Got some questions for those that have done the exhaust mods....(gonna do the full exhaust when I get tax returns this spring)

I've been reading posts for the last 3-4 hours about exhaust and headers and I'm trying to get the best setup for HP gain as well as quality of sound for an '87 N/A.

I'm thinking of getting the RB header (with the thing to activate the 5th and 6th ports + O2 sensor) + RB presilencer.... but then I'm confused.
Not sure to run through a high flow cat. into a 'Y' pipe and mufflers, or to go with a straightpipe to one muffler, and maybe no cat. at all??
I was thinking that the straightpipe would be better than "Y" pipe, and I don't know if the Cat. effects sound quality.

I'm trying to get a nice DEEP sound while still getting a good HP boost. This is a daily driver, so that's why I'm worried about exhaust being too loud + po po's..
Anyway, after reading all night I'm very confused about this and I would like to figure it out before I go and by all the parts.

P.S. - Also considering a downpipe instead of header + silencer, but I'm worried there won't be much of a HP gain. And yes, I spent about an hour reading the 8 page long "How to get a beefy N/A" thread

Thanks for any help!
-Cyrus

 

nevermind....
just found the "Final exhaust discussion thread"
very informative

-Cyrus