Just this weekend i purchased an 02 cav with the 2.2 ecotec, after my saturn decided it felt like topping off my oil with coolant. I noticed one thing, people kept almost backing out of their spots into me while I'm just going down the parking lot, this never happened in the saturn, most likely because they could hear me even when they had their head up their ass and werent looking. So really I'm going for a cat back, I've already decided on 2.25" mandrel stainless I just need to figure out how there motors react sound wise. I know on my old car you needed to have at least a 26" long glass pack in the exhaust so I didnt sound buzzy and crappy. Whats the case with the ecotec? And on the muffler side I enjoyed my moroso spiral flow on my old car; has anyone here used that muffler? I am planing on getting a header in the future but thats not in the cards until late summer at the least because I still have stock motor mounts, and from reading on here mounts are basically required before a header.


1994 Saturn SL2 Home Coming Edition: backup car
2002 Chevy Cavalier LS Sport Coupe: In a Junk Yard
1995 Mazda Miata R-package Class=STR
Sponsored by: Kronos Performance

WPI Class of '12 Mechanical Engineering
WPI SAE Risk and Sustainability Management Officer

If you want mellow, check my registry. and search user "rwl041" on you tube and you can get an idea of the sound at WOT. I can tell you my set up is quiet when cruising or part throttle.

If you're builiding a system of your own selection of parts, don't be afraid to use custom tube inc.'s 2.5" pipe set - its cheap and allows you to source your own muffler and resonator. Also, we now have atomic fabrication's build your own exhaust set up.

Finally, most "bolt-on" cat backs for cavaliers have no resonator and come with an ass can muffler, so they are all pretty much loud and buzzy.

after doing a bit more reading I agree with you that 2.5 is the way to go. I'll listen to that exhaust clip.


1994 Saturn SL2 Home Coming Edition: backup car
2002 Chevy Cavalier LS Sport Coupe: In a Junk Yard
1995 Mazda Miata R-package Class=STR
Sponsored by: Kronos Performance

WPI Class of '12 Mechanical Engineering
WPI SAE Risk and Sustainability Management Officer

i dunno where you heard that you need solid mounts for a header, all you're doing is improving air flow.
all the mounts do is give you better transfer of power as a result of less engine flex
get a header, save time, put it all in at once . (get a highflow cat too)

I heard you need better mounts with the header to stop it from cracking the down pipe.


1994 Saturn SL2 Home Coming Edition: backup car
2002 Chevy Cavalier LS Sport Coupe: In a Junk Yard
1995 Mazda Miata R-package Class=STR
Sponsored by: Kronos Performance

WPI Class of '12 Mechanical Engineering
WPI SAE Risk and Sustainability Management Officer