Okay this first one might sound dumb...but I can't figure out what I'd do.

I'm going to be dropping a new engine here...soon, hopefully. I've gotten headers (tossing out the exh manifolds) so I'm gonna want a new exhaust system, and I'm thinking theres this one place about 10 minutes from here that can rig me up a set. Anyway, when I drop the engine in and install the headers...I won't have any pipes back there. Should I drive to the shop with open headers roaring? Or should I have something made beforehand...?

Also, I'm looking for suggestions for this new exhaust system. I want something kinda low and throaty, not TOO loud, but a couple turns of the head would be nice. What should I get? X, H-pipe? Glasspack? Mufflers? Flowmaster? Borla? Straight pipes? (Do I need a catalytic converter?)

Depending on what you want, this might be a better choice.
Have you gotten an estimate to what they will charge? Might be cheaper to get a pre made mandrel-bent system.

Summitracing.com has their house brand 2 1/4" kit with the following:
<font face="Arial,Verdana" size="2"> These kits fit vehicles with standard 3 in. header collectors and come complete with tubing, clamps, hangers, gaskets, hardware, and Summit Turbo mufflers.</font>
..for $129.95, I bet a muffler shop can't beat that price.

Or you can go with the Flowmaster 2 1/2" American Thunder system for $359.95.


To answer your question, I have driven open header cars to exhaust shops before, but nowadays I like the pre fabbed kits that I can install myself.

open headers arnt TOO bad if you dont get on it.. if your worried.. find 2 junk(but still usable) mufflers and clamp them onto your header collector/reducers