Hi,
I just joined J-Body and this is my first post so here goes...
I have a 2.2L '95 Cavalier 4 door. I would like to install a cat-back exhaust. The Magnaflow cat-back really catches my eye...
http://www.rksport.com/main/part_detail.asp?itemid=543&appid=21&mdid=2&catid=3
Is this a pretty good bet??? Can anybody give me a reasonable idea of what to expect if I have a local shop install it???
I don't want an exhaust that is TOO loud...I don't need any cops buggin' me.
Hopefully my dad will let me get it...after all, it is my car even though he paid for most of it...
If anybody else has any ideas or suggestions, feel free to share...
Thanks,
Tim H
If you have a local chain-style shop install it, expect a surprising amount for the labor (per hour it will be, if they don't do flat-rate) & dirty looks from the guy who installs it. I speak from mentoring at a CarX for a year, and that's just what would happen every time someone came in with so much as a pair of glass-packs looking to have them installed on his FWD Monte Carlo... with the factory tips!
Go beyond the "bolt-on".
Considering you're gonna pay someone labor to install it I would consider finding a place that can do mandrel bends and bring your own 2 1/4" glasspack and muffler. The good ole cherry bomb glasspack is perforated and around $20ish. Snag a muffler like a Dynomax super turbo for $40ish or something similar. Check up under the car for what length glasspack to get and the inlet/outlet orientation of the muffler. Should cost way less than the RKSport exhaust.
^Amen, ohvrolla.
Go beyond the "bolt-on".
You know I ended up buying a SR*S exhaust off of eBay that was a full catback and sounds MAGNIFICENT! It is also made completely of T-304 Stainless Steel and comes with a removable silencer. Install requires you to find a 95-99 cav/fire 4dr only to get the exhaust mount BEFORE the axle near drivers side skirt (not after axle in center of car) to work correctly. ($5 at any you-pull-and-pay scrap yard lot).
THE COMPANY IS EASY TO WORK WITH AND IS NEGOTIABLE ON PRICE!!!! Haggle a bit, you'd be surprised at how much lower you can get the price to be (I sure was surprised!) Normal auction price is $200 + s/h
Here's a current auction link for the 2.4l
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/SR-S-95-01-CHEVY-CAVALIER-2-4L-CATBACK-EXHAUST-SUNFIRE_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZ72Q3a1205Q7c66Q3a2Q7c65Q3a12Q7c39Q3a1Q7c240Q3a1318Q7c301Q3a1Q7c293Q3a1
Q7c294Q3a50QQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14QQhashZitem390014727358QQitemZ390014727358QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories
I was hell bent on buying a Magnaflow system, but definitely can recommend this system for fit, finish, and sound! They also have GREAT customer support from my own personal experience.
If you want, I can make a vid of the system installed, and you can here it for yourself... PM me if you have any issues installing this system. I'd be happy to help.
Nate
thats RK sport/Magnaflow exhaust could be considered "loud" as it does not have have a resonator....the best bet would be to do what "ohvrolla" said and just buy your own muffler and resonator and then get a shop who can bend you some pipe and piece it all together.
i have the first link magnaflow on my car currently... along with a 4-1 header and 2.5" mandrel bent piping, no resonator. its loud, obnoxious, and very annoying.
Needing 2.3 oil pump stuff? PM me...
first muffler is a horrible idea...round body mufflers dont really muffle sound all to well...(hint: listen to any Honda with one), the second muffler is a better choice....however you may still find it loud
Check this link out. The guy did what you are proposing...putting a Magnaflow on stock piping. There is a video of how it sounds as well.
http://www.j-body.org/forums/read.php?f=46&i=342940&t=342772#342940
...too bad the quality of the sound is poor...I really can't tell what it sounds like...
I've got a long time to think about this. I'm in class until 3 and I'm gettin' down to broke...I'm gonna be gettin' a job here pretty soon--can't do anything until then, I can't pay for parts/labor with my good looks ya know
Thanks for the help, tho
If all else fails, I'll just throw on a tip with a resonator and be done with it...low cost, low quality >:o
Tim H
Scott Fry wrote:first muffler is a horrible idea...round body mufflers dont really muffle sound all to well...(hint: listen to any Honda with one), the second muffler is a better choice....however you may still find it loud
The idea, which has been applied by many here, is to use both a round-body (glass-pack) and a "turbo"-style muffler in conjunction. The glass-pack eliminates any raspy or tinny tone to the exhaust note, while the turbo-style reduces the noise level.
Go beyond the "bolt-on".
I hear that the Dynomax super turbo muffler might be what I'm looking for--good tone, louder than stock but not obnoxious by any means. I think this the best way out for me...
I'll get it installed here hopefully within a few weeks if I can scrap together the money. The guy at J's Performance here in Dubuque, Iowa said that at most $70-80 for muffler and installation. So I'll probably get that super turbo muffler and maybe a nice lookin' tip if I can find one cheap enough...Maybe I'll see how much $$ he needs to fit some piping from the cat back to the muffler...I'll have to see once
Hopefully this what I'm after...
Tim H
