Re: exhaust recommendations?

The catback system on your car should be of secondary concern since it sounds like you have the stock H-pipe with six catalytic convertors on it. Significantly more bang for the buck can be had replacing it, even if going to a high flow *catted* pipe (X or H...your choice). The only noticeable change you'll get from the changing the catback is sound, until you're making well over 300 rwhp. FYI...there's a guy on the Corral that ran the stock mufflers to around 400 rwhp and didn't have much of a change when he finally swapped the catback. Cats will help keep the car quieter, and an offroad pipe will make it very loud. My suggestion (if it's not obvious yet) is to change the H pipe to something a little more performance oriented. See if you like the way it sounds, and if not, change the mufflers or catback at that point.

Thanks, Keith, for the advice. What kind of performance difference will typically be had by changing out the H pipe?

The catback system on your car should be of secondary concern since it sounds like you have the stock H-pipe with six catalytic convertors on it. Significantly more bang for the buck can be had replacing it, even if going to a high flow *catted* pipe (X or H...your choice). The only noticeable change you'll get from the changing the catback is sound, until you're making well over 300 rwhp. FYI...there's a guy on the Corral that ran the stock mufflers to around 400 rwhp and didn't have much of a change when he finally swapped the catback. Cats will help keep the car quieter, and an offroad pipe will make it very loud. My suggestion (if it's not obvious yet) is to change the H pipe to something a little more performance oriented. See if you like the way it sounds, and if not, change the mufflers or catback at that point.

No prob, Scott. The headswap actually bumps you a little higher than the new cars due to higher compression ratio. That also forces you to use premium fuel (91-93 octane). The labor is costly due to the time it takes. Plan on $750-$1,000 for labor, plus the parts.