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Muffler vs. Cat-back Exhaust

  • Thread starter Thread starter jmarshall79
  • Start date Start date May 24, 2007

jmarshall79

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Feb 23, 2007
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May 24, 2007
#1
  • May 24, 2007
  • #1
I have an '04 Mustang GT, bone-stock. I am interested in modifying. In addition to lowering, i want to change the way it sounds. Do you recommend replacing just the muffler (for sound and better air flow), or install a Magnaflow cat-back. What are the benefits of getting cat-back vs. muffler????? Any advice is needed.
 

MrGame

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Nov 8, 2006
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May 24, 2007
#2
  • May 24, 2007
  • #2
the catback have 2.5 inch piping and if i remember correctly, the stock is 2.25 inches. I didn't notice a difference with just my catback, but once i changed my midpipe to a 2.5 inch also i definately felt it pull harder. You can just change the mufflers too if you want, a lot of people on here have weld in flows and stuff
 

Tim2002GT

Founding Member
Apr 10, 2002
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Tulsa, Oklahoma
May 24, 2007
#3
  • May 24, 2007
  • #3
If you are on a tight budget, I would just get weld in mufflers. But if not, I recommend a Bassani catback! I'm a little biased tho!!!
 
K

Kilgore Trout

Fried or Broiled ?
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Mar 30, 2005
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#4
  • May 24, 2007
  • #4
Tim2002GT said:
If you are on a tight budget, I would just get weld in mufflers. But if not, I recommend a Bassani catback!
Click to expand...
+1
 
D

Dragstr05

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Dec 21, 2004
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Stafford VA
May 24, 2007
#5
  • May 24, 2007
  • #5
Weld in some mufflers, take what you would be spending on a catback and get a midpipe, and pocket the change or buy yet another mod. Thats what I would have done if I did it all over again. Catbacks are VERY expensive, and produce very little power on a near stock car.
 
D

Dirty_D

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Mar 13, 2007
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#6
  • May 24, 2007
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Personally, just get mufflers...no real horsepower difference unless getting to niddy gritty. I agree get a mid pipe or do some other mod. By nice stainless steel tips and just weld in place of old ones. Unless you plan on putting some serious horespower under the hood you will be fine!
 

Bad92GT

The 5 Minute Plan Man
Jun 10, 2004
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SC
May 24, 2007
#7
  • May 24, 2007
  • #7
i have welded in ultraflows.. no big difference in power, and leaves much to the imagination when looking at the car from the outside
 

FoxRod87

Active Member
Feb 1, 2006
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May 25, 2007
#8
  • May 25, 2007
  • #8
I had weld in slp lm1's, bbk xpipe and magnaflow 4" tips and it was loud as hell.
 

XtorT'r

New Member
Jun 11, 2003
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Minnesota, YAAA
May 25, 2007
#9
  • May 25, 2007
  • #9
Eh if anyone is interested.
When my car was stock there was almost nothingto be gained power wise if I were to have moved to a catback. When I had everything but my cams moving to an after market cat back system was worth about 7rwhp. After I had got my cams the catback was worth almost 15rwhp, so I said screw the stock crap at that point. Now I scare small children, pets, and old ladys with my mufflers...heheh
Like it was mentioned before, do the whole system if you think your going to get the "rwhp bug" otherwise it's not tht big a deal hp wise if you just get the wend in muffs right now.
 

jmarshall79

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Feb 23, 2007
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May 25, 2007
#10
  • May 25, 2007
  • #10
Which brand of mufflers do you recommend? I am not looking for something to wake up my neighbors, but i would like a nice throaty sound.
 

DocG

5th graders > me. They're not bant
Sep 25, 2005
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Cincinnati area
May 25, 2007
#11
  • May 25, 2007
  • #11
jmarshall79 said:
Which brand of mufflers do you recommend? I am not looking for something to wake up my neighbors, but i would like a nice throaty sound.
Click to expand...

Mac Flowpaths.....or Flowmasters would be ok too. I personally loved my Mac Flowpaths.

Here's a vid clip of mine.....keep in mind that I had an offroad prochamber on there too though.

http://home.fuse.net/kucharski/macvid.avi Oh and it echos a bit since I vid taped from inside the garage....I dunno why I did that. I think I was frozen from laying on the garage floor for so long in January while installing it all.
 

1992 2.3LX

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Dec 5, 2002
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Ky
May 25, 2007
#12
  • May 25, 2007
  • #12
jmarshall79 said:
Which brand of mufflers do you recommend? I am not looking for something to wake up my neighbors, but i would like a nice throaty sound.
Click to expand...

Magnaflows are the only to go.
I have welded in Mgnaflows (dumped) with matched with a UPR O/R X. It's quiet if i want it to be but i can also make you think the end of the world has arrived if i want.!
All in all it cost me $200 (used mufflers) and new X pipe.
 

jmarshall79

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Feb 23, 2007
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May 25, 2007
#13
  • May 25, 2007
  • #13
Someone explain to me what a midpipe is exactly.
 
S

svtpower

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Apr 30, 2005
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May 25, 2007
#14
  • May 25, 2007
  • #14
money

If money is no object, get the catback. The tips look nicer. If money is at all a concern get mufflers and have them welded in. I have owned 3 mustangs and had mufflers welded in each of them. Works for me and less than half the price of a catback. I am running magnaflows at the moment and I like them.
 
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