remember the post "why horsepower DOESN'T=horsepower?
Hope this helps
-dan
My old exhaust system: MAC headers, ORY, cutout, Supertrapp exhaust. I ran the cutout right where the y-pipe meets the I-pipe. The cutout was open 24/7 for about a year. My car is still fine <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />
Got tired of how frickin loud it was after a year and the raspiness too. So, 2 weeks ago, I switched to a x-pipe system and bullet mufflers. It still screams, just no rasp at all. Lot smoother of a sound.

