Well I had my opinion but wanted to hear from others with them. I listed to a few You Tubes and they were OK. I think I am going with losing the resonator and using some aftermarket exhaust. Flowmasters and Magnaflow are too expensive. Any suggestions? This is a dead stock 3800.

 

What is your budget? Looks like the brands listed run about $75-150 / muffler.

If you're wanting a lot cheaper, you'll definitely have to ditch stainless- maybe for some Jegs mild steel mufflers - looks like they're $30-40 each. Not much below that without going to a $20 glass pack.

 

Found some on Ebay but they do not list my Supercharged SS (common them it seems). Don't know if it is because it is a low production unit or that the SC version requires more flow. I sent a note to the company asking about it and they requested my VIN, which I sent. Waiting to hear back. But, yeah, I could always put Flows on it - they have about 5 different versions. But I need the Y pipe and resonator delete pipe, and hangers, etc. etc. This was a NY car at one time and has some rust issues.

 

My suggestion... Delete U-bend, res, (cat if you can). Replace the stock res with a glasspack. Dont all 3800s come with dual muffler exhaust? I ask because I see you mention you need the Y-pipe.

 

If your whole catback is rusted out, I'd go pick one up that's in better shape from a junkyard, then hack that up with your new parts.

If only certain parts are in bad shape, just have the shop replace those at the same time.

Id have a real hard time spending $1k+ for a complete aftermarket catback.

 

My feelings exactly. I bought a new downpipe and Cat from Ebay for $120 including shipping. That part is solved. I can buy a Y pipe for $99. Just have to make a pipe to eliminate the resonator and then chose some mufflers that work. That is where I am now. The openings are complicated, and you have to get the right offset in and out of course especially for tips. Just doing research on which ones to buy. On average most are around $75 each. The trouble with boneyards is that it is labor intensive to hack one out. With the Y only being $99 I can go that way and not have to deal with rust, etc.