97 trans am

hey everyone! I need some HELP!
I just got my 97 T/A 2 weeks ago and its basically stock w/ flows. Its quick but u know its stock, its not quick enough. 1st off i want to redo the exhaust. I have been searching for headers and advice. I almost got the BBK shorty headers and y-pipe out of summit for $350. but then i ran into the cats. and emissions b/s!!! Is it worth it to take off the cats. my car has 2 of them. That BBK kit doesn't delete them either. Anyway headers: shorty or longtubes? whats the difference? - performance wise - which are better? I was told Mac has an awesome header and off road y-pipe set. dam the emissions annoys me and was also told that 02 sems. can override the system, if the cats. were taken out??? true or not??? so basically im going to do a full exhaust system whats the best way to go for the money? the next project after this one is a shot of nos! any suggestions... please... keep in mind im not trying to spend 2 much $$$
PLEASE HELP!!!

plus my O2 sensors are going bad - check engine light came on - so keep that in mind, w/ no cats i only need 2 O2 sems. right???

Thanks alot

Replacin your cats will cost hella $$$$$$ and thats a shity way to spend money on your car for performance gains. GO new exhaust all the way but why replace the cats?? Its cost hella $$$$$. So anyway you want the least amount of back presure out of these systems for maximum amount in HP, right, so go from the second cat back and install the system. THen for about $250 to $350 get a new cam with more lift and duration. Dont forget new lifters, rods, and rockers, another $200. install and gain a good 30 HP. you can get a custom ram air kit that is said to give you nearly a 20 hp gain for about $300 thus changing your intake and filter style to flat, go with the k&N. a hood at this point would be an option well granted its ability to make the system work to its full potential meaning all 20 ponys. hoods vary in price but think about it, it will from then on be a WS6 instead of the still superior to the camaro TA. I hear a very cheap air foil that goes in your throtle body adds like ten ponys at higher rpm. getting a higher mm MAF for cheap helps at higher rpms for more air flow. Nitrous on your car will have to include certain things along with the kit the ensure your cars saftey unless you just dont give a shit about that. dont wanna blow a head gasket right away or crack your intake or exaust manifolds.

Ok. check it out
thanks 4 the advice so far...
im about to get 3:73's put in and maybe a shift kit, if necessary???
i also want to do some suspension mods. as well. any ideas?
I REALLY need the advice on the exhuast, as how mine is already fukd up as it is. what do u think about this set up... the bbk shorty headers + y pipe. no cats. put in 02 sems. 3 in. pipe back to a magna flow loudmouth muff. or a bullet muff. ??? with all that how much rwhp i will be pushing?
thanks again

replacing your cats are not expensive at all ! you can get hi-flow 3" cats for around $60.00 a pop. I hardly think that is expensive. If you need more info on where to get them just ask... [email protected]

i've always been against NOS. it's quick/cheap to get HP, but your engine suffers. eventually your engine will need work done. so you're spending more money there.

some people have success with NOS though.

I wouldnt put in a shift kit, I have heard that a shift kit f*cks the tranny up. I know a couple people this happend to. They put the shift kit in and had tranny problems. I would just get a programmer so you can select your shift points at certain RPM's, change timing, set tire size, all that stuff. They are worth the $$$...AS for Nitrous... I would put in a bigger fuel pump and injectors ATLEAST before going that route. And when you do NOS makes a twin 58mm throttle body with built in Nitrous pasages. I would invest in that to go along with the extra fuel and intake and exhaust you put on.