' ORY- $120
Locking Header bolts- $60
(2) Chambered mufflers- $130
(2) Electric Cutouts- $380

I would recommend using your existing exhaust with two chambered mufflers in place of the resonator and then this list of parts. This would also leave you with about $100 of your budget for misc. clamps and stuff. Believe me...it sounds mean as hell!!

I have an 18'' Sweet thunder muffler sitting in my closet.....maybe i could just buy another one and use those?

Basically I am gonna figure out all the parts I want and buy them over a period of time, then i will take them somewhere and have them installed since I cant weld.

You could just put it in place of the resonator on your loudmouth.

Ya but I really want headers.....thats the main idea behind me changing everything

I absolutely love the setup I have right now:

Pacesetter LTs
custom true dual setup (over the rear axle)
no cats
bullet mufflers (Magnaflow I think)

I've always like the true dual sound.....but I never really liked the idea of dumping it before the axle because its just too loud and I like my exhaust tips. Of course, it wasn't cheap. :banghead:

Definetly use your Sweet Thunder in place of the resonator. I bought two 18" Sweet Thunders and used them for my custom job. There is no sweeter sounding system than a LT1 with a well set up chambered exhaust. Believe me....I know it all too well:D

You want it to sound diffrent? save up some more money and get a blower:)

heh, i went to speed inc today and talked to them about a total price for a pacesetter setup, with electric cutout, ORY, with hooker catback

about 1500 - 1800

which means I wont do it....thats just to much god damn money. I think I might just have my sweet thunder welded in and be happy with it for a while.

What, you don't want to spend $2,000 on an exhaust?!

I agree completely with you, just buy the headers, ory, and hooker catback and install them yourself.

or just run open manifolds... either way;)

Well, I had a buddy weld in my sweet thunder muffler, and it got jsut a little itty bit quieter when idle and low RPM. It did however get rid of the high rpm raspyness that everyone hates.

I have decided that a full exhaust is just way out of my price range at the moment and I will probably end up putting 3.42 gears in the rear instead to make the car a little more "fun" to drive.