Newbie, cat and header Q's

[LS 1st Gen]

Hey guys, Im new, and any posting I do on this board will be for a female friend of mine with a 99 3.8 auto.
We had WS6 takeoff exhaust with a flowmaster 80 series welded up today, and she's a little unhappy with a the exhaust note, which I prepared her for.

Ive been told that you really cant do anything to make a 3.8 sound "good" but that a hi-flow cat and headers will help. This obviously makes sense, and she wants to try the cat first. We have emmisions testing so the cat actually has to WORK. What do you guys recommend to help the exhaust note out?

[Bluebird]

Carsound/Magnaflow

[viper98885]

Of course, headers will help too...I would look into some Pacesetters. They are priced fairly well and will obviously help. I agree with the above that the Carsound cat will help, and it is decently priced. As far as the Catback, I also like the Magnaflow simply because they are not an arm and a leg in price and they have a nice tone that is not too raspy.

[ReodDai]

Cat is good idea carsound is what I have it works and I have no SES.
Now to comment on the headers, if she isn't preformance minded don't really bother with the headers for just improved exhaust tone it may or may not be worth the hassle. Your EGR WILL leak, you may or may not go through 2-5 gaskets trying to get the headers themselves to stop leaking, and the ypipe may or may not leak some say it does some say it doesn't. This is definetly NOT a maintanence free mod, I love mine but sometimes I do wish I had not put them on.

[LS 1st Gen]

Carsound seems to be the way to go. The last thing I want to do is make it impossible for her to live with her car, especially since she doesnt work on it herself, so maybe the headers may not be a great idea. Why doesnt anyone make a set of good fitting headers for these cars?

[javifp]

Dont forget the Resonator, it helps to eliminate the Drone in the cab interior. I have Pace Setter headers, Carsound high-flow cat and Flowmaster set up and the Resonator it what keeps the sound out of my car.
Just my .02 cents!

[ReodDai]

resonator also keeps the sound coming out of the back of the car.. just my $.02

We cut the resonator out of my roomates Tri-Flow exhaust (95' vette) and it made a WORLD of difference. Went from quiet to very nice and powerful sound.

[LS 1st Gen]

Ok q's about the resonator. What kind of resonator is best, where can I find one, and where in the system are you guysplacing it?

-Gordon

[wilkcamaro98]

If you get the flowmaster cat back i believe the part number 17358 it the 2.5 inch one it has a built in resonator included in the kit.

[LS 1st Gen]

We already have the catback, I just need the resonator alone. Does Flowmaster have a specific PN for it?

[javifp]

Call them up and they will sell it to you for about $50. and to put it on, it will only take a cut and weld process of less than an hour.
Tell them is the 2-1/2" resonator for the 3.8L Camaro/Firebird American Thunder cat back system. and that you have the system already and only need the Resonator section. www.flowmaster.com Good luck!

[mjparme]

If you go with headers you may want to check out the Clear Image Automotive headers. A little more expensive than some but they are supposed to have a good fit and don't leak.

As far as the EGR leaking that isn't a rule. If it leaks it got damaged during the install.

EDIT: forgot the link to the above mentioned headers:
http://www.clearimageautomotive.com/.../V6Headers.htm

[ February 06, 2004: Message edited by: mjparme ]</p>

[TA_WannaBe]

i currently have pacesetter headers and borla exhaust and love my exhaust note and i havent' even messed with the cat! borla is more expensive but you get what you pay for

[viper98885]

Magnaflow makes a really nice resonator too and they are priced pretty well. Check out their website at www.magnaflow.com.