exhaust upgrades closer to the engine always make more of a difference than farther from it. so yes, a header is still good w/ stock muffler. it will be a bit louder but wont matter unless your muffler is just crap. id put back on the resonator (or any resonator the same size piping as what you have) as well as a hi-flow cat from catco. their only 50 bucks or less and flow a shitload better.
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