Stock Exhaust vs Aftermarket Catback

[BlackRT313]

I've been reading different threads on exhaust and basically found out that some aftermarket catback systems don't truly outperform the stock system. True some of the systems sound better but don't seem to have better performance. In some threads members have mentioned that they had better low-end torque from the stock system than a catback. Which catback systems truly out perform the stock system as far as quality, fit, finish, sound, flow, look and HP and TQ? Any comments and advice welcomed.

[BlackRT313]

Bump

[Super T]

Loaded question. An exhaust alone won't do much for you... so little, in fact, that I might argue that the before/after difference is within the margin of error for any two runs back to back.

That said, for performance, look to a straight-through muffler design. You also want true stainless - none of this galvanized crap or other coatings. They'd better all fit well, otherwise, run! And for sound, it's up to you how much drone you can handle, and what kind of tone you want (race car vs. muscle car). Personally, I believe Zoomers and Corsa are the best on the market, with Corsa having a race tone and Zoomers having a muscle tone.

[Shelby]

although the sound improvement is very nice to get more performance you might need to add high-flow cats.

Avoid getting an exhaust with drone.

[chargeragain]

Most aftermarket exhaust systems I've had experience with were also lighter than stock. Less weight is a good thing. (Don't count your wallet in this equation however)

[BlackRT313]

Zoomers seem to have a true stainless catback. It also has the stock 2.25" pipe diameter size so would that be a better solution to keep low-end torque? Would it be equally as restrictive as the stock system?

[Super T]

Zoomers seem to have a true stainless catback. It also has the stock 2.25" pipe diameter size so would that be a better solution to keep low-end torque? Would it be equally as restrictive as the stock system?

Less restrictive b/c they're straight-through mufflers. Don't worry about the low-end torque thing, if you're stock, you're not missing 2 ft-lbs that you may or may not be losing.

[Shane B]

I personally like the flowmaster catback, nice muscle car tone with little to no resonation! just my opinion though!!!

[cleary524]

Loaded question. An exhaust alone won't do much for you... so little, in fact, that I might argue that the before/after difference is within the margin of error for any two runs back to back.

That said, for performance, look to a straight-through muffler design. You also want true stainless - none of this galvanized crap or other coatings. They'd better all fit well, otherwise, run! And for sound, it's up to you how much drone you can handle, and what kind of tone you want (race car vs. muscle car). Personally, I believe Zoomers and Corsa are the best on the market, with Corsa having a race tone and Zoomers having a muscle tone.

Need not say anymore...that ^^^ pretty much sums it up in a nutshell.

[fireman2118]

JBA Stainless headers + JBA stainless HF mids + Corsa stainless catback = Top of the line exhaust system

[89grand]

I run a Volant exhaust. It sounds perfect to me, it's all polished stainless so it looks cool and the price of $599 shipped to my door was impossible to beat. It's no where near that cheap these days though.

[BlackRT313]

I've read somewhere that a catback system with a true x-pipe(it's supposedly fake on the R/Ts) will pretty much cancel out the loss in TQ. Is this also true?

[fireman2118]

Not on a good quality exhaust

[Shane B]

Not all the xpipes were fake on the rts, mine had a real one but I changed it to a magnaflow xpipe.I would say even if you have an xpipe,if you go too big on the piping you will still loose some low end.for a stock rt i would say the biggest you want to go is 2 1/2 in.