I think that you still may end up with a lil KR....I reccommend the mufflers....but your call.

I believe he should be able to get away with a high flow resonator and/or a high flow cat.
Rogue has the stock mufflers on 8-ball IIRC, and ALOT more mods and is doing just fine (given he does have TOG'* and a high flow cat).

A 3.4" pulley should be fine with the gutted air box, 180* t-stat, and high flow res.
I also believe you will gain more from a Magnaflow cat which is about the same price as a high flow resonator, if you buy it off ebay (contact seller id roadmasterservice and see if he has any without the air tube or performance-curve who I bought mine from) or go to www.justmagnaflow.com for the same price and free shipping over $50.

ok, for help

3.4 pulley, 180stat,plugs,belt,k&filter(rice pipe already done), magnaflow cat=$$$$$ lol

well , i hope it will worth it

I paid about $10 more for my Magnaflow Cat than I did for the resonator. I always thought they were going to be around $100+ dollars, but the first seller I listed sells them for about $50-55 including shipping, and the second one (the one I bought from) was $55.57 including shipping (I think this is www.justmagnaflow.com selling on ebay as the prices are the same, as is the free shipping on purchases over $50).

I paid $50 for my 2.5" high flow resonator at the Minnesota Club Grand Prix Club member discount, and other shops were another $10+.
With install the cat will be about $15 more. More $$ ...yes ...worth the extra -to me, yes.
I'm not trying to force you into a high flow cat, but I believe it did more in my case than the high flow resonator, but then again I did the Magnaflow cat before the resonator.

Whatever you do I'm sure you'll be happy, but I'm just giving you first-hand testimony of my experiences, and second-hand testimony of what other'* have experienced.

Oh, and btw, when I did my 3" dp and 2.5" Magnaflow cat I went from a 16.4 down to a 15.9 -I did gut about 200 lbs, but that'* only .2 so the cat and DP were good for .3. The cat alone should get you about a .15-.2 drop in 1/4 e.t. while a high flow resonator will net you maybe .05-.1.

To give an example of why I believe the cat is better bang for the buck is the flow area of the stock cat is probably even less than the stock resonator, thus if you leave the stock cat in place and put a high flow resonator in your gain will be very minimal, but with the high flow cat the flow area will be alot closer to the amount that the stock resonator can flow.

I suppose, as you mentioned earlier you could take the resonator out and see how you like it, and if it doesn't appeal to you you could then put a high flow resonator in.
It'* up to you, and whatever you decide I will respect (half-heartedly -j/k whole-hearted).

I was there when Bill went from no res to high flow res and was a big improvement.
You also need a high flow cat or cat delete which is not legal in most areas.
The stock mufflers are fine and can flow high horsepower numbers (ie rogue) and the note is fine when you add headers.
The cai will make the sc whine louder than it will add to the exhaust note, try a fwi for a cat like scream

btw I have tog headers, cat delete, stock the rest of the way including res and mufflers. You can hear her rumble a block a way

I don't know how you can say the stock mufflers are good for high HP until you know how much they do or don't restrict. Only until dyno runs and track runs are done with stock and aftermarket setups, will you know

Is my car loud? for a late model yes, but if i pull up next to the average classic car i'm QUIET. Most of the trucks in town are quite louder as well.

I was talking to the exhaust shop and they said that a high flow cat won't much of a difference. The size might but a high flow cat vs. a standard cat in the same size he said is the same. I can't find anyone in my town that will put in a new cat anyway, they say the car doesn't need it so they can't do it. I will not remove the resonator I guess. The sound is getting better with time, it will probably be what I want in a few more weeks.

I will say that replacing all the stock pipe with the larger 2.5" and new mufflers with 2.5" in and outs made a big difference. Well worth the money. I got brand new Magnaflow mufflers on ebay for $55.00 each shipped. That is much better than the $125 or so a piece most exhaust shops want.