Automotive experts have boiled an engine down to being nothing more than a big air pump, stating simply: the more air you pump through an engine at one time, the better it performs.

That’s the reason for installing turbochargers or superchargers, to cram as much air as possible into the engine as quickly as possible. Of course air “intake” is only half the battle. You must also have proper “exhaust” with the right amount of “back pressure” to realize the maximum benefits of a better breathing engine.

Once an engine has inhaled and burned the air and fuel mixture, it needs to exhale to eliminate the “spent gases.” This is where your exhaust system comes into play. From the cylinder head, the exhaust gas travels into an exhaust manifold (or two on V6, V8 and V10 engines). Many of these “factory” exhaust manifolds become restrictive if you increase airflow into the engine with a performance air filter and a cold air intake—and some are restrictive even before you make any performance enhancements.

Borla

The cat-back system for the 2006-2007 Corvette ZO6 7-liter V8 is a true 3-inch system made of T-304 stainless steel with smooth CNC mandrel-bent tubes and straight-through, S-style, race-bred mufflers. The system flows more than 100 cubic feet per minute (CFM), better than the OE system while generating 24 more horsepower and 24 lb.-ft. of torque on a stock engine. Million-mile warranty.

Cat-back exhaust system for the Chrysler 300C SRT8 features patented straight-through and multi-core technology to unleash hidden horsepower. Increased exhaust velocity adds power, driving excitement and fuel economy. Each system is built from premium aircraft-quality T-304 stainless steel to give you the absolute best in performance and durability. Ultra-smooth mandrel bends ensure maximum flow and power, and precision computer-controlled CNC manufacturing ensures an accurate fit. Million-mile warranty.

The solution to passing gas better is simple: add a high-flow exhaust system consisting of high-performance headers and/or high-performance mufflers and exhaust. There’s an immediate horsepower and torque improvement achieved by installing these products, along with a cool look and better sound.

Some designs even have a “scavenging effect,” which means they help pull the exhaust gases out of the combustion chambers, so your engine can fit more fresh air and fuel in for the next combustion cycle to make even more power.

Bassani

The complete cat-back Xhaust system for 2002-2006 Cadillac Escalade delivers premium sound and 18 additional horsepower. Features include a 7x11x24-inch muffler with the patented Power X-crossover pipe inside for enhanced throttle response and a 3-inch stainless steel tailpipe with a Bassani signature 5-inch, rolled-edge, slash-cut, show-quality polished stainless steel tip. Lifetime warranty. Bassani also offers 50-state legal headers with chrome or bright ceramic coating for the ultimate power boost.

Invidia

The Titanium G200 cat-back exhaust for Honda Civic, Infiniti G35, Mitsubishi EVO, Scion xB, Subaru WRX and Nissan 350Z (shown) is constructed from SUS 304 stainless steel, with CNC-machined flanges, mandrel-bent stainless steel piping and a super-strength titanium tip with an expanded tip size to maximize exhaust air flow. The colored look of the titanium tip gives the G200 exhaust an aggressive look.

How The Exhaust Works
After the exhaust passes through the exhaust manifold or header, it travels through some tubing to the catalytic converter. The “cat” acts as a cleanup crew, reducing harmful chemicals in the exhaust gas. While it is illegal to remove a functioning catalytic converter, you can change to a high-flow design if yours has stopped working properly (you’ll know because your exhaust typically will smell like rotten eggs).

Edelbrock

New 50-state legal exhaust system for Chrysler Hemi includes headers (direct replacements for stock exhaust manifolds) with 17-gauge mandrel-bent tubes and laser-cut or stamped flanges. Available with Edelbrock’s exclusive Ti-Tech or ceramic coating, plus crossover pipe and Sound Deflection Technology (SDT) high-flowing mufflers that deliver the right balance of performance and sound.

From there, the exhaust passes through another length of tubing to a muffler, which quiets the noise that comes out your tailpipe. (On vehicles with dual exhaust, there often are two catalytic converters and two mufflers, or two header pipes can travel into and back out of a single muffler.)

High-performance mufflers obviously can increase your vehicle’s power output. They also can change the sound of its “exhaust note,” making it louder or quieter, or even changing it to a deeper or “throatier” tone. Then, the mufflers send the exhaust on its way to the tailpipes and out into the atmosphere.

Corsa

New cat-back system for the 5.7-liter Dodge Magnum/Charger/Chrysler 300C Hemi features a straight-through, 2.5-inch nonrestrictive design specifically tuned for the vehicle. Flow bench-tested 61 percent gain in exhaust flow verses stock muffler, all T-304 stainless steel construction, patented Reflective Sound Cancellation (RSC) technology and dual rear exit with Pro-Series 3.5-inch tips. Bolt-on installation (no welding required) includes hardware and instructions. 50-state emissions legal. Limited lifetime warranty. Made in the USA.

Another option is to swap the entire factory exhaust system with a complete high-performance cat-back exhaust system. It replaces everything behind the catalytic converter (or converters), including the muffler and the pipe that runs from the cat to the muffler. Most cat-back exhaust systems replace the original pipe with a larger-diameter unit, too, for better flow and increased performance.

JBA

New header-back exhaust system for Dodge Charger/Magnum and Chrysler 300C 5.7-liter Hemi is tuned to greatly increase horsepower and torque throughout the RPM range with a powerful exhaust note. Features mandrel-bent stainless tubing for increased flow, integrated X-crossover pipe, high-flow mufflers with 3.5-inch, chrome-plated, stainless rolled-lip tips and complete bolt-on instructions. Also includes two JBA headers made from stainless steel, with mandrel-bent primary tubes and 3/8-inch single-piece, laser-cut flanges. Available with nickel-chrome, silver ceramic and titanium ceramic coating.

Performance Exhaust Materials
Most premium-quality performance mufflers and pipes today are made of stainless steel (usually aircraft-quality T-304), but there are lesser quality grades of stainless that sell for less. Aluminized steel is another option, but it does not have the durability of stainless. Even so, aluminized steel is much better than plain, uncoated or painted steel. Many quality headers are also ceramic-coated to reduce heat and protect the headers from rust and corrosion.

Flowmaster

Now available for the 2006-2007 Dodge Charger R/T, this cat-back kit is designed to fit the 5.7-liter Hemi V8 engine and comes complete with dual 2.5-inch mandrel-bent tubing, a Scavenger crossover assembly, Super 40 Series mufflers and two tailpipe resonators. A set of premium 4-inch Flowmaster embossed, stainless exhaust tips exit at the stock locations. This kit will also fit the 2004-2007 Dodge Magnum R/T and Chrysler 300C 5.7-liter Hemi.

Most performance exhaust pipes are formed with mandrel bends, which do not narrow the diameter of the pipe where it curves. This reduces unwanted restrictions and keeps the exhaust flowing freely. Most premium mufflers and systems are also plasma- or TIG-welded to maintain the strength and corrosion resistance of the stainless steel. Some manufacturers also use a process called “bulge forming” or “hydro forming” to form steel sheets into molded shapes using extremely high fluid pressure.

Magnaflow

New for the 2001-2006 3.2 liter BMW M3 and E46 coupes, this all stainless steel, mandrel-bent cat-back exhaust system delivers dyno-proven horsepower and torque gains (10 hp/15 lb.-ft. of torque average) and includes a resonator, connector pipes, muffler, polished stainless steel quad-tips, all hardware and installation instructions. Lifetime warranty.

Choosing The Right Performance Exhaust
Today, choosing a performance exhaust system can be confusing. A common misconception is that “bigger is better.” Many enthusiasts (and manufacturers, too) seem to feel that very large diameter pipes are the only way to go for muscle car performance. However, for street use, big pipes just take energy out of the exhaust, both by slowing down exhaust gas velocity and by cooling off the gases. While gas may leave the exhaust port at 1,500F degrees or more, at the tailpipe it’s down to 150F degrees—a sign that energy has been lost. Velocity and uninterrupted flow are the real performance-making factors.

Magnaflow

The hot new 3.0-liter V6 Ford Fusion, Mercury Millennium and Lincoln Zephyr all benefit from this new cat-back exhaust system made from all stainless steel with mandrel-bent tubes, dual mufflers and rear-exiting, polished stainless steel tips. Lifetime warranty.

Furthermore, certain low frequency ranges have an energy or sound that is more prevalent on the inside of the car than outside. Big pipes can increase these low frequencies, producing an uncomfortable roaring or droning sound inside the cabin that makes it hard to talk on your cell phone while driving. A proper performance exhaust system, on the other hand, is designed to keep the gas velocity high while simultaneously keeping the main sound behind the tailpipe (as opposed to in the cabin), achieving the perfect combination of interior and exterior sound.

HOOKER

Super Competition B and E Body 5.7-liter Hemi engine headers utilize 16-gauge 32-inch tuned-length, 1 5/8-inch primaries merging into a 9-inch-long, 3-inch-O.D. smooth-transition collector with a three-bolt flange for simple, leak-free installation. Available with a baked-on, high-heat-resistant black paint or a Metallic Ceramic Thermal Barrier coating (shown).

Most manufacturers recommend you have a system professionally installed; however, if you choose to do it yourself, figure on it taking approximately two hours for a cat-back system install and approximately six hours for header/cat-back installation. Be sure to compare the shipment contents with the packing list before you begin, and make sure the exhaust tip(s) line up, working and tightening toward the front of the vehicle.

DC Sports

The V6 Nissan 350Z and Acura NSX single-canister dual-tip stainless steel cat-back exhaust system is CNC mandrel-bent from T-304 stainless steel and robotically TIG-welded, with a straight-through muffler core, solid hangers that utilize factory mounting locations, 4-inch straight-cut tips with rolled DC Sports logo and complete hardware and instructions for ease of installation.

What Will You Gain?
How much power a performance muffler and exhaust system will add to an engine depends on a lot of variables. A more restrictive stock system and more free-flowing replacement system will give you a better gain in horsepower.

Tanabe

The Medallion Touring cat-back exhaust system for Lexus IS350, IS300, IS250, GS430, GS400, GS50, GS300 and Infiniti G35 sedan/coupe is the newest premium-quality sports exhaust system. Using special engineering and new muffler technology, drivers are offered high performance and quiet (under 93dB) operation with a very rich, low-frequency tone that keeps in-cabin noise to a minimum.

Most manufacturers claim power gains of 15 to 25 horsepower or more with their products. The larger the displacement of the engine, the more it usually benefits from upgrading to a custom exhaust system. This is especially true with turbocharged engines. Reducing exhaust backpressure allows boost to come up more quickly and to reach a higher level. Throttle response is improved and the engine runs cooler and stronger.

Kreissieg

This Kreissieg 100 percent stainless steel high-performance exhaust system for the Ferrari F430 coupe or Spider is tuned for Type F1 race performance and features twin 80mm Type F1 rolled-end tips. Products are not EPA- or CARB-approved and are intended for show, off-road or track use only.

One thing to keep in mind when installing a performance exhaust system is heat management. Exhaust systems radiate a lot of heat. That is why stock systems often have heat shields to keep heat away from the floor, fuel tank, brake lines and fuel lines. So reuse or fabricate heat shields where necessary to keep heat away from anything that might be heat-sensitive.

Eisenmann

The Eisenmann exhaust system for the BMW E60 M5 is engineered and hand-crafted in Stuttgart, Germany for maximum performance and a deep, super sporty sound using 100 percent ultra-lightweight stainless steel construction. All exhausts are custom ordered to suit your individual tastes (sport, racing, touring) with round or oval tips.

Late-model cars and trucks are computer controlled to such an extent that it might take a short time (600 to 800 miles) before the computer reprograms itself to reflect the improved flow characteristics of a new exhaust system. If you’ve “flashed” the ECU with a tuner, be sure to re-flash it again after installing the new exhaust system.

Kreissieg

This Kreissieg high-performance exhaust system for the Lamborghini Murciélago coupe or roadster is made from 100 percent stainless steel, tuned for Type F1 race performance and features twin 80mm Type F1 rolled-end tips. Products are not EPA- or CARB-approved and are intended for show, off-road or track use only.

To ensure that their quality meets the rigorous demands of consumers, several exhaust companies’ products are also QS9000 Certified. This international designation of excellence is continually renewed through a third-party audit and requires rigid adherence to superior manufacturing protocol.

The manufacturers included in this Guide offer emissions legal exhaust and (as long as the OE catalytic converter location is maintained) installation will not affect your factory warranty.