everybody using CATS***I could use your help

[final5-0]

OK Guys

I see all of you talking about your exhaust systems a lot and I really need your help cause up until now I've never had an intrest in those threads simply because I haven't had a need for this kind of mod.

I now run Mac LT's and a Mac cat h-pipe with the stock catback.

I'm gonna replace the catback.

I like to keep a low profile when driving so......I DON'T WANT LOUD

Q#1 Since I want quiet, does that mean the performance gain MUST suffer?

Q#2 Since I use cats, don't yall think they will make whatever catback I choose a good bit quieter?

Q#3 Is the quality of aftermarket catbacks as good as OEM, stuff like stainless steel, fit & finish, tips, etc?

Q#4 Do I have to concerned with DRONE, I've heard thats not a prob with LT
headers?

I guess thats all the Q's I can think of for now.

Everybodys opinion is welcomed and appreciated but if anybody has hard data to back up their info it would be great if you could supply it so I can check it out.

I would think this would be an easy one for yall cause I've seen countless posts where peeps say they are unhappy with such & such catback because it wasn't any or much louder than their stock catback.

Expecting some good info from those in the know, lol

Later
Grady

 

[Killercanary]

Grady, here's my take on it...

#1: No, it doesn't mean performance will suffer. More than likely it will be a bit louder than what you have now, but the increased ID of the aftermarket cat backs offer improved exhaust flow, that is where most of the gain will be had.

#2: Yes, cats will really quite down any cat back you put on. For example, I ran my car for a while with a completely stock exhaust except for a set of 2 chamber flowmaster mufflers. I then added an offroad X pipe. When I fired it up I seriously though that I had forgotten to connect the mufflers to the X pipe it was that much louder!!!

#3: As with anything else you get what you pay for. That being said most of the SS catbacks have excellent fit and finish and bolt up without a problem. Just beware that some cat backs use aluminized steel tubing and only put SS tips on, so don't be mislead into thinking that they are completely SS. Some are completely SS though, like the bassani cat back.

#4: This is a hard one to answer. It does have to do with the muffler design (chambered mufflers are often more prone to droan), but there are other factors as well. I too have heard that long tubes help supress a lot of the interior droan. I recently cut my tail pipes off to replace them (I have the stockers still on there) and the droan with turndowns was so increadibly loud you couldn't talk inside the car... with the tail pipes the droan was at a minimum.

From your post I think you should look into the bassani SS cat back. Its is one of the more expensive cat backs, but it has a fit and finish better than OEM, AND it has removable baffles in the tail pipes. These baffles quite it down a lot, and if you ever decide you want it a little louder, remove one screw and pull them out.

My cousin has the bassani cat back on his car and it sounds great.

 

[final5-0]

Thanks a lot Paul for typing all that stuff and it helps me a good bit. I've been putting this mod off for some time cause there are so many catbacks to choose from.

Waiting for the alll the rest of you Exhaust Experts to chime in.

Later
Grady

 

[Joes95GT]

Grady,

You know I'm not much of a help with much, but I have done quite a bit of exhaust work. Lets see what I come up with...

1) Your performance will pick up with any system. If you do the work yourself, do yourself a favor and cut open one of those stock mufflers. You'll understand why. It reminds me of a bee's nest.

2) Simply and completely said - yes, a catted midpipe will make any exhaust system many times quieter compared to an "open" exhaust system.

3) Fitment is a yes and no. All stainless systems are lightyears ahead of the stock stuff as far as fitment and quality. I've had some problems with MAC catback and fitment with 99% of the Blow-master systems I've done. I have had NO problems with any of the stainless systems other than shortening a hanger for the Magnaflow systems. You will want a stainless system - stay tuned for question #4.

4) Even though drone isn't nearly as pronounced as it is with shorty headers, it is still there with long tubes. Some will say "no it is not." It is. I can guarantee you it is, especially if you don't like that. Those who say it's not there are just more tolerant.

With that being said, chambered mufflers are going to give you a drone and even Magnaflow has a slight hum to it. So now you're narrowed down to Bassani and Borla. Each are mega $$$. I think Borla is the much quieter choice.

Hope this helped...

Joe

 

['94ChickStang]

Hey,
I've had several midpipes, but always w/ Flowmasters

-my car didn't seem to slow down when adding 2 cats after removing my O/R pipe. Definately nicer sounding (but not too loud) than stock, and you'll feel a difference.

-yes

-the best I've had is my current pipe, Magnaflow catted H, stainless and fits perfect, better than original equip.

-don't know about LT's, but with Flows I get some drone (not nearly as much as w/ O/R pipe). I thinking of going Magnaflow for muffs, wanna try the straight through

 

[final5-0]

OK Joe....aka Mister Non Productive

I thank you for your findings based upon your exhaustive knowledge.....sorry I just had to say it

I remember when we were kids everytime we drove down the highway having to yell at each other cause the drone form our glasspaks (old time "flows" to all you young guys, lol) was so loud.

I really don't wanna have to deal with that kind of b s with this new catback.

Laugh if yall want to but.................

This dad gum catback mod makes me way more nervous than and other thing I've done to my 95 so far

And to add insult to injury..................

All this grief & frustration for what most likely will be only 5 to 10rwhp

Later
Grady

 

[Grn92LX]

Sounds like a dynomax race mangnum or ultra flow cat back is right up your alley. Its a lot quieter than flowmaster and mac. Only difference between the ultra flo and the race magnum is the ultra flo mufflers are SS. I ran the race magnum because I went through a phase of wanting my car quiet. Boy was that a mistake. I hated the way they sound and the flowmasters went back on not too long after. Sounds like yout the opoisite of me, so dynomax is right up your alley.

Can't wait to hear my car with the bigger bassani longtubes and 3" x pipe with the flowmaster 2 chambers

 

[Killercanary]

I actually run the dynomax welded race magnums (now called the welded ultraflow by dynomax) on my car and I LOVE the sound. I don't know why mine would have been different than Mike's, but these dynomax mufflers almost as loud as the 2 chamber flomasters I took off, but they have a lot deeper sound and don't give me a headache like the flowmasters did.


Mike, I hope your X/flowmaster combo sounds better than mine. I absolutely HATED it. I had a headache every time I drove the car. It sounded like a jet and was fairly high pitched in nature.

 

[Grn92LX]

Paul, i've only heard the x/flowmaster combo on Mustangexhaust.com and it sounds good. I do wish I could fit a prochamber on though. For the price I am getting the Bassani longtubes for, I couldn't pass them up.

The race magnums/ultra flo's were a lot quieter than the 2 chamber flows. I couldn't stand the sound, it was way different and not my taste.

I absolutely LOVE the 2 chamber flowmaster sound. Mac sounded awesome too when I had it. Their a bit loud for old man Grady though

 

[Mrgreen94gt]

My cats didn't quieten the exhaust ANY. With the Flowmasters, there was a little less noise in the car, but outside, it was as loud as ever. My Spintechs took a lot of the low speed bass out of it, making for quieter low speed cruising.

 

[final5-0]

OK guys

I went to the Dynomax site.

Like Mike said, it does look like the only difference between the two Ultra Flo mufflers is one is ss and the other is not.

What is the deal with the Super Turbo catback? Any of you using that one?

Later
Grady

 

[final5-0]

My cats didn't quieten the exhaust ANY. With the Flowmasters, there was a little less noise in the car, but outside, it was as loud as ever. My Spintechs took a lot of the low speed bass out of it, making for quieter low speed cruising.

Well Brian

My understanding is that...................

"Flowmaster & Loud"

go together like..............................

"Bacon & Eggs"

I have always thought that Flows were one of the loudest catbacks out there but .......... correct me if I'm mistaken.

Later
Grady

 

[HISSIN50]

I can't afford all the nice exhaust stuff that you guys have, and what i have to add is truley useless (unlike Joe, who was being ironically humble). all i can offer is what i have or have heard from locals - most of which does not pertain to your desires anyhow (quite the opposite).

the 94 has Mac Shorties, aftermarket H with cats and a Mac catback (i have no idea what kind of mac catback though. square mufflers with very nice polished tips that stay polished over the axle). it is freakin loud! and drone city at 2K. i have to roll windows down to help my ears not explode. nice burble at idle, but the antithesis of what you desire.

and FWIW (the real reason i posted): on foxes, the stock exhaust uses a staggered system (mufflers are a different size) just to counteract drone. i dont know if any aftermarket manufacturers sell a cat back with a similar set up (different sized mufflers)....... I was gonna upgrade the exhaust on the 88 and was actually gonna speak with some vendors to see if their techs had advice on product offerings for quiet and lack of drone. with you wanting quiet and no drone, that should be a lot easier to achieve than loud and no drone.

sorry to not be able to reciprocate any helpful info (like you did on the computer info thread of mine).

you know, turbos make an excellent muffler.

good luck Grady.

 

[final5-0]

I can't afford all the nice exhaust stuff that you guys have, and what i have to add is truley useless (unlike Joe, who was being ironically humble). all i can offer is what i have or have heard from locals - most of which does not pertain to your desires anyhow (quite the opposite).

the 94 has Mac Shorties, aftermarket H with cats and a Mac catback (i have no idea what kind of mac catback though. square mufflers with very nice polished tips that stay polished over the axle). it is freakin loud! and drone city at 2K. i have to roll windows down to help my ears not explode. nice burble at idle, but the antithesis of what you desire.

and FWIW (the real reason i posted): on foxes, the stock exhaust uses a staggered system (mufflers are a different size) just to counteract drone. i dont know if any aftermarket manufacturers sell a cat back with a similar set up (different sized mufflers)....... I was gonna upgrade the exhaust on the 88 and was actually gonna speak with some vendors to see if their techs had advice on product offerings for quiet and lack of drone. with you wanting quiet and no drone, that should be a lot easier to achieve than loud and no drone.

sorry to not be able to reciprocate any helpful info (like you did on the computer info thread of mine).

you know, turbos make an excellent muffler.

good luck Grady.

Hey I just gotta say that ANY opinions or help of ANY kind about the various catbacks is appreciated by me for sure.

And Mike just about hit the nail on the head with his "OLD MAN" description about me. Having an exhaust that sounds cool is not that important to me.

The gain for buck spent is (imho) so bad that when I started making plans for my 95 I put the catback on the very bottom of the mods list. I know that kind of thinking is absolutely crazy to most of you but old age will do those kind of things to you

Don't be bashful guys....74 Views with only a handful of replies

Keep em coming guys cause I'm lost in catback city

Later
Grady

 

[Mrgreen94gt]

Well Brian

My understanding is that...................

"Flowmaster & Loud"

go together like..............................

"Bacon & Eggs"

That they do. The current Spintechs can still be very loud, just a different kind of loud. The cats just made no difference whatsoever in the overall sound dept.

 

[Grn92LX]

Yes, flowmaster and mac are about the loudest street system cat backs out.

The dynomax super turbo is gonna be quiet. I had that cat back on my old 85 firebird and it was barely louder than stock. I've also heard it on 5.0's are its quiet. I can possibly see slight more power from the dynomax ultra flo/race magnum over the super turbo system since their straight thru. I doubt you'll notice it.

Your only as old as you feel. I'll be 25 next month but still feel young

 

[WHITE94COBRA]

I have the bassani X/w cats, and the borla cat back and its still very loud. very very little drone though, and at about 2500 Rpm (about 80 mph) pretty nice and quiet. Anything above 3000 and its kinda obnoxious.

 

[final5-0]

I have the bassani X/w cats, and the borla cat back and its still very loud. very very little drone though, and at about 2500 Rpm (about 80 mph) pretty nice and quiet. Anything above 3000 and its kinda obnoxious.

Very good info and thanks for your reply

Do you think that catback would be as loud if you had lt's

Later
Grady

 

[WHITE94COBRA]

Louder i'm sure, and probably even less drone; which would mean almost none at all.

 

[bayellowstang]

I have the bassani X/w cats, and the borla cat back and its still very loud. very very little drone though, and at about 2500 Rpm (about 80 mph) pretty nice and quiet. Anything above 3000 and its kinda obnoxious.

I have stock cats with borla cat-back. It is considerably quieter then with the mac hpipe I had. Either way I didn't have aloot of drone. I think Borla makes a totally different sound then most catbacks. The fitment of teh Borla is superb, It took me longer to take of the old pipes (which where Borla also) then to put on the new. If prices are competitive I would have to say get the borla.


To White94cobra: how well does the bassani x fit? What headers do you have? I'm thinking of getting an Xpipe and I have heard to many horror stories about fitment of h/x pipes.