Re: Anyone install a Catback system on their rig?
There's more to it than just a larger diameter pipe. "Cat-back" would also include the muffler. All stock OEM mufflers are designed to run quiet, which restricts exhaust flow. A cat-back system includes a high flow muffler and usually a larger diameter tailpipe. It can free up a little bit of power, but I don't know how noticable it will be. I am about to install a Flowmaster 50 series on my '96 with a 351. I'm just replacing the muffler and reusing the tailpipe. It cost me $80 from Summit. I'm more interested in a deeper exhaust sound, if I get a performance gain from it, that's a welcome bonus.
To answer your questions, a $200 system like Gibson or something similiar will probably bolt up just like the stock system did and you shouldn't need any modifications to the pipe. For that price it should be an easy bolt-on install. Whether you should buy it or not is up to you. Look at your old tailpipe, if it is still in good shape and not rusted out, you may want to save some money and just buy a high flow muffler like I did. Exhaust work isn't fun to me, but it's not very difficult. Good luck!