'97 3800 Series II n/a needs exhaust work. Suggestions?

[KZOO3800]

1997 Pontiac Grand Prix SE
Single stock exhaust
3.8 NA Series II
173,000+ miles

My exhaust has always been 'noisy' since i got my GP on 11/10/'10. After a drive down a ridiculous dirt road it finally became LOUD! I must have little to no back-pressure right now.

Two things:

1. For about 1000 miles I've driven this car with exhaust so loud I can't hear my stereo. Ironically I haven't had the time to get it looked at because I am on-call 7 days a week doing quality assurance for auto parts suppliers...
2. I have roughly $800 to spend on a new exhaust system. Parts wise that buys a lot of exhaust, but Western Michigan winters are so brutal that without a garage I'm forced to pay someone to do this for me.

I visited a local Muffler Man, and after explaining this to the mechanic there he enthusiastically said "lets go put something on the lift and I'll show you what we can do". He put a customer's ride up on the lift and walked me through what he does. He said we can swap out each component as needed.

For an SE, I just need a working exhaust, but I was wondering what my options are without any extra tuning/modding. Most likely I'll go with a new O/E exhaust but I was curious what I can get away with. I just want to have it bolted on.

 

[Explicit_Spade]

Get another stock exhaust from a junkyard. That will save you a lot of money.

 

[KZOO3800]

That's the problem with shops, "no customer parts accepted" was right on the front desk. I'd do it myself if I had the experience, but I don't want to roll around in slush under my ride with my nose 3" from the muffler.

 

[Grimsin]

if the exhaust is rusted from cat back you could go pull one off from the wreckers, just a few bolts(prob some wd40) and exhaust hangers later and your done. you could get a dual gt or gtp setup for the dual look, just requires the extra hanger.
thats dumb the say no customer parts accepted, i would walk away or tell them your going to walk away and go to a different shop cause of that, it might change their tune. sounds like they want to rip you off on the piping and welding etc.
I just got my 2.5'' downpipe installed and it was a used one, they first said "we could get a new downpipe and install", i said no i want this one, they said "we feel more comfortable putting a brand new one on" and he gave me this hopefull/almost scared look lmao....I told them you wont work on my car then, 60 minutes later i was driving home with my downpipe installed lols.