A couple things I need advice on.

[PerfectCreature]

1st off:
I have a ported upper and lower intake(Sportsman from WOT Tech). I caught word that TCE will be providing the 65mm TBs for the 3400sfi again. My question is that it is ported but retained the stock plenum opening....is it worth it to get the 65mmTB or would the stock opening restrict the airflow way to much for it to make a difference.

As a side note, I was considering heads and what not, but I opted out as the only reasonable option was around $600 all said and done, not including the camshaft which was also recommended in addition to the heads. I will not be getting those done.
The ported intakes are basically the last mods I am looking at until a later date aside from the TB and exhaust in questioon.
2nd:
I have been looking around and none of the shops in my area want to build a custom exhaust for me without me bringing in the pipes that are essentially pre-bended.
The only real options I am looking at are get the Borla; which is way to expensive for me. Get the Pacesetter which everyone knocks for not being stainless steel, or get the GT downpipe and an aftermarket muffler and tips.
I am a little confused as to what to go with. It seems like I am at a dead end, since my last option would be to bring the pipes to the shop...but I do not know how much pipe, and what angles and what not to bring them.
I know the preffered is 2.5, and is also the max to go...and I think the stock SE which is what I have is around 1.9 inchs with the GT being around 2.2 or something like that.
Is that a big enough difference to even worry about?

My car is stock except for the port work on my intakes and a short ram intake.

3rd: I was considering getting a mail order tune, but have not decided one way or the other. Dyno tunes, and real-time tunes are out of the questions since the closest person near to me is around 700 miles away. That is not worth it to me.
So my only option is to get a mail order tune. Is it worth it in my case?

I appreciate the advice and the help.

[gectek]

Where are you located and what are your performance goals are the first 2 reasonable questions.

[PerfectCreature]

I am located in Maine.
My goals are to get the most I can out of the vehicle without spending more then it's own value.
I have a budget of around $500-750 or so at this point to spend on the car-this includes labor if it is something that is extremely intensive.
I would like to see 200 hp at the wheels, but that is unlikely given my budget of $500 preferred, $750 max with parts and labor included.
Like I mentioned before, the only reason I upgraded the intakes was because I has the LIM leak, and I was going to wait until I had more money saved up so I could get a cam and the heads, but the leak was getting pretty bad and it had to be fixed.

[gectek]

I am sure a tune from Wot Tech would cheer it up. Also i would look at the pace setter exhaust to save some money and still have something good. The arguement over stainless vs mild steel can be rather ridiculous. I would prob look at the Magnaflow direct fit downpipe also. Made of stainless and bolts right in. Those 3 things will give you the best bang for the buck IMO.

[PerfectCreature]

If I could have an exhaust, I would. The problem is that in Maine, we have an issue with bikers and super loud obnoxious pipes. So in order to curb the amount of bikes with overly obnoxious bikes, we have a ridiculous law that pretty much states anything over stock sound coming from an exhaust from any vehicle is grounds for a ticket. It is really lame in my opinion because anything aftermarket pretty much makes it louder. That is why I was wondering if the GT exhaust pipe was good enough of an improvement.
As for the exhaust, I was looking at the Pacesetter one, since it can be had cheap from time to time.
I did not know WOT-Tech still did tunes.
The other issue is that this is my daily driver, so it makes it hard to do or have done, anything really work/time intensive.

[gectek]

The pace setter is not that loud at all. Esp with everything else being mostly stock. Any other muffler would make it too loud. And I heard about the exhaust thing. Pretty odd. The pace setter will go on fairly easy as long as you have a sawzall.

[PerfectCreature]

Yes, my father has one I can borrow. He is a carpenter. My only issue is getting the car jacked up high enough to actually work underneath of it.
I have a mud driveway, and I don't have any mechanic buddies with a lift anymore.
How close is the Pacesetter to a stock GT muffler? I tried listening to videos, but it is just not the same. I would hate to spend the cash only to find out I need to get a stock exhaust welded back on. I really do not want to catch any attention at all, I mean I was people to think I just put on tips.
Also, I can get away with it if the sound at I think 3500rpm or something like that is less then 95 decibels. The only issue is no one I know can test it.
Why would I need a sawzall? I was under the assumption everything was pretty much unbolt, buy a new exhaust gasket, bolt back up. Replace lame clamps with stainless steel clamps.

[gectek]

The stock over the axle pipe is problematic. They are not clamped on they are welded. The only part is where it bolts on after the cat. Are you looking at just getting a muffler? If so then the GT muffler would make you cut a hole in your rear bumper too for its dual outlet. Or you want just larger pipe with your muffler?

[PerfectCreature]

I am looking for the larger pipe diameter. I have the ported intakes, and a WAI (w/ stock TB), so I am getting plenty of air into the system, but it is being choked on the way out.
My main reason for the exhaust is to get a better flow out the back. I am not looking for sound or anything like that.
I know the pacesetters have the dual outlet, but they sit a bit lower.... The only issue is I have not been able to hear them in person so I am weary on buying them.
I was thinking of getting a GT setup because the pipes are larger, I was hoping that would increase the flow enough to make a difference.
I was not sure if going from the stock 1.875 (SE) or whatever it is to a 2.25 (I think that is stock GT) would be enough to make a difference in flow, or if I have to suck it up and count on luck by getting the Pacesetter.
I have been debating back and forth on the exhaust for about the last 6 months. It has been bothering me quite a bit. The Maine law is annoying.
I have also asked around on custom exhausts, and they all want me to bring in my own piping or they want to pressure bend and use weird mesh piping for the turns/curves and what not.

[gectek]

With your list of mods, I am pretty sure the pace setter would be the best. Otherwise, you can still use the tubing from it and sell the muffler and get a better one. That way you will have the exhaust you want with the larger pipe and can quiet it down with a diff muffler. If you do it right, you would not be out much money from selling the pace setter muffler to getting another one.

[PerfectCreature]

What sort of muffler would your recommend? I know I need the camero style muffler, but I need one that is extremely quiet.
I was looking around and someone mentioned Dynomax is the most quiet or a turbo style muffler would be best.
All I see is Magnaflow, Flowmaster 40 or 80 series and the dynomax.
All of them seems pretty loud as well.

[gectek]

Magnaflow would be prob the quietest. It would also depend on the type of tip you use as they can amplify the sound. The bullet mufflers are rather loud though. Any of the flowmaster are very loud.

[PerfectCreature]

I don't suppose the Pacsetter tips would amplify sound?

[gectek]

Hard to say. Prob not much no.

[PerfectCreature]

So it is pretty much the Pacesetter exhaust with Magnaflow would be the most quiet option, while still giving me the performance boost.
I looked on WOT-Tech's site and did not find anything about a PCM, I have one that I had tuned awhile ago, but have it stashed in my closet somewhere. I went looking for it but could not find it, so I may have to buy a new one.
The only two places I knew of was Milzy for $99 and MP Racing for around $149. Not sure on the differenced between the two tunes.
If you could be post a link maybe to the page? ---to Wot Tech pcm.
It is a Daily Driver like I said, so if a custom tune is some sort of "privilege" for being a member on the forum, that would be out of the question.