It is a good time for tuning with the appearance of new aftermarket products. Im contemplating purchase of either headers or y-pipe. What I need to know is whether a cat-back system is worth adding onto a y-pipe or headers? Is the power gains substantial enough to replace the stock exhaust?

 

From all I have read here the stock muffler is pretty good for power.
What will help you though is a B pipe (curves over the axel). Adding a y pipe will also give you power, and hardly any extra noise. Adding the y with a catback can be quite a bit louder.
Hold off on the headers for a little while longer. Stillens arent performing right and Hot Shots are a few weeks away.
Headers with a catback are reportedly very loud.

 

Yeah.......what he said.