Thread: 1st time tuning/upgrading advice

Originally Posted by coolone

Not entirely true (Catback wortless). It all depends on your plan, where you want to take the engine, car. If mild mods, sure, just open up the exhaust a little with headers and provide better flow in/out and you'll see a nice improvement in acceleration. But, if you plan to cam your engine, open up intake, heads, headers, etc., then a 3" exhaust to the tails benefit. I went 3" all the way early on with the knowledge in the future I would mod more. It certainly didn't hurt anything. And for the exhaust notes or sound, some say it'll always sound like crap, but try using the vibrant ultra quite resonator and Hooker MaxFlow mufflers... Is the best sound hands down you'll ever get from this engine. Use youtube, you'll see

i member here "buck" did a 3 inch cat back and lost HP on the dyno. theres no gains for a sc engine on a 3 inch. a turbo sure. not a sc.

Originally Posted by Scottydoggs

i member here "buck" did a 3 inch cat back and lost HP on the dyno. theres no gains for a sc engine on a 3 inch. a turbo sure. not a sc.

Loss of torque maybe, can't see loss of HP, but back pressure is a myth, lol. I'm just old school, and simple rules apply, more air in = more air out. And depending on the mods, the 3" is well worth the effort. I.e., sub 3" pulley, ported heads, high lift cam will benefit from a more free flowing exhaust.

; )

So, did Buck dyno the engine and record numbers and then change exhaust and record the numbers again? I don't ever remember seeing anything like that posted, lol, not saying it didn't happen.

the Mandrel System Stainless is probably what I'm going to replace my CatBack with... Is good stuff! Just need someone who can weld SS and put the Vbands in for me...

Originally Posted by coolone

So, did Buck dyno the engine and record numbers and then change exhaust and record the numbers again? I don't ever remember seeing anything like that posted, lol, not saying it didn't happen.

thats the story. lost 15 hp iirc

Originally Posted by Scottydoggs

thats the story. lost 15 hp iirc

Thats crazy numbers for that...

Crazy thng is all the HP numbers published from dyno's, few have exhaust info., lol. All have intake specs, but few indicate their headers, Catback, info., etc.

but my 3" exhaust and Hooker Mufflers still sound best GP Exhaust ever!