Camaro Spectre

Ok so I am currently in the process of building up my car so it has slight difference in HP but flowing much better and sounding far more aggressive. My original plan was to just do a true dual setup, but every shop in this town says it can't be done or refuse to guarantee their work if they will do it and I'm not going that route as if they doit I want to hold them accountable for it.

So I jumped to our only performance shop in the town and began looking so I can do this all myself with aftermarket. I have some ideas for what I want for headers and exhaust but I am open for suggestions and things of that nature as I have not yet ordered or made a final decision. I do plan on dropping in a 350 sometime in the next year or so, but thats a ways off as I work too much to really have time to fully dedicate to its construction, but I only plan on making a maximum of 400hp at the rear wheels as thats about all I would need in this town to be king without competition. So I'm primarily going to be using a 305 for quite sometime still as its not horrible but far from it with money I spent getting it back into shape.

I was thinking for headers, that were recommended by the shop the flowtech series (Flowtech Headers 16102 FLT) tho not completely sold on them. I do know that I am seriously contemplating a flowmaster exhaust (with 2 exits at the rear, not big fan of the one like the shop tried selling me that was a single 3'' exit) but I don't know if it quite will have the sound I am looking for, or if it is quite what I am looking for either. So suggestions on a good header exhaust combo? Any comments about the type of headers I am thinking about and a good exhaust that will work with it?

Help would be greatly appreciated as I plan on getting started on this next week if possible with my schedule.

jizzo09

I'd say for aggresive sounding, go with dumps. I'd also recomend waiting till you decide what headers to go with, then see what can be done. Once your positive on a good header choice, get em bolted up and see what your shop tells you.

five7kid

iTrader: (14)

I realize your choices are limited, but you really need a different source for advice.

Flowtechs are junk. Small primaries, poor quality, poor fit. Avoid them at all cost.

"Aggressive sound" and "more power" aren't as related as you might think. If this is a regular driver, "aggressive sound" can get old very, very quickly. Since it doesn't necessarily aid power, why put up with it?

A 350 with 400 rear wheel horsepower is on the ragged edge of driveability, and probably beyond it if this is your primary transportation. A 350 with 400 gross flywheel horsepower is more realistic.

Long tube headers are the typical first performance choice, but in a 3rd gen chassis, really don't fit well without sacrificing ground clearance. So, is this your primary year-round transportation, or just something you take out occasionally?

If your regular transportation, Hooker 2055HKR headers and y-pipe, and a good cat-back system like Borla, hooked together with a piece of 3" pipe, will support realistic street power, have great ground clearance, sound good, and not be annoying. A single 3" outlet, well-designed muffler, will flow better than a dual 2-1/2" out crossflow muffler, so don't let that color your decision.

If you really want long tube headers, then the Hedman 68460 are a good way to go. They'll support the power you're talking about, but you will sacrifice ground clearance regardless of what you do from there. Check out this thread https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/exha...st-350-a.html? for about the cleanest, least expensive install probably any member here has done.

(Don't think I don't understand the small town thing. I grew up about 80 miles from North Platte in a town 1/8th the size.)

Camaro Spectre

Thanks for the speedy reply.

For right now it is my DD but that is currently changing once I finalize the purchase of the 88 Trans Am a friend of my dads is selling to me. Just finishing the final price negotiation. But as said, its long term goal getting the new engine put together and dropped in between work, my other 2 projects, and trying to have a life.

I had been hearing that about flowtechs so thats why I was seeing what others have for suggstions and such. Ground clearance whether its a daily driver or just occasional is a big issue with North Platte, our main roads are so screwed up its not even funny. I nearly bottom out enough as it is in this town, the only somewhat flat and decent roads are the highways, the one ways are ok until you get sailing down them....with the curvage in the roads if your not in the middle lane you can hear some scrapage.

The kind of aggressive driver isn't quite what some think, but I need something so people will note the power sound and not call it a 6 cylinder. My friends 350 has an overly aggressive sound....due to the fact he is cut off at the cat and that is pure annoying making it a little too loud for my tastes.

five7kid

iTrader: (14)

The '57 spent most of it's early life on gravel roads. I can only imagine living like that with a 3rd gen.

I think you'd be happy with 2055's and a good 3" cat-back. I'm more of a sleeper wannabe, but I think a Dynomax or Borla cat-back would dispel any 6-banger suspicions.

On the other hand, if people think you've got a 6-banger, what's so bad about that??? I'll take "go" over "show" any day.

Camaro Spectre

Yeah I think I am sold pretty much on the 2055's now. Now I'm simply haggling over the exhaust I am looking at. Here is what I am currently thinking about for exhausts just not sure which one I want or how they would sound really.

Hooker Exhaust Super Competition Cat-Back System (16820-HKR)Flowmaster American Thunder Exhaust Systems (FLO-17234)


The one question is, will the 2055's work on my 91? They say they only fit to the 90. Just want to make sure.

Its ok having some people think its a six (like those whom will actually walk the walk) but we have ricers by the trainload here that talk lots of crap but never step to the plate believing that their 4 or 6 will "kill my v6" yet they back out when I tell them to take it to the road and see what I'm packing. Lots of smack talkers with just tips on their cars & big old spoilers, so I'd like to be able to put their misquitos in their place if they won't take it to the road & get stomped.

five7kid

iTrader: (14)

The 2055HKR's will bolt to your engine just fine, and route through the chassis just fine. The reason they don't list it for your car is they only list the applications for which they will "bolt in" directly - which is '86-'90 TPI single cat applications. You don't have TPI, so the year is irrelevant. But, if you follow my suggestion and get your cat-back for the same '86-'90 TPI single cat application, you'll get a 3" system that will hook directly to a cat for the same application. If you don't plan on using a cat, you just need a pipe to fit between the 2055HKR y-pipe outlet and the cat-back inlet.

The cat-backs you listed say they have a 3" intermediate pipe, but bolt to a 2.5" outlet converter. If you're not using a cat, you could cut off the necked-down part and put a 3" pipe to the y-pipe outlet, but it makes more sense to start with a full 3" I-pipe.

Camaro Spectre

Yeah, I plan on keeping a cat on the car, just replaced it with a new one since the other was still original and heavily

Has anybody put one of the listed exhausts I listed in my previous post on their car before? or any sound clips?

I have the hooker 2055's on my car now and am looking at the exhausts and these are still my two ideas Hooker Exhaust Super Competition Cat-Back System (16820-HKR)
Flowmaster American Thunder Exhaust Systems (FLO-17234)(with anything anybody else has to throw at as being taken into possible consideration as i don't know of everyting out there).

JamesC

iTrader: (5)

I'm satisfied with the following direct-fit system: Hooker 2055's (Jeg's 520-2055). Catco high-flow converter (Summit CTO-9118). Hooker catback (Summit HOK-16823HKR).

JamesC

five7kid

iTrader: (14)

Again, those are the smaller 2.5" cat outlet connection. There really is no reason to do that. James' suggestion is much better.