Exhaust Replacement Decisions

[Bill51]

The factory exhaust system on my '02 GT is finally shot and needs to be replaced. The pipes are still OK, but the resonator and both mufflers have holes in them. I will do the replacement myself, but since I haven't had to do any exhaust jobs in a number of years, I'm shocked at how expensive exhaust components have become! What happened?! I remember in "the old days" (70's and 80's) when I could replace an entire exhaust system on a car for $150-$200. Now I'm seeing mufflers that cost that much! Anyway.......after pricing out all of the OE parts for my car through several different sources, I'm finding that it's going to be an expensive job. But I've also discovered that for not much more money, I could buy and install a complete Magnaflow Cat-Back system which would have a lifetime guarantee and potentially some performance benefits. I realize that the performance exhaust system would be somewhat louder than a stock system, but I need to decide if that's something I can live with or if it would become too annoying for me. My round trip to and from work everyday is 120 miles of mostly highway driving at speeds of 55-70 mph. How much of a constant drone and resonance will I experience and will it bother me? After all, I'm not a young kid anymore.......though I do still appreciate having a "sporty" car! Another factor I want to consider is what effect a performance exhaust system will have on the car when it finally comes time that I want to sell it or trade it in. Will it hurt the resale value of the car or make it harder for me to sell? So, I'm stuck. I'm not sure which way to go, OE or Magnaflow. Right now I think I'm leaning slightly toward the Magnaflow because it appeals to me on a few levels. But I'm not without some doubts about it either, mainly the loudness/rumble factor. So if any of you have been through this and can help me sort out all the pros and cons, I'd really appreciate your input. Thanks!

[blueguy]

Input, here it is.

Get a 30" glasspack to replace the resonator. Like $30 tops at your local auto parts store.

Mufflers, Dynomax Super Turbo's or Thrush Mufflers...cheap...quiet...and give a little throaty noise, but not enough with a cat and resonator still in there to make that 3800 sound junky...like most do.

Tips, you can try to replace and reclamp the stockers...OR, find some nice polished dual/dual 3" tips on EBay for like 50 bones...so your looking at 150-200 tops there...since you're doing all the work.

You're welcome

[Rico]

Originally from Pittburgh, I feel your pain. My GT has over 200K and its the original exhaust and it barely has some surface rust on it. The underside of the car looks new and every bolt can be removed with cheap tools.

I agree with blue. Just replace what is bad. Although I worked some miracles with my mig welder while I was in the 'burgh. Sheet metal is cheap.

[Bill51]

Hey Rico! Nice to hear from a fellow Pittsburgher! Though you're in Fort Worth now, I hope you're still part of the Steeler Nation! How long have you been gone from Pittsburgh? Anyway.......thanks for your response and your advice. I think I'll have to give this whole thing some more careful thought. I admit it would be nice to replace only what I need instead of the whole system! I can't get over how expensive the parts are! Although I guess I should have learned by now because EVERYTHING on this car has been expensive to repair! Well, thanks again and have a good one!

[Rico]

I'm from a small town in Wahsington county called Bentleyville...ever heard of it? It's between Washington and Belle Vernon.

Steeler fan forever, period! I can't believe how many Steeler fans are down here! Been down here for 5 years and I like it but a little to hot in the summer.

Like Blue said, don't skip out on the resonator. It'll sound like crap and you'll hate driving it. I'd delete the muflers before the resonator.

Catback systems on these cars do pretty much nothing for performance. If you're looking for performance then look upstream; headers and down-pipe but that gets expensive.

Let us know how you fare.

[blueguy]

Headers and downpipe are expensive?

forthelulzricoguy.

Turbo Kits, Turbo Manifolds, Import Performance Products, SSAutochrome Inc.

$175 + shipping for everything you need to bolt up headers and a downpipe to your factory catback system.

[Rico]

Hmm. I'll have to check those out.

[xmsh0609x]

Ok idk if there are any posts on here already about this but i got a 01 gp gt and i would like to replace the exhaust as well. Im realy liking the sound of cars like g35's and 350z's. Has anyone acheaved the same sound or close to it on there 3800? Around where i live there are so many kids that seem to try to make there v6 sound like a v8 and its just a fail all around. There is noting wrong with the stock exhaust that is on my car, just getting a wild hair up my butt and fill like trying something different.

[Rico]

There is nothing that sounds worse than our unbalanced low revving 3800's. I try to keep mine as quiet as possible.

[matt5112]

There is nothing that sounds worse than our unbalanced low revving 3800's. I try to keep mine as quiet as possible.

If they weren't balanced, they wouldn't run.

Its the firing order. Its odd to say the least.

[Rico]

If they weren't balanced, they wouldn't run.

Its the firing order. Its odd to say the least.

Using the term unbalanced loosely. 90 degree V6 firing at 120 degrees? Yea, no kidding.

I personally hate the noise that these motors make. Thank God for the resonator. Without it they have a raspy crackling thing that just annoys the heck out of me.

Do love the 3800 though with all it's low-end torque. They are the most effortless vehicles to drive. Most people don't appreciate it as much as they should.

[matt5112]

haven spent plenty of time with a 60* SOHC V6 rated with more torque than HP, the 3800 still wins in bottom end torque.

[Rico]

haven spent plenty of time with a 60* SOHC V6 rated with more torque than HP, the 3800 still wins in bottom end torque.

Matt, I'm glad you mentioned that. I've always wanted to have a custom crank made for the 3800. Maybe reduce the stroke to something around 3.2". What's stock?...3.4 or something? This would increase the red-line massively. It would lose a bunch of low-end torque but you could probably spin it to 7.5K. HP would go through the roof. Does anyone know if the old 3.3L had a split pin crank that would fit in the 3800 block? I think the engine code was LG7. With forced induction, the motor would be something to be reckoned with. The engine would be a true racing motor.

----Probably should have started a new thread----

[matt5112]

Stuck with stock heads that crack and tiny valves due to shrouding from the small bore.

In other words, there is no head worthy of use in such a thing. ZZP's Al heads might have been an option, but they were setup for use with stock LIM's which limited them.

I believe there is some material on the ceiling for further porting, but you'd need a custom intake manifold.

Thats two grand for those heads bare when they were available, they're probably worth a lot more now.

Paying someone to fabricate an intake manifold can easily turn into another grand.

And yes, stock stroke is 3.4.