How can I tell if my car has a cat back exhaust system?

Question

Can I look under the car and tell? Also, if I want to add headers, does this require dual exhaust with two mufflers? Or, can it be done with one muffler and something called a Y pipe?

It is an 88 iroc with a 5.7. Is there anything that identifies this by looking at the exhaust system? Also, what is the best kind of setup to add headers? Would that be by using a Y pipe?

Answer 1

What kind of car... if you have an idea of what you are looking at you should be able to tell

Answer 2

Yes, you can probably be able to see the cat. Look where the exhaust system is bolted onto the engine, up near the front, underside of the engine compartment. The cat won't usually be as large as the muffler, and will sometimes have a heat shield strapped to it above it, between the cat and the under floor area. Some of the early cat equipped GM cars had large cats, but they have mostly gone to the scrap yard by now!
As for headers, on a v/8, yes it will require headers, and probably 2 mufflers to be street legal, at least in PA. A stock V/8 usually had a Y-pipe and one muffler, stock!
Check in the Hot Rod car mags. There are all types of exhaust systems shown for sale, to be used on cars such as yours! But! Better have a large bag of gold, as they aren't cheap!

Answer 3

Any car made after 1972 will have cat-back exhaust. And yes, you can use a Y pipe, if it's the best idea for the applicaton.