Hey guys, looking for opinions here today. I have been in the market for a new exhaust, and have narrowed it down a bit but can't get over the last hump.
A. Flowmaster or magnaflow axleback. The flowmasters are more restrictive which has a louder and more grumble. Magnaflow while still deep, is hollow and is more for power gains, however, in our relatively speaking small engines, I don't think the magnaglow will have THAT much of a leg on the flowmaster, so that's the first comparison. The shop quoted me around 300 bucks to do that btw.
B. The second option, go on eBay and spend the same amount on a full catback, probably Megan or something. Anyways, that's the comparison, flowmaster v magnaflow v eBay catback.

Looking forward to ideas and opinions fellas!

 

Get a 2.5-3" ebay catback and install it yourself. Super easy install, and the gains are actually pretty significant even with just 1/4 inch wider piping.

 

How do you think it would compare to a axleback? How much more power could I expect from catback v axleback.

 

You can take a look at my thread for a Magnaflow 14816 muffler & over axle set-up, might help you decide? It's a few down from yours..

 

Just think about it. The catback you're getting more piping that is larger, from the cat out the muffler, while the axelback is only from the resonator out the muffler. So with the axel you're riding on the stock resonator with the stock 2.25" piping

 

Still such a hard decision... I really dig the tone of the flowmaster even compared to the catback.. Idk, there's just not quite that rumble that I want, from clips I've heard, catbacks just get raspy up in the range

 

If you're trying to upgrade your exhaust axel backs just aren't worth it imo. You're still running a stock resonator so it's very unlikely you'll find an axel that will give you the low grumble you desire.

 

Unless you have headers a cat-back ot axle back isn't going to do much power wise.

For power in your state, sans headers, get a test pipe.

 

What are sans headers? Typo? Also, test pope still beat high flow cat?

 

I have a Magnaflow muffler that came with the 3" BRM stainless steel catback set that I bought from another member on the site a few months back. I have a resonated straight pipe on it, and it is nice and deep all together. I love the set up. The only thing I would change is the test pipe. I'd rather have a high flow cat, but this is all I could afford at the time to fit the 3" piping since the seller included it. It's not raspy at all even with the test pipe, but it is very loud up high - even low.

Power wise, you won't gain much unless you get larger piping than stock, and get a tune. I'd say, if you're just looking for sound, go axle back, but if you can find a good deal on a good catback, go for that instead, especially since in doing so, you can more easily change the resonator and/or add a test pipe if you want to. Megan was my second choice after BRM, but BRM was gonna happen one way or the other. Keep in mind too, a lot of Max's with stock piping have extreme rust. I suggest having the shop do as much work as you plan to do all at once to get the best bang for your buck, since it will be hard to do work in the future on your own if you don't have the tools. I underestimated this point when I tried alone.

 

How about get the Megan or SRS cat back and potentially swapping out the muffler with a magnaflow/flowmaster and ditch the cat and throw a test pipe on or is that overboard with my purposes?

 

I was looking at a HKS axle back or the Megan muffler and leaving the rest of the exhaust factory. I really don't want all the sound of the complete catback system. Maybe by keeping factory resonator will keep drone down and give me just enough sound to hear my car running?

 

You could do that, but if you're not upgrading size, then definitely keep your OEM cat if it's still good, unless you want it to be louder to no affect. In the case of not getting larger pipes, it's mostly just about sound and appearance. Also, if you're swapping parts, make sure the sets have the same size piping, and check to see if the parts are bent and cut off in the same areas. Some companies might create bends and sections at different spots. Who knows.

Getting a new muffler will probably be okay sound wise, if it's not intended to be a loud cannon. Any stock exhaust pieces you leave on will contribute to quietness. If your stock pipes are still healthy, you can just have a new muffler welded on if that's what you want.

 

If you goto a 2.5" or 3" setup I'll recommend you go big as possible at the resonator and rear muffler! A 6" round Magnaflow will fit our chassis as well as a 5 x 11 x 22 Magnaflow....The Oem system is good for 247 whp! I would start with headers first...I run Cattman headers with a Cattman 2.5" catback but with the OEM rear muffler and it was a blast to drive...Quiet, quick acceleration, crisp throttle, a slightly V8 rumble upon decel....It hard to do anything now with Cattman gone but eBay Altima Headers w/Custom ypipe is a good option now!