Alright, I just got back from testing out the first performance mods I've made to my recently purchased bone stock 99 eclipse GS... c.a.i (AEM V2) and headers (GReddy 4-1). Pleasantly surprised would be a gross understatement! I'm chucking the stereo... the deepness under the hood is better than any music. And now I can work out my neck muscles by extending my right foot...

Anyway, I still have the stock cat/exhaust. Do I need a new muffler at this immediate point? I was initially going to save up for a cat-back (probably GReddy) but my budget is running out (down to last $300 or so) and I'm itching to put a less restrictive (not necessarily louder) muffler. Should I resist and get the cat-back? Or would getting a muffler alone at this point make more sense? What about a hi-flo cat? I have just enough to get one or the other, so I need to know what is best to buy first.

As far as exhausts, what brands should I avoid? Which do you recommend (from experience)?

Or if you think the 300 duks would be better spent elsewhere, let me know.

I'm new at this game and I'd appreciate any help you may offer.

Thank you.

AFX underdrive pully would be my next mod

Where would I find one? Any reputable online stores you could recommend? Also, are Unorthodox pulleys just as good (or are they the same brand)?

the unorthodox pulleys are good ones too. i have one of the $70 ebay ones and haven't had any problems with it but alot of people on here don't seem to like it. also you can get a megan racing catback on ebay for pretty cheap. they have some really good stuff for cheap. i got my CAI off of them, its exactly like the AEM CAI(original) except it doesn't have the AEM sticker on it. its not one of those 2 piece ones that you always see on ebay. its was less than half the price of the aem too. i think motofool sells megan racing products too.

get the exhaust....it'll just make your car sound that much more badass. a lot of people here have the greddy, and i've thought about going to one also, but i love my tanabe racing medallion too much!

tanabe racing medallions are sex, this kid in my school has one on his WRX. great sound:thumbsup

my engine pix coming shortly

ebay has apexi style mufflers for $50 or so, they are loud and deep sounding. dont really see why anyone would rather spend anohter $400 on the real thing. but if ya have money to blow then ya have money to blow.

i have the greddy evo and love it. however i really dont think u need any bigger piping then stock unless u have some engine upgrades such as cams, then a full catback is almost necessary imo. gst muffler is ideal for ur setup and will probably make ur car run faster then the full catback. you could also combo that up with a high flo cat.

Definitley look into the UDP, you'll be pleasantly suprised yet again.

Also, at this point, you dont "NEED" a new exhaust.. I've heard lots of very good things about just sticking a GST/X muffler on our stock exhaust pipe (or custom 2.5 inch, whatever you prefer)... It keeps a low degree of backpressure which our NT engines need to get off the line, and flows quite smoothly at higher revs. Not annoyingly loud either.

I have an ebay muffler... Provided pretty good gains, but that probably is due to the restrictiveness of our stock muffler, this thing isn't anything special.

Ebay cai's rock.


as for me, final drive gears arrive tuesday }(

Still can't find an AF/X UDP online anywhere. Any ideas? Help!:o

www.howellautomotive.com

If you still have around 300 buy the UDP and the GS-T Muffler, it will give a nice deep tone and you can find it for like $50 used, Like ^^^^ he said you really don't need a bigger diameter pipe right now, and you will hear a difference trust me ;-)