alright i am ready to spend some money on a full exhaust system... headers,downpipe,hiflow cat, and a 3" catback..... i just need to know which of these will give me the best performance and wont have any issues with them.... warrnty is not a issue... give me your ideaers

 

what are your plans for the car? If you only are going for 300-350hp then get a full 2.5 exhaust. If you want big power use the 3" exhaust.

 

I manage a collision center and had my local muffler shop make a cat-back system using a Magnaflow muffler. I bought a downpipe from zzperformance.com I have had this combination on for a month now without any issues. It is a waste of money to buy an exhaust system when most muffler shops can make one that is better for less. It cost $353 to have them install my downpipe, build and install my cat-back.

 

all the exhaust shops around here cant manderl bend 3inch tubing ... they can only do 2.5

 

Mandrel bend on a cat-back is not going to matter. It only makes a difference on the header and downpipe. Mandrel bending is just a way for companies to get away with charging you $600 for an exhaust system. I know I am going to get flamed for stating that, but it is true.

 

If you are rich get the Vibrant header and DP and a Corsa catback. 1500 maybe.

 

o i didnt know that


wow my pockets arent going that deep 1500

 

600 for a good quality, easy to install, great sounding exhaust. Like Corsa =)


Also mandrel bends are important so you can bend a pipe while minimally affecting the diameter.

 

I essentially had my muffler shop build the Magnaflow cat-back system for $353. If you looked at my system and looked at the Magnaflow system, it is the same thing. That is all I am trying to say.

You are correct about your description of Mandrel bends, but it does not make a difference on the cat-back. Downpipe and headers yes, but not the cat-back.

 

has anyone had any luck with the megan exhaust yet?

 

my friend actually ordered the megan exhaust and ill let you know when he installs how it sounds. Also mandrel bends are IMPORTANT!! Not having the same diameter throughout the whole exhaust will kill the performance.

 

Not on the cat-back.

 

explain this one to me

 

crate engine has great price on there gm performance exhaust i am going to go with that

 

i think the gm performance catback is 2.25" in diameter correct me if im wrong.

 

When the exhaust fumes are initially released from the motor they are coming out at a very high velocity. (duh) Mandrel bends are important on the headers and downpipe because they are the first items to have to dispose of the exhaust fumes. By the time the air passes through the header/exhaust manifold, downpipe and catalytic converter and begins traveling through the tailpipe, it has been slowed down so much through the other chambers that it does not matter if the tailpipes are mandrel bent or not. Of course a 2.5 in cat-back is going to work better than a 2.0 in, but whether or not it is mandrel bent is irrelevant.

 

thanks man

 

Is that a suitable explanation? I am not trying to be cocky, I just want to make sure you understand.

 

JBP Header + Downpipe, and Hahn Racecraft Cat-back. All three inch.

 

Think about this one too. You want the exhaust free flowing the best with a boosted car.

I had a Supercharged GTP and I had 3" all the way through removed cat and resonator with Flowmaster 40 series mufflers and it was loud and annoying, I put on some Borla Pro XS mufflers I gained 2 pounds of boost, but it was quiet. That is why they make the quick time cut out.

So from a performance situation I would say Mandrel bent with 3" would be the way to go, but with a 4 cylinder I am still a newbie is 3" overkill for these motors??

 

3" is too much for a 4 cyl even if you might come near 300 hp. 2.5 is perfect. You need some backpressure, or this thing will only feel dead until in the high rpm's. For 3" to work you need a lot of cubic inches and a true 400 real horses, otherwise it is overkill. As for the mandrel thing, custom exhaust with no more turns in it than a cobalt has, why spend the money for aftermarket. The one gentleman with the argument is correct on this. If you use an aftermarket cat back, there is no seat of the pants different than a custom from your local muffler shop. I will say you will not even see a difference at the track.
Maybe this will give you some help!

 

corsa sport catback and then gmpp header with maybe cobalt addiction downpipe with header is my way of going, but the corsa catback FTW!!

 

Thank you.

 

You sound like you've been down this road before and the other individual is probably reading a lot of magazine hype and trying to believe everyone on this site and not knowing for sure who's right or wrong. Reading conversations like these are fun to listen too. It seems you can pick out the majority of people who have been around "hot rod" per say for a lot of years. I don't really comment a lot, I really just enjoy reading what goes on. There are always some good things to be learned regardless of how vast your knowledge is. Take care and have a good day.

 

3" is too big... you shouldn't go over 2.5" anyway, regardless of what anyone says...