Exhaust choices question

[Daemon]

Ok.. So I've checked out the various 3.slow exhaust threads and would like to hear from folks who've gone either way.

Here are the two options I'm considering.
1. 2.25" from Y-pipe to stock cat, 2.25" from cat to performance muffler and 2.25" from muffler to tip.
Would run me about $340 from local muffler shop

2. retain stock 2" from Y-pipe to stock cat., then 2.5" cat back through performance muffler.
Would run $285.

Any advice on relative benefits?

I saw someone warn that 2.5" from the Y-pipe back was too big and they lost low end torque. I don't want to lose any low end, but I'm pretty desperate to improve mid-range/high end power because this thing is just a slug in the mountains especially in Colorado where I'm starting at 5000 feet and going up.
It sounds pretty restricted now but I don't know if that's mostly muffler or how big a role that long pipe between the Y and cat is playing.

Any advice would be appreciated.

ian

 

[Daemon]

Well, on the advice of someone in an old post (since nobody replied here), I settled on a 2.25" catback exhaust.
I didn't go to a 2.5" because I didn't want to risk losing any low end torque, since it's so anemic as it is. The muffler shop told me that the stock pipe from the headers to the cat was already 2.25" and then 2.0" from cat to tip, so just had em replace that with 2.25" and Magnaflow performance muffler. Sounds a little better, but offers very little noticeable performance improvement.

Also picked up a Spectre Intake kit at Pep Boys plus an extra rubber coupler and did the ISR mod. That went really quick and easy and it came with the PCV and vacuum hose attachments. Pretty much same result as the new exhaust. Sounds a little better, but provides very little noticeable performance gain. My measure of performance is how fast I can make it up the mountains on I-70 west of Denver and how much of it I can do in 3rd gear (auto). My goal was to try to make it to the top of the first big hill (about a 3000 foot climb) without spending the whole time spinning at 5100 rpms in 2nd gear at 55mph watching the gas gauge drop. I found I was still bogged down at about the same place during the climb. Only one stretch seemed a little better, but may just be I got a better run at it.

Doesn't look like there's much left I can do to help the 3.slow.

ian