cat-back piping size?

hey i'm going to get cat-back exhaust done probly this summer,, and was wondering both what the stock piping size is as well as what size would be be the best replacement in terms of performance for a 1998 t/a. i've talked to some people who installed too big of of pipes and lost back pressure actually making their car not run as well. while sound is def important also i'm more concerned with performance increase than the exhaust note. thanks for your help :smooch:

The new with be 3" pipe.

Stock is either 2.25" or 2.5".

I would go with Magnaflow catback, its better than Flowmaster and cheaper than Borla. An besides they sound great on these cars (althought I have the LT1), I know thats what Mr. Luos will say (go with Magnaflow) so I got to say it before him...

cool thanks for your help. yeah i'm torn between whether to get Magnaflow or Loudmouth. i havnt actually heard magnaflow on an ls1 in person but i've heard very good things from several ppl. loudmouth i kno sounds pretty sick :grinyes:

www.ls1sounds.com

yeah i've listened to most of the clips on there before,, i'd just prefer to here the car in person before making a decision. there's varying camera quality in the recordings and all that jazz, thanks tho

Well I would go with Magnaflow, I thought about Loudmouth but the clips that I heard didn't convince me. The Magna is louder than stock and once you get on it it loud and deep

I had to ditch my Loudmouth after installing headers.
Sounded like poop.

yeah loudmouth by itself sounds like it alrdy has headers on it

Magnaflows are tame around just street driving. A loudmouth will basically sound off all alarms and cops. As long as you stay clear of Flowmaster (AKA chokemaster), you should be ok. The two choices that you are looking at are good for making power though, and as stated previously, go with the 3" exhaust system.

Hope you got a lid for that car, cause that helps too.

yeah the slp lid will come after that. i heard smooth bellows are a waste of $$ tho

Smooth bellows can be had for about $5 at home depot.

Fernco rubber piping. 3"

Smooth bellows can be had for about $5 at home depot.

Fernco rubber piping. 3"

hah cool, thanks. should be able to afford that :lol:

i think i've decided on magnaflow. i like playing music with my t-tops off,, and loudmouth would pretty much drown out my grooves. i just need to look around at local muffler shops for price ranges on the cat-back m-flow. thanks for your help guys.

That link I gave you will most likely be the best price on the full catback.
Texas Speed has it on sale, but that doesn't include shipping.
http://www.texas-speed.com/shop/item.asp?itemid=192&catid=46

If you go to www.byunspeed.com and click the contact us link and email him. He does price matching I think, before shipping. Give him the link to the exhaust for cheaper than his.

cool thanks.

if you buy the piping online and then have a shop install it what's a reasonable amount to expect to pay for the installation?

I was basicly a rookie to working on my car when I got my first cat-back.


Took about an hour. Required a sawsall and a couple rachets.

I was basicly a rookie to working on my car when I got my first cat-back.


Took about an hour. Required a sawsall and a couple rachets.

really? hmm, i guess i'll give that a shot. thanks