cat delete and glass pack question

[f85gtron]

I've gone over to the dark side and cut out a certain part of my exhaust, with every intention to delete it.....not because i don't believe in the benefits of clean air, but because I'm more interested in the sound of the exhaust. Yes, I'm a selfish, bad person, and a dirty-rotten s.o.b.....but i knew that already....
But what i don't know is, what should i expect from this mod?  I've chosen a Magnaflow 18x3.5" body glass pack to run in line with the factory muffler....
Had anyone else chosen this path and what are your experiences?
I feel so dirty....but I'm not turning back.....maybe..
Ron

[Fierofool]

I know nothing about the particular muffler, but being that close to the engine may cause it to burn out quicker than if it were further down line.  Some variations on the theme are to gut that front portion and reinstall it or replace it with an 'off-road' pipe like you might use in your autocrossing. 

I think Paul made some deletions on the same theme.  Personally, I like the sound of that mod.  I've done it to my 87 and I think it sounds closer to a V8 when at idle.  My brother just got one of my low-mileage stock systems and made the same mod and his car sounds much better, too.  With the gutted front component, that might create an even lower tone to the exhaust. 

[TopNotch]

You can have your sound and clean air if you replace your cat with a modern high-flow cat, such as Rodney Dickman sells.

[Raydar]

I have a Rodney cat if you're interested. It got retired when I had a different system (also with a cat) constructed.
In your case, I would probably just install one of the Fiero Store's "test pipes", since your car is no longer being tested. 

*Having said all that... I'll go ahead and mention that I hate being on a run and following a car that has had the cat removed. My eyes burn the whole time. But I can't really cast stones, since I've done the same thing from time to time.

YMMV.

[f85gtron]

I did it. ....and the exhaust stinks!  Whoa!....but only when rich, so once it warms up, its not bad at all. Revs are much faster and higher. Sound is only a hair louder at idle and a little deeper under load. That proves that the original exhaust was a kick butt design and is difficult to improve on without big dollars.
I'm embarrassed by the smell a little....we'll see if i get used to it.
Ron

[f85gtron]

Just an update:
I wasn't happy with the sound in the beginning, and didn't care for the stank, but since then, I've got the a/f mixture under control, so the stank is now just a power stink  
I also didn't care for the sound, but as it turns out, i did a total hack job on the glass pack install and had leaks all over around the clamps. Problem solved with a 20$ patch job at the exhaust shop and now I'm hitting redline between the lights with a HUGE smile on my face.
Ron