Well, I just intsalled my Quicktime Performance Electric Exhaust Cutout (QTECH) and I must say it is a nice piece. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />

The quality of the unit is top notch - and I was pleasantly suprised by the wiring included...it makes me feel better about having that under the car now...the wiring is weathertight with a nice connector on each end. <img border="0" alt="[Fluffy]" title="" src="graemlins/fluffy.gif" />

The bad news...the flowtech (flowtec?) cutout is poorly designed. My biggest complaint is the stud length...I can't even get the wingnuts on 1/2 way!!! That is without a gasket or RTV...it would be nearly impossible with a gasket. I am very disappointed with the selection of the flowtech cutout, and am surprised that Barry is coupling them with his high quality unit. I would rather pay another $10 for a quality cutout and not have to worry about my $135 QTECH falling off the end of it! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Mad]" src="gr_images/icons/mad.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="gr_eek2.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[bullshit]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_bs.gif" />

The price was $185 shipped, and I paid a shop $50 to have the cutout welded into place. The guy did a nice job on the weld, and got all of the way around the cutout to ensure 0 leakage.

Side note. I think a poor cutout installation is probably being confused with a leaky QTECH (or the other brands) in some cases because it doesn't look very easy to weld all the way around the cutout...some shops may just do a 3/4 weld...thus the leakage sound. My .02 on that.

What does it sound like? Well, I am pleased with the sound. I was considering both BMMG and Loudmouth for sound. I heard a LM in person on a car with headers and it was the nastiest setup I have ever heard...but on a stock exhaust car (with cats) it sounds very good. I have stock exhaust (except for the cutout now) and the car sounds bery good...about 3000 RPMS it starts to sound beautifully smooth ... very NASCAR like.
<img border="0" title="" alt="[Cool]" src="gr_images/icons/cool.gif" />

All of my cars from this day on will have an electric cutout...the best of both worlds. I must say I love the 'real' sound of the LS1...good times! <img border="0" alt="[Burnout]" title="" src="graemlins/burnout.gif" />

 

If I were you I would look into the hooker catback, I love mine and its cheap. I just put my cutout back on and it sounds good both capped and open so I may have to get an electric cutout soon as well.

 

Explain something...I was always led to believe the $135 price tag was for the electric butterfly throttle body plate type device making it an electric cutout. So unless I read wrong and this isn't the case, how is just the electric piece I can attach to my current Flowtech cutout?

 

Hugger > I am more than pleased with the electric cutout...I can have the 'quiet' stock exhaust for freway cruising (or the Power Tour or Anti Tour), or I have can the free-est flowing exhaust for the track...or the loudest on the street - at the flick of a switch. I wanted a catback, but decided I'd rather have the flexibilty. Noise is an issue in my apartment as well, and I didn't want the neighbors complaining, so I can just close it when I am in the complex.

You can add the QTech to your existing cutout...but call Barry at Quicktime Performance first to see which one to get (he has a bunch of diff sizes).

R U A LS1 > Yes, $135 is for the electric butterly and wiring and switch. The whole unit is called Qtech, and it replaces the cap on your existing cutout, or you can buy a 'kit' with the lame flowtech...well, the flowtech itself isn't really that lame, it just doesn't work well with the Qtech because of the short studs...I'd recommend getting a diff cutout and putting a qtech on it.

 

soslo - where did you mount the qtec - right behind the 'y'? I've really been looking at getting one for the same reasons - lol I got a CHP right across the street but he seems cool - so far lol.

 

Renegade, there is a spot underneath the rear passenger seat that has a 'hump' where the qtech fits right in.

 

So what other cutouts have longer studs? Or screws for that matter?

 

soslo-simply take a dremel tool and cut those short bolts off, get some longer grade 8 bolts and put some thread locker on the treads and you will be set .

 

The best thing I did was cut the bolts off the flowtech and got my own longer ones for the QTEC. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" /> PS mine is the 98 LS1 on his site. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" />

QTEC homepage

 

I wish I would have thought of the longer bolt deal BEFORE I put the thing on :-)

I love it - closed on the freeway, open in the city...good times

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Toxic Texan:
[QB]The best thing I did was cut the bolts off the flowtech and got my own longer ones for the QTEC. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" /> PS mine is the 98 LS1 on his site. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" />

I was wondering why those looked so long when I went to his site. BTW your car sounds awsome.

 

I've got a cutout on the end of my exhaust at the muffler input (looks like 3 exhaust pipes if you look under the car), so I already have the flange with 3 bolts - now I wanna get one of these! <img border="0" alt="[devil]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_devil.gif" />
Where did you mount the switch? <img border="0" alt="[pimp]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_pimp.gif" />

 

I mounted the switch in the ashtray...but be *super careful* when drilling this thing...mine totally shattered when the drill bit touched it, so it had to be JB Welded back together. That is the most worthless plastic piece ever.

 

I will be doing a new video for Barry with a new exhaust setup. I wonder if anyone would be able to tell??? <img border="0" alt="[devil]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_devil.gif" /> Thanks SSdriver..it sounds even better now. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />

 

I put my switch in the ash tray... drilled a nice hole and proceeded to drop it and cracked off an edge <img border="0" title="" alt="[Mad]" src="gr_images/icons/mad.gif" />

Someone told me that there may be e-check issues with having one (not a closed system?)... any truth to this?

 

Here's mine...
Took about three hours. Had to pull out the passenger side front and rear seats, but what the heck, it was fun.

The wiring coming through a drain plug. Resealed with RTV.
<img src="http://www.fototime.com/4BF1B45CEA58678/standard.jpg" alt=" - " />

The closed cutout.
<img src="http://www.fototime.com/754811A9047AE13/standard.jpg" alt=" - " />

Wiring from the cutout into the center console.
<img src="http://www.fototime.com/351AF8DBF818130/standard.jpg" alt=" - " />

Open Cutout <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />
<img src="http://www.fototime.com/A34F746C86D352B/standard.jpg" alt=" - " />

The switch neatly hidden in the ashtray.
<img src="http://www.fototime.com/7B8A42019B6A4A0/standard.jpg" alt=" - " />

<small>[ November 08, 2002, 09:21 AM: Message edited by: jaywoo ]</small>

 

Jaywoo, I would highly recommend you move that electric cable from where you have it coming thru that rubber grommet. The hot exhaust from the cutout will possibly melt that wire. My rubber grommet is half baked and crusty from running a cutout in the same location, and it should hold up better than that wire.

I have my QTEC cutout wire coming out from where the shifter is, right above the tranny. Zip-ties hold it in place.

BTW, the QTEC cutout is a TON of fun. My car is very quiet with the SLP dual-dual catback and I'm having some fun opening that sucker up to scare people <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />

-Tony

 

I didn't think about that. Dangit, now I have to reroute the wire. Oh well. More fun working on the car. Thanks for the tip. I guess I should have just went in above the tranny in the first place.

<small>[ November 08, 2002, 10:36 AM: Message edited by: jaywoo ]</small>

 

You may be able to (verb) duct tape the wire to the bottom of the floorpan...I don't know how effective that would be though. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Confused]" src="images/icons/confused.gif" />