Step on a crack, break your (cat)back?

[cheeba]

I just purchased a muffler from magnaflow #14815 and I'm about to have it installed. The shop quoted me $45 and said that it might cost more if I need extra piping. They have hangers, but they aren't stainless steel like the ones I see on the magnaflow site and when I asked about a custom cat-back, he had no idea what I was talking about. I asked if they had stainless steel piping but they only carry aluminized something or the other, from 2" to 3".

So, in spite of this, I have a few questions:

1. Is stainless steel the way to go? Is aluminum crappy and will it rust?

2. Is $45 for an installed muffler a good price and will having a stainless steel muffler with an aluminum hanger look ghetto or will I not even see the hanger?

3. Did any of you guys need any extra piping for your muffler because it was "too short" (that's what he said)?

4. What benefits would a 2.25" catback piping afford me? I see that's the consensus around here for I-4 5sfe engines. I have no other performance mods. Should I look into upgrading my piping?

I have a 2000 camry, 4-cyl. I'm planning to do this tomorrow so any quick advice I can get would be great. Thanks guys!

[a94autoCamry]

stainless steel IS the way to go but rather more expensive....aluminum piping is allright cuz the guy at the shop said it attracts the heat more better, and i dont think you should worry about the rust, just look at the stock piping, now thats the rusty... and 2.25 is the ideal size for a 4-cyl...

[BLUEMEANIE]

1. Is stainless steel the way to go? Is aluminum crappy and will it rust?

Stainless is of course better but aluminized steel is fine and way cheaper and won't corrode for a good long time. The only car I ever did a full stainless system on was my Vette.


2. Is $45 for an installed muffler a good price and will having a stainless steel muffler with an aluminum hanger look ghetto or will I not even see the hanger?

Sounds about right... but I'd get the stainless hangers. My hangers rusted but you couldn't see them.


3. Did any of you guys need any extra piping for your muffler because it was "too short" (that's what he said)?

Yes. The pipe enters the stock muffler on the side and the stock muffler is massive compaired to aftermarket mufflers.


4. What benefits would a 2.25" catback piping afford me? I see that's the consensus around here for I-4 5sfe engines. I have no other performance mods. Should I look into upgrading my piping?

...less low end torque, good sound and better top end.

[cheeba]

Thanks for the great advice guys and for answering all of my questions. The muffler shop did mention something about the pipe coming in on the side and that it would cost more money so I guess that's where my cam fits in.

Now, where can I order stainless steel hangers? I can't find them locally. How many do I need and is there a special size that I need to get?

Thanks.

[cheeba]

Does anybody know what size and how many hangers I will need to install my muffler? Magnaflow's website is selling 3/8", 7/16", and 1/2" stainless steel hangers, but I don't know which one I will need. None of the muffler shops here carry stainless steel hangers so I have to buy them online.

Can someone please help?

I have a 2000 Camry 4-cyl and I'm going from a stock muffler to this magnaflow street series http://shop.store.yahoo.com/southwes...ore/14815.html