So I want to start my exhaust upgrade. How should I approach it? I know I want dual exhaust. Here are some questions that I have.

Do I need to replace my bumber?
Can I use the pipes from a GT?
Do I need to do anything to the Catalytic Converters?
Are flowmasters part of the mufflers?
How do flowmasters work?
Is getting this all done very expensive?
Am I better off buying the parts and then paying someone to install them?
Or should I just pay a shop to order and do all the labor?


Thanks y'all!!
Also I'm new to starting on cars so thanks for the patience.

 

Exhaust is something I wanted to do to my '04 but couldn't justify to my wife spending the money on it. If you're going to do dual exhaust, maybe the easiest thing to do is buying a cat-back exhaust kit. Hooks up to the stock cat and replaces the pipes and muffler. I personally love Flowmasters and have one of their mufflers on mine in lieu of a complete exhaust kit. You don't need to replace the back bumper but the GT bumper IMO makes dual exhaust look much cleaner. Americanmuscle.com is a good source for exhaust kits and much more. Good luck with your project. :-)

 

Forgot one thing...as far as labor, I'm not very mechanically inclined as my wife loves to point out so I priced out installation on a complete kit before deciding to go with the just a muffler... Several exhaust shops quoted me between 90 and 150. I guess that's going to change depending on demographics as well. I'm sure others on here can give you some more info as well.

 

I installed a cat back system on my '04. I did not change the bumper I just cut the tailpipes short and used a turn down. I bought a system from summit racing. The back looks clean you can just see the black tips end just before the bumper. Total kit set me back about $250 and nothing in body materials or paint as I left the bumper alone.

 

Oh also if you can turn a screw drive and a socket wrench you can put this on yourself. The hardest part is doing all this on your back with the car on jack stands. Do you know anyone with a auto lift? Makes it much easier.

 

Look for a kit that "dumps" the exhaust, so you can't see the tail pipes. Or get the gt bumper. It dosent look clean with the v6 bumper and dual tailpipes. If you look on American muscle they have full kits from the mid pipe back for v6's.