I have a flowmaster cat back system already installed and want to run headers and a new y-pipe. Long or short? Best brands? does brand matter for shorties anyway? What y-pipe would I need with what shorty to bolt up without modification? I do not want to redo my entire exhaust, jsut replace the restrictive stock ypipe and put headers on.


Ok, After looking into what I can do to give my truck some extra power without spending millions, i have decided that the most bang for my $$ is going to be a y-pipe and then headers. I already have a Specter CAI and a 3" CAT back Flowmaster Exhaust system, so headers and a new y-pipe are the next logical step [I think]. I would not mind chipping the vehicle either but all I have found are the stupid little boxes that just trick the ECM into spitting more fuel. I haven't seen areal chip for a 96. [To early a year? it is an OBD II...]

 

Long tubes universally require a custom y-pipe, if you go with a single exhaust. (same for duals, but, no y-pipe required at all.....) So, buying a y-pipe, and then getting long tubes, you will be spending money, to no good purpose.

For low-mid range, you want small primary tubes. 1.5 to 1 5/8ths inch. 2.5 collectors would be fine. X or H pipe, and then 2.25 inch pipes to the back. Muffler of your choice.

Figger out what system you want, and then do it all at once. That way, you don't spend money on things that in the end, you won't use.

 

For the programmer get a SCT, contact hemifever on this site. For headers the general consensus is long tubes but I doubt you could tell the difference. Any y pipe is better than the factory one though.

 

hemifever@aol.com is the best way to get a hold of Sean (hemifever) to get information about his SCT tuners.

 

I have a flowmaster CAT back system, single exhaust that I do not want to mess with. This is why Im asking the question. If it were a matter of just putting a new exhaust together I would go long tube with a full dual no problem. Cost isn't so much the issue. I just do not want to rearrange the existing exhaust and cat or add another muffler.

I am pretty sure I have no choice but a y-pipe because I do not want to add a second exhaust or replace the one I have, its a new system, I just want to add headers and replace the current y-pipe with a better one that isnt restrictive.

If I do buy a programmer, I need to know what type model etc so I can look for one.. Im not going to buy it new. I usually just wait around until I see the right thing pop up on ebay used then buy em.

 

So I want the headers with the 1.5" primary tubes and a 2.5" collector. thats a flotech or a pacesetter shorty. The Jegs Performance off road y-pipe I am looking at says "with single 2-1/2'' exhaust after the converter. 2" inlet to 2-1/2" outlet." That and a flowmaster shorty would run me about $300 and should be bolt on to the existing flowmaster system on the truck. I didnt put the current system on there, but why get rid of it, its new. This all sound about right? The reason I am so stuck on the y-pipe replacement, is that just about every Dodge forum I have read says the same thing. that its the y=pipe that sucks and needs to be upgraded more than the header. i just figure If I can get a $100 header too, why not?

 

well the summit/pacesetter shorties with a new catalytic convertor. you can use the magnaflow cat with y pipes better then the y pipe in from factory.
headers 200.00or less shipped, cat some guys on here have gotten the magnaflow of discount performance exhaust for 180.00 not included shipping.

 

I have longtubes and a custom y pipe . It's hard to go x pipe on a 4x4 si i stuck with the y pipe . It was a definite improvement in power and sound. Would I do it again yes, only if I could find cheaper labor. I had a shop do the whole thing supplied gaskets,headers,cat and muffler and tips . Labor was around 600. Not counting the parts I bought on my own

 

Holy smokes. We used to put true duals on trucks for under 200 bucks, parts, labor, the whole nine yards. header installation was a bit more, but, I don't think I EVER saw an exhaust job go over 500 bucks.......

 

I got a guy around here that is great. If I stick everything together with teh bolts and take it in, he will make sure its all placed right and weld it up for next to nothing. Sounds like I will have to get teh Y-pipe and cat custom made. Thats what I need to do though.

Is it worth just doing some bolt on headers? will I even notice them if I already have the CAI? Sounds like the Y- can cost almost as much as the headers. And I cannot just get rid of the cat =[

these are what I have been looking at
http://www.jegs.com/p/Flowtech/Flowt...44753/10002/-1

They make a bolt on off road performance y-pipe too that I was thinking I could just bolt back on once a year =] and take the cat out. I had a custom Suzuki sidekick exhaust set up like that so I could just bolt the old cat in once a year...Yes, I know, I ma criminal...