I want to turbo charge my 97 gs.. and i've pretty much decided on HRC (unless someone can show me otherwise), but i don't have the money right now.

I'm planning on doing the exhaust work first... Thermal R&D seems to be really popular at dsmreviews.com.

I want to get a full 3" piping exhaust, but i know the stock catalytic converter is too small... so i wanted to change that out too.. possibly even the downpipe at the same time...

But will doing all of this actually make my performance worse since i don't have the turbo?

Basically, if you were me, and you were planning on getting a turbo, what would you do with exhaust work first?

Or should i just save my money and worry about getting a turbo first?

Mind.. spinning... so many choices... Ahhhhhh. x(

Do the exhaust after if you are getting a stage 1. If you are getting a stage 2 do it before. A cheap alternative to a 3" cat back is the pace setter exhaust. Its 2.5 inch and it is mandrel bent. It only costs $160 and then you can put any muffler you want on it if you dont like the one it comes with.

Hey bro the thermal cat back set up is good. I had a three inch set up on mine before the turbo. It ran fine. Another thing when ordering.Dont worry about the application Just buy the set up for the gst. From the cat back they are the same. The pipe actually goes under the rear suspension as opposed to over. It seems like it hangs low but look are decieving. Mine rarely scrapes. Then depending on what state you are in have a muffler shop fab a down pipe to the cat back set up, if you can go with out the cat(after the tubo is on)

Hey guys,

Since we're on the subject of exhaust with a turbo. I have a question. I bought the HRC stage 2 turbo and am just waiting for it to come in. I am going to re-do my exhaust to 3" and the local shop suggested that I just do a custom exhaust. They said buy the piping from Summit (which will be less than $50) and then just buy the muffler which should save me about $300 instead of buying a $500 cat back kit. They are going to custom the exhaust to go with my cat and it will end up being 3". Does this hurt performance? I've been told that a regular cat-back you buy from one of those companies is the same thing as what I'm doing except that you're paying for their name. Anyway, thanks in advance for any info. you all have!

so you think i should change the downpipe and cat back, and leave the catalytic convertor stock?

but wouldn't that restrict airflow?

I heard thermal R&D makes a catalytic convertor to fit their true 3" cat-backs.

dood next timemake your own thread. sounds like these guys are new to bending cat backs as they told you to get your own pipe. any one worth their shit in pipe bending is jam packed out the ass with custom systems. reguardless of what time of year it is. now to your point. if they suck at bending pipe your gonna get sharp bends. most custom exhausts are NOT mandrel bent they are made with crush piping that's how the machine can bend them. an experienced muffler shop will be able to make you a custom 3 inch for cheaper than the mandrel stainless systems sold for 600 bucks and will be able to perform just as well maybe better. on the other hand. the expensive ones are mandrel bent which guarantees smooth bends, they're stainless so they won't rust out and won't crunch nearly as bad if you bottom out on it. after all that i will say that i'm gonna go custom because it's cheaper and i found a guy that's been doing it well for over 16 years.

if your layin down the cash for a three inch exhaust go with the highflow your turbo will love you

Thanks for the reply and I'd like to take the time to say sorry about posting that on that thread. I will make a new one next time. Well, the shop that's doing it is the local import shop and they told me to buy the piping and the mandrel bends from Summit as they don't have a machine to do the mandrel bends themselves, but they know how to put my exhaust together. So yes, I will have the pipes, mandrel bends all for less than $50 and then all I have to do is get the muffler (and tip I want). So you think that will be ok if I do it that way?

Hey guys the reason I said to go with the 3 inch set up is because regardless the cost (2) 3" u bends 15 $ a piece
6ft 3"pipe 20 $
muffler 200$ for a good one
flanges 15$
and of course labor 70-80$ an hour
They come out to close to the same late mike

Does HKS hiper muffler can fit the piping you ordered from Summit? coz I am thinking to get the custom piping too and would like to put the muffler on it. Thanks :)

Eric