Build me a exhaust system from longtube headers back for my 96 rcsb 2wd 350

[linexrandy]

Ordered a set of Doug Thorley Tri Y's yesterday and got an email from them today that they no longer make them for my truck:whatever:. So I then planned on building a whole new system starting with Pacesetter longtubes until I read Rye 21's. Damn #2. So now what. Summit sells several longtubes for my truck but I don't know which to go with. I don't want to spend more than $600 for the headers. I want coated not painted.

After that, I'm lost. I don't care for cats and don't live in a smog check area. In the future I plan to get a black bear tune and have them delete the rear O2 sensors. BUT I read that it's better to run cats to get rid of the raspy tone. I don't like the glasspacks sound. I ran them for 4 years on my Z-71 and can't stand them. I'm thinking offroad Y-pipe into a single high flow cat into a single magnaflow or flowmaster 40 series muffler, either dumping it behind the cab or running a single 3" tailpipe. Based on this, what would you do?

[1988 GMC 355]

Well I like your plan, a cat is better for tone and MPG, they don't cost much either. I would suggest a custom built Y pipe that is 2.5" at a shop you like then a high flow cat and a magnaflow, thrush, hooker, spintech, flow, or whatever you want, and the cat and muffler as a 3" SI/SO.

I like Hooker headers alot, Hedmans are good too.

[linexrandy]

I'm having trouble finding a Y pipe and in the town I live in there are no exhaust shops. 1.5 hrs to closest one. Aslo any other suggestions than pacesetter longtubes?

[1988 GMC 355]

Hooker or Hedman headers are nice, make sure you use exhaust manifold gaskets, not the supplied ones. Magnaflow makes y's so does jegs and check summit.

[linexrandy]

Found a small autorepair shop that does exhaust the next town over and he said he has built Y-pipes before and could build me one out of 2.5" for about $80. Now I just need to decide on headers. I'm leaning on coated pacesetter longtubes right now. Thoughts on them from folks that have them?

[linexrandy]

Allright I ordered the pacesetter longtubes tonight. Hope they fit with no issues. They come with the reducers to neck it down from 3" to 2.5", shop will fab 2.5" y pipe. I want to run a magnaflow muffler. I just don't know what to do about the cat. I figure I can't cut off one of the factory cats since it's 2" if I remember correctly, so I'm looking at running a single magnaflow cat. Also, I'm more concerned about making torque than horsepower, so should I keep the single tailpipe 2.5" or 3". I may just dump right in front of the axle. Havn't decided yet.

[1988 GMC 355]

Well you can go back up to a single 3" cat then 3" muffler then 3" tailpipe however you want.

[linexrandy]

I got the pacesetter longtubes installed today and had 0 problems. They fit perfect and the fit & finish was excellant. Had them on in about an hr (I already had the stock exhaust removed). It sounds MEAN with just the headers!

[linexrandy]

Allright I ordered the pacesetter longtubes tonight. Hope they fit with no issues. They come with the reducers to neck it down from 3" to 2.5", shop will fab 2.5" y pipe. I want to run a magnaflow muffler. I just don't know what to do about the cat. I figure I can't cut off one of the factory cats since it's 2" if I remember correctly, so I'm looking at running a single magnaflow cat. Also, I'm more concerned about making torque than horsepower, so should I keep the single tailpipe 2.5" or 3". I may just dump right in front of the axle. Havn't decided yet.

Will you take a pic where you went from 2.5" up to 3" into the cat? My minds having problems visualizing this junction. 2.5 to 3" just seems to big a gap.

[cancritter]

stock- single 2.5 moded-single 3in......think it looks best dumped out passengers side in front of tire...went behind the tire with mine for a oem look