question about exhaust

[2011-Silver-Ice]

Hi guys, I have a question about the type of exhaust systems. As I read thru the posts, I am getting the impression that there are different type, like just the mufflers, then the mufflers and the long pipe, then the whole thing including the hearders. Am I on the right track thinking this way?

[deljaso]

You are on the right track.
There are "axle-back" systems, which are pretty much just the muffler and exhaust tips. For these, you'll have to cut the exhaust pipe somewhere toward the rear of the car (following the manufacturers instructions) and then either clamp on the new tubing/muffler/tip system, or have a shop cut the old mufflers off and weld the new ones in.

There are "cat-back" systems, which are the mufflers + piping to go all the way forward to the catalytic converters. These bolt up to the exhaust flanges you have on your car that are directly after the catalytic converters. These all bolt right on using included hardware.

Then there are headers. And there are two kinds of these available so far, "shorties" and "long tube headers". Shorties go from your engine and stop before the catalytic converters. These will require cutting and welding or clamping to the pipe right before the catalytic converters that are on the car right not.
Long tube headers go from the engine, back to the flanges that I mentioned before -- where the factory cats stop and hook up to the "cat-back" exhaust system. These long tube headers replace the factory catalytic converters and the factory exhaust manifold. Usually they have high flow catalytic converters included.

[trybal84]

this helped me a 100%!!! thanks man