Magnaflow catback vs. muffler only

[Beaker37]

I've heard some say that replacing the muffler only will give the same results (power/sound) as the single 3" cat-back. There is quite a price difference, is the cat-back worth the extra cost?

I'm looking for more power, powerful sound, and hopefully better gas mileage. BTW, will be getting CAI and tune to go with it.

[Koots]

A catback exhaust usually comes with mandrel bent tubing which keeps it's overall internal diameter even through the bends. your stock piping and any pipe bent up by your local muffler shop is compression bent and will shrink during bends.

If sound is all your really going for with maybe a smaller boost in performance you could get just the muffler and get a slightly larger diameter exhaust system bent up by a muffler shop, but you will lose some power in comparison to the mandrel bent stuff.

It's really up to you, i've got the muffler/custom bent pipe setup currently getting built on my car, but it's cuz it needed an exhaust right away. but given the oppurtunity where i had enough money to spend i would've gone for the mandrel tube. The choice is yours, so it really depends on what your needs are right now.

[PHATSPEED7X]

If the funds are there, and your serious about power get the cat-back. If your just looking for the sound and more flow like I did I would just go with the muffler. On my 1991 I have a generic flowmaster 40 series, 2.5" tailpipe, and a 3.5" stainless tip. Sounds good and flows alot better than the stock crap that was on there.

[Koots]

looking at a stock muffler you can understand how any performance one is a leap in flow.

[Beaker37]

I'm gonna go with the full cat-back, found it on http://www.performancepeddler.com for $383 shipped. I would probably regret it if I went the muffler only route. Was just curious if the mandrel bent tubes made much of a difference.