Exhaust on a 3.8L V6

I have searched this forum high and wide for an answer to this question.

I want a nice deep sounding muffler to put on my 3.8L V6 1996 Camaro.

I keep hearing flowmasters aren't good on F-Body cars.... Ok, well then since I don't want to spend more then $250, do I go for a Magnaflow? I want it to make my car louder but not too loud. Any suggestions? Also if it is a Magnaflow, which specific model do I want?

Well, no matter what you do, you're never going to get that nice deep sound that V8's make. But I would recommend Magnaflow. It's sounds the best from other exhausts I've heard.

:iagree:

I found one that was called like the turbo 2.. or something, sounded pretty good.

Can any of you recomend a part number for the muffler then? I don't know which one to get, and I also want to get it with some decent looking tips.

Well here's a kit on Byunspeed.com
http://byunspeed.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=21_30_405&products_id=649&osCsid=c17eaf3a71b95f4f0737c9c72025524a

Or here's a cheaper kit on eBay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/98-02-FIREBIRD-CAMARO-MAGNAFLOW-BEST-OFFER_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33630QQitemZ79922 90143QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

http://www.magnaflow.com/02product/shopdisplaycategories.asp?zone=main&id=301

Thats as far as I can lead you since I dont know what kind of muffler you want.

http://www.magnaflow.com/02product/shopdisplaycategories.asp?zone=main&id=301

Thats as far as I can lead you since I dont know what kind of muffler you want.

i want the muffler that that mustang has... put your mouse over it and it has an awsome sound.

Haha, the Mustang sounds badass but why is it that the Ram sounds quieter than the WRX? Doesnt have any exhaust on an exhaust site..:nono:

Haha, the Mustang sounds badass but why is it that the Ram sounds quieter than the WRX? Doesnt have any exhaust on an exhaust site..:nono:

any idea which exhaust is on that mustang?

Yeah, a good one! I dont know.. :lol: It could be anyone because they all sound different on a different car. unless you got the Mustang engine in your car then you need to be.. :slap:

Yeah, a good one! I dont know.. :lol: It could be anyone because they all sound different on a different car. unless you got the Mustang engine in your car then you need to be.. :slap:

ok, well which one will give me that sound on an ls* f-body?

Search around, found one that is on a Camaro that sounds like the one on the Mustang.

I will agree 100% about magnaflow, it's what I have and I love it. You may also want to get a high-flow cat at the same time (you can get a carsound, magnaflow's parent company, cat for 30-35 on ebay), since you'll be right there, the stock one sucks because it's more restrictive and also about twice the length of the aftermarket one I got, and it will also give you a deeper sound.

Thing is the v6 "model" catback is 2.5", and the 3" LT1 catback p/n 15620 is cheaper, will give you a deeper sound, and will give you more gains than the 2.5".

Some people will debate this with some b/s about the 3" "flows too much" and has "no backpressure which is good but too little exhaust velocity," but the simple fact is all teh fastest 3.8's run 3", as do all the faster intake/exhaust (lightly modded) 3.8's.

Good luck!

:iagree:
2.5s feel stronger but the 3s are the way to go, its just that they dont have as much kick as the 2.5s but if you car runs faster on the 3 who cares about the kick?

The reason they dont have the same "kick" is that they move your powerband up a little, so its... smoother i guess would be the word?

Yes, more of a nice higher laid out output of HP..

Alright, so how does this look for me?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/3-Magnaflow-Carsound-Cat-Catalytic-Converter_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33629QQitemZ7 987674475QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWD1V#ebayphotohosting

and

http://www.magnaflow.com/02product/shopexd.asp?zone=main&id=478

Oh almost forgot, where is the best place online to buy tips for my muffler?

I have a quick question on how this gets installed.... Does the muffler/cat need to be welded? Also, since I am buying a different size cat won't the pipes on my car be a differen't size so I can't connect them? Same scenario with the muffler. Should I just take it to a mechanic or something?

I have limited car knowledge but would have liked to install this myself. I've already done my brakes/roters, alternator, and hub replacement on my car so I sort of kow what I'm doing. :-/

I got my cat from the same people. here's a tip: on mine, they had "anonymous" cats, where they were selling them for $35. Thing is, magnaflow doesnt let their stuff be advertised under a certain price, but the pictures for the "anonymous" cats were the same pics from the magnaflow, just edited so that the "magnaflow" and mario andretti werent visible... same cat, and same box using blue and white.

As for the muffler, just getting a cat and muffler will be near pointless using the stock tubing. Get the part number 15620, i will upgrade ALL of the piping from the cat back to 3" mandrel bent (smooth bends, not the foldy-ones liek stock), and it's stainless steel so won't rust. If you stay with stock pipes, it will be VERY restrictive. Also theres not that much point in installing a cat where you will attach it back to stock pipes, since you have to remive the pipes anyway.

If you get a catback, it includes tips.

Weld or clamp, up to you... my cat is welded and catback clamped.

The y-pipe (what goes from exhaust mnifolds to the cat) is 3" where it meets the cat... justcut the stock cat off leaving as much as possible of the y-pipe, slide the catover and clamp or weld. You will either need to order a rear oxygen sensor bung on your cat, or weld a sensor bung into a piece of pipe after the cat. The aftermarket cat will be shorter than stock, so you will need to install an extension (again, weld or clamp, doesnt matter)

For muffler tips, just buy those from Wal*Mart and get them weilded on, thats what I did :D Got those weilded on in Mexico for $10..

my polished stainless steel 3.5" (looks just right) magnaflow tips were included with my catback

Ok, well thanks for the help 97CamaroRS. One question though, is there any other place then magnaflow I can get this stuff from? That's a little over my price range.

Also, does the extension come with the catback system? And is the cat converter included in the kit?

One more question, where is the cheapest place to buy a O2 sensor because this is getting a bit over my budget. :(

Yeah, ebay.. uhm hell you can google it and im sure there are sites that sell magnaflow stuff for HELL of ALOT cheaper than the site shows. Try Summit Racing and stuff too.

OK well you have to look around pretty much, I found a place around me where I got the catback (it does not include the cat) for $320 from, got the cat online for $35 plus 5 or 10 bucks shipping, and got it all installed at the local meinekee for a little over 100 (including the extension and the hole for the sensor, not the sensor itself. You already have that sensor.)

man get the borla system u wont be upset...flows suck ( i have them) loudmouth i heard is good, and magna flow i heard sounds nice, but your car wont ever sound as deep as a 8 u are 2 cylinders short and with our small headers they wont sound deep at all unless u swap a 8 in your car. and if u like the mustang sound u will come up short there also because a camaro and a mustang sound verry different..its like cats and dogs

Plus borla is adjustable, it's liek you got a cutout... can have it fully muffled, fully open, or anywhere in between. Only problem is its $$$$$$$$$$$

Yeah man, my Borla system is awesome. Sounds VERRRRYYYY nice for a 3.4. But that's also because I've got headers and no cat. Those adjustable plates are sweet. I just wouldn't recommend going with the wide open plate. Unless you like sounding like a civic. Otherwise, it's an awesome system and worth the money. I've said it before.. and I'll say it again.. eBay, got mine for $555.

Well, I have a friend with a 383 LS1 that open plate sounds SIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIICK on

Well maybe it sounds sick on a 383.. but on a 3.4, it sounds straight up ricey.

i hear ya

i still havent been able to find a 3'' cat, also do i need to but a borla kit for it to be adjustable or just a muffler? are they all adjustable?

A link was posted to one earlier. Borla's catback (NOT muffler) has this adjustablity, it's like having an adjustable cutout

i still havent been able to find a 3'' cat, also do i need to but a borla kit for it to be adjustable or just a muffler? are they all adjustable?

Check out my exhaust page on cardomain. I have some pretty good pictures of the adjustable plates and the cutouts.

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/696690/4

Hey 97CamaroRS, can you post a link of the carsound cat converter for $35? I can only find them for $60.

Alright, all the stuff is now at my door. I bought the Magnaflow 15620 package, 3" cat converter, and 2 new o2 sensors because the check engine light was on and both o2 sensors were broken. Now you say I should take this to a meineke? I tried midas, pepboys and even one meineke said it was illegal to install a cat converter that someone gives you and that you have to buy theirs...

I have one meineke though that will call me back and tell me how much it will be. Any other places I should try?

The meineke I went to didnt give me any hassles... make sure they know its emissions legal and it should be fine