Hey guys and gals, after I pass my e-test in about a month I want to have my exhaust done on my 90 SSE. I'm going for max HP, for as cheap as I can. Sound level doesn't matter to me. Here'* what I was thinking of, either just taking the cat out and putting in a test pipe and keeping the rest stock. Or putting a cherry bomb where the cat is and strait piping the rest. The latter is what my buddy and I did to his 90 LeSabre with the same motor as mine and he said he noticed a good differance. One thing I'm not sure of is if I should bother going any bigger with the pipe size. What is the stock size anyways 2 and 1/2? I think 3 inch would be overkill. So I'm open to any suggestions...thanks.

You're 2.5" right now, and it'* a good size. 3" is too big without forced induction.

If you want to keep a Cat, but make it invisible, go with the autosound. It'* a hi-flo version. I prefer the dynomax muffler, too, and they're economical. Without the dual outlets like some of us get, you're in good shape. Hector can make some specific suggestions for you. He'* been playing around with exhaust setups just for fun!

Will I was thinking, how true is it that going with a smaller exhaust diameter will boost acceleration and your 0-60 times? I hear it from fellow ricers I know (that doesn't stop me from being their friend btw) that a much smaller piping helps. Maybe this is just for small compact cars though, I dunno. :?

Going too large CAN hurt your 0-60, because you loose low-end torque. They don't have any torque to begin with, so they need all the help they can get!

Some of those guys will hear something and take it to the extreme. "Don't go too big" gets turned into "make it smaller".

It'* funny you should bring this up. Someone is working at something along those lines right now, but a little bit different.........he'* not ready to release his idea yet, and there may be patents involved, so don't bug him (or me ). Just wanted to let you know something is in the works. If you're really interested, just hang tight. The man is amazing.

Yes, the "man" is amazing and I give the "man" much respect.

Not so loud. To "The Man":

I didn't tell him anything specific....just that something might be in the works somewhere in the exhaust. Don't hurt me.

I found 'em online after I bought mine locally. They're pretty budget. Mine is the size for a full size v8 pickup. They necked down some adapters to make it fit my exhaust. A bit less back pressure than zero that way

Allmachtige - I dont want to spend too much time explaining the exhaust stuff since I am kinda tired right now. But it depends on the car. Going with a smaller diameter is a bad idea on a 3.8L engine because it is too big. If you email me, I can take my time in writing you a longer explanation. With the import engines, you have to remember they make 110-150HP from the factory using already ported and polished heads from the factory, tuned exhaust headers. That is the only way they can do it. That is why when an import puts a header on their car, it gains maybe 5-8HP, while a domestic engine like ours by modifying the exhaust manifolds can yield 10-15HP easy without trying hard. American engines are not tuned, dont have tuned exhaust and other misc trick the Japanese use to make more power out of their 4-cylinders. American companies have to detune their engines or else they make more power than the price bracket each car is sold in. If you have a ported and polished and all other mods that I am thinking of for the L36, you can make over 330HP and over 350-360 torque (flywheels) from these engines, but you don't want to give that to the public #1. #2 having that much power in a car costing $23,000 (new for a Bonneville SE) would sell it alot but it would probably cost a little more (for all the machine work on the engine and such). But it would kick ***. And one more question, what kind of imports do your friends drive so I get a better idea of what kind of ideas they are giving you. I know pretty much every import and domestic engine made (that'* my job) and I dont discriminate between Domestic and Import.

Willwren - Geez... I have no idea what you are talking about... You can't do anything else for the exhaust........... yeah.... Hint (something import guys do, see if you can guess Allmachtige). Let'* see if you know your imports.

jr's3800 - You can get a carsound cat off of eBay for about $50 bucks and some shipping. Those are good cats, have used them before and they work well. I get autosound cats, but all that guy does on ebay is sell carsound cats so he get'* it probably $10 dollars cheaper for each one than I do. Hope that helps.

Allmachtige-
1 question for you:
(its not related, but...) what is Pro Zen Motorsports website? i see you have their intake and i would like to look at it.

Last time I checked they were still constructing a site. I'll check into it for you.

As for the intake, stay tuned for mine may be up for sale sometime in the near future.