Funky exhaust question..kinda weird.
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On The Tree
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From: DFW area, tx
Funky exhaust question..kinda weird. Im going to go with a new setup including Hooker LT's, X-pipe, bullets, over the axle. Although I no longer have to pass a sniffer test..theres still a visual. I was thinking about taking my current cats, gutting them and welding them up before the X crossover so it looks legal. My question is will it sound nasty with gutted cats? I've heard people saying yes with the stock setup, but was unsure about this. Also, since im going over the axle (also for legality) I was thinking about sticking 2 cut-outs in there, but I can't really decide where. If i did it before the X, i'd probably be right after the gutted cats if I did it that way, and that makes me again question the sound issue. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Confused]" src="images/icons/confused.gif" />
<small>[ November 14, 2002, 07:27 PM: Message edited by: DrowningMan ]</small>
<small>[ November 14, 2002, 07:27 PM: Message edited by: DrowningMan ]</small>
Re: Funky exhaust question..kinda weird. As for sounds w/ !cats, on a stocker or quieter cat back system, it does sound much louder, some say nasty cuz they like the clean, deep rumble. W/ headers, !cats, 'X' and bullets, it shouldn't any different then just having headers, X and bullets just a hollowed out pipe yeah. As for cutouts: the purpose of header hanging will negate the X, so if you mount after the X, you will get the benefit of the X balancing out exhaust pulses and increased flow from cutouts before the "over axle" bends. W/ cutouts after !cats, you will get much more drone and loudness inside the car w/ them open. After the X when open it'll be loud but not nasty and drony. Good-luck.
Charlie.
Charlie.
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From: Louisiana
Re: Funky exhaust question..kinda weird. Don't put cutouts before the X. My car made the same power running through the true duals ( Dr Gas X, bullets off the headers, dumps before the axle) as it did with open headers ( with extensions, like dual cutouts ), and gained down low. I would just get a set of high flowing cats put in instead of gutting the cats. You will want some form of "muffler", or it will sound nasty. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" /> Or another option would be to put the gutted cats in there and run a bullet muffler or 2 down stream ( most likely before you go over the axle).
Justin
Justin
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Re: Funky exhaust question..kinda weird. </font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Jsears8:
<strong>Don't put cutouts before the X. My car made the same power running through the true duals ( Dr Gas X, bullets off the headers, dumps before the axle) as it did with open headers ( with extensions, like dual cutouts ), and gained down low. I would just get a set of high flowing cats put in instead of gutting the cats. You will want some form of "muffler", or it will sound nasty. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" /> Or another option would be to put the gutted cats in there and run a bullet muffler or 2 down stream ( most likely before you go over the axle).
Justin</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Well, Heres another variation I as thinking about. If I put the gutted cats before the X, then the cut-outs, then 2 bullet mufflers. Or would it be better to out the cut-outs after the bullets? Bare with me....Im some what of an idiot. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Cool]" src="gr_images/icons/cool.gif" />
<strong>Don't put cutouts before the X. My car made the same power running through the true duals ( Dr Gas X, bullets off the headers, dumps before the axle) as it did with open headers ( with extensions, like dual cutouts ), and gained down low. I would just get a set of high flowing cats put in instead of gutting the cats. You will want some form of "muffler", or it will sound nasty. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" /> Or another option would be to put the gutted cats in there and run a bullet muffler or 2 down stream ( most likely before you go over the axle).
Justin</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Well, Heres another variation I as thinking about. If I put the gutted cats before the X, then the cut-outs, then 2 bullet mufflers. Or would it be better to out the cut-outs after the bullets? Bare with me....Im some what of an idiot. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Cool]" src="gr_images/icons/cool.gif" />
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From: Louisiana
Re: Funky exhaust question..kinda weird. You do not need cutouts, the bullets are very free flowing muffler, very minimal HP loss, if any.
If you want to go over the axle, your best bet would be to run straight pipes through the gutted cat, have your X, put the bullets after the X and then go over the axle.
However, if you insist on having cutouts then place them about 14inches after the X.
Justin
<small>[ November 14, 2002, 08:44 PM: Message edited by: Jsears8 ]</small>
If you want to go over the axle, your best bet would be to run straight pipes through the gutted cat, have your X, put the bullets after the X and then go over the axle.
However, if you insist on having cutouts then place them about 14inches after the X.
Justin
<small>[ November 14, 2002, 08:44 PM: Message edited by: Jsears8 ]</small>
Re: Funky exhaust question..kinda weird. I say skip the cut-outs. As for the cats, just weld the outer casing to the X-pipe tubing. It will look like a cat, but will just be the X-pipe tubing down the middle.
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Thread Starter
On The Tree
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From: DFW area, tx
Re: Funky exhaust question..kinda weird. I was thinking about running pipes through the cat but didn't know how logical or easy that would. I suppose if I got the right diameter of pipe it would work pretty well. I guess i'll just have to hack 'em off and monky with it them. Thanks again. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />
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From: Chicago Land
Re: Funky exhaust question..kinda weird. I dont think you can take the exhaust over the axel on the drivers side unless you go with like a 2" pipe which is just a waste. Just dump it before the axel or stick it out the side if you need to go in for emissions.
Re: Funky exhaust question..kinda weird. sited12, you can get 2 1/2" piping over the axle on both sides if you have a good exhaust shop, not the best, just competent. I've seen it, and have friends with it or seen it also. Not easy, not really cheap, but definately do-able.
Jsears8- Don't you think he'd actually lose a couple ponies w/out a cutout? having the articulated bends in the pipes going over and back down the axle and back to horizontal seems like it may cost a couple horsepower. I have no dyno comparison, but track yes. Most guys pick up 1-2 mph thru the traps using cutout instead of routing up-over-and back out. Just curious thought I'd ask.
Damned if the engineers didnt know they would cause us so much pain trying to run true duals. Hopefully the next generation (rebirth) F bodies will have provisions built in for clearance of this sort of thing.
Charlie.
Jsears8- Don't you think he'd actually lose a couple ponies w/out a cutout? having the articulated bends in the pipes going over and back down the axle and back to horizontal seems like it may cost a couple horsepower. I have no dyno comparison, but track yes. Most guys pick up 1-2 mph thru the traps using cutout instead of routing up-over-and back out. Just curious thought I'd ask.
Damned if the engineers didnt know they would cause us so much pain trying to run true duals. Hopefully the next generation (rebirth) F bodies will have provisions built in for clearance of this sort of thing.
Charlie.
Thread Starter
On The Tree
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From: DFW area, tx
Re: Funky exhaust question..kinda weird. I've heard of a few people doing it. They did have a smaller pipe over the axle, but something a little bigger than 2" might fit if i remember..i dunno. I still have some figuring out to do. I'd go out the sides but Im not really fond of the way that looks though. bah...unfortunately i wasn't blessed with logical thought. <img border="0" alt="[Banging Head]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_banghead.gif" /> Thank you ls1tech for doing all of my thinking for me! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />
Thread Starter
On The Tree
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From: DFW area, tx
Re: Funky exhaust question..kinda weird. </font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by DaddySS:
<strong>BTW, instead of gutting cats, why not put together a qood off road pipe set up so that you can install the cats as necessary or desired?</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I thought about doing that, but it looks like it might be a pain in the ***, for a moron like me anyway. I think Im going to try 1canwndr's idea of just welding the outer casting of the cat around the x-pipe. I really don't care if it look pretty or not, just as long with a quick glance it appears to be there. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />
<strong>BTW, instead of gutting cats, why not put together a qood off road pipe set up so that you can install the cats as necessary or desired?</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I thought about doing that, but it looks like it might be a pain in the ***, for a moron like me anyway. I think Im going to try 1canwndr's idea of just welding the outer casting of the cat around the x-pipe. I really don't care if it look pretty or not, just as long with a quick glance it appears to be there. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />
Thread Starter
On The Tree
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From: DFW area, tx
Re: Funky exhaust question..kinda weird. depends on how much of a moron the inspector is. I would figure most would know what a cat should look like, but i've wonder that before.
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From: Native Texan
Re: Funky exhaust question..kinda weird. Ok here is my plan. When I finish my exhaust I am going to cut the cats open. Then take the case and weld it up around the pipe. So that way I actually have ORP but it looks legit.
Later,
Bart
Later,
Bart
Re: Funky exhaust question..kinda weird. on our cars its really hard to get duals over the axle. i really respect those who make it work good. hopefully the next generation f-body cars when and if they ever come back will have an exhaust design like that of a 5 liter mustang. it would be easy to get duals on one of them. i hate the way ford engines sound though (not quite right when your like me used to chevys). people that have mustangs have a few more options than we do as far as exhaust goes. they can by longtubes with matching x-pipe that bolts onto whatever catback they run. we can do that with our single exhaust systems (longtube with matching y then into catback)but it would be nice if we could do ours like theirs. i think that it would sound and look a little better that way. since we would then get away from the crossflow design we would have slightly freer flowing mufflers available then.
i still love my hooker cat-back but hate trying to explain the setup to someone who knows nothing about cars.
i still love my hooker cat-back but hate trying to explain the setup to someone who knows nothing about cars.