cats vs ory?
cats vs ory? i cant decide. im getting pacesetter long tubes and everyone says the loudmouth sounds real bad with an ory pipe. how does the loudmouth2 sound? if i got a catted y pipe, how much hp would i be loosing out on? i live in iowa and ive never heard of anyone being bothered with emisions. im basically worried about the sound. its a $210 difference with the catted and the off road y pipe! 
this car is a daily driver. i like an aggressive sound but i would like to be able to talk to the passenger without yelling. if the catts make the drive that much better then i will get them. if i can get the same effect going a cheaper route then thats what i will do.
this car is a daily driver. i like an aggressive sound but i would like to be able to talk to the passenger without yelling. if the catts make the drive that much better then i will get them. if i can get the same effect going a cheaper route then thats what i will do.
I went with Jet Hot LTs and catted Y-pipe matched to my existing LM1. It's pretty loud, but I like it.
I've only heard online clips of LM/ORY combos (Youtube has a number of them you can sample). Never in person, though. But they were unattractive enough to make me want to go with a catted Y when I installed my headers.
If you really want to keep your LM catback, I suggest spending the extra cash and getting a catted Y.
If you'd like to hear my setup, go to Youtube and search Cottonwood121. You'll find my 99 Formula in before and after the LT install videos.
I've only heard online clips of LM/ORY combos (Youtube has a number of them you can sample). Never in person, though. But they were unattractive enough to make me want to go with a catted Y when I installed my headers.
If you really want to keep your LM catback, I suggest spending the extra cash and getting a catted Y.
If you'd like to hear my setup, go to Youtube and search Cottonwood121. You'll find my 99 Formula in before and after the LT install videos.
ive listened to a few sound clips but the only thing is, you only get the general tone. all the ls1 clips ive heard all sounded good. i was really leaning to the cats tho. i want a "street" car and i cant have an ory pipe everywhere i dont think.
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 34,631
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From: Schiller Park, ILL Member: #317
I would avoid the cats. These should only be used if you have to pass a visual emissions test, otherwise they are best deleted.
I agree with those who say that an ORY sounds like *** with a LM catback though. But cats are not the only answer, you can get nearly the same results by using bullet muffers in the Y-pipe, and if you want even more sound reduction put a bullet in place of the SLP resonator. Dynomax bullets are pretty cheap, this solution will be cheaper and have zero effect on power.
I agree with those who say that an ORY sounds like *** with a LM catback though. But cats are not the only answer, you can get nearly the same results by using bullet muffers in the Y-pipe, and if you want even more sound reduction put a bullet in place of the SLP resonator. Dynomax bullets are pretty cheap, this solution will be cheaper and have zero effect on power.
^^^ when i was shopping for catbacks, dynomax bullet was the other one i was thinking of buying. kinda wish i would of got that now haha. thats exactly the advise im looking for, thanks!
what about those powerflo mufflers from slp? what if i used a quieter resonator AND the powerflo mufflers? could this be a possibility?
what about those powerflo mufflers from slp? what if i used a quieter resonator AND the powerflo mufflers? could this be a possibility?
Went thru the same debate last summer. Due to inspection + and not wanting rasp I went with cats. Current set up is qtp lt's and catted y/flowmaster merge into stock catback with hooker muffler. I couldn't be happy it has a nice deep tone and screams at wot. I realize I may be leaving a few hp on the table with stock pipes out back but I like the sound and look.
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^^^ when i was shopping for catbacks, dynomax bullet was the other one i was thinking of buying. kinda wish i would of got that now haha. thats exactly the advise im looking for, thanks!
what about those powerflo mufflers from slp? what if i used a quieter resonator AND the powerflo mufflers? could this be a possibility?
what about those powerflo mufflers from slp? what if i used a quieter resonator AND the powerflo mufflers? could this be a possibility?
If youd don't want to do that then I would say get the Catted Y but I think the conversion will be your best option. IMO
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ive looked at those mufflers too. seems like they would give me a little back pressure. the way its going to be right now, its about as free flowing as i can have it with a 2.5 in catback. im going to have to keep those in mind. thanx
I run two of them on my true duals, and my car made as much power through them as it did two open cutouts on the older y-pipe setup. It also made 787 on the spray through these mufflers. So based on my results thus far, I would say back pressure is minimal.
Depends on what you can handle. I have no cats and a magnaflow exhaust system with an electric cutout. With the cutout open, it gets to much sometimes. If your car is a daily driver like you say, ide think about getting a quieter exhaust.
I have a H/C/I car with magnaflow cats and Hooker CB. I think my car would be too loud w/o cats to mellow it out a little.
Also a lot of people underestimate how much a crappy Y merge will affect sound but it can cause rasp and shitty sound. PS, old style TSP and many other Y's suck and crash the gasses together. A good flowmaster or ARH style merge can make for a really clean sound.....
Also a lot of people underestimate how much a crappy Y merge will affect sound but it can cause rasp and shitty sound. PS, old style TSP and many other Y's suck and crash the gasses together. A good flowmaster or ARH style merge can make for a really clean sound.....
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 34,631
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From: Schiller Park, ILL Member: #317
But true duals are always the best answer for sound, IMO.
I don't know why everyone hates on cats. I have Kooks LTs with their catted y-pipe and borla exhaust, and I'm making 360 rwhp 375 ft lbs...and from what I've seen that's more than most are making with just bolt ons that have an ORY. The cats smooth out the rasp from my borla catback but it's still loud as **** with a very aggressive tone, and I pass emissions no problem.
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 34,631
Likes: 2,555
From: Schiller Park, ILL Member: #317
Not everyone needs them to pass emissions, so unless you have a visual inspection or sniff test, there is no good reason to buy them when doing headers. But, there are reasons not to have them:
1) No matter how well the cats flow, you ARE losing some level of power. Maybe only a few HP, depending on the rest of your setup, but there would be a loss of some kind. If you plan on major internal mods or forced induction, there will be significant gains by deleting them.
2) Cats don't last forever, especially aftermarket cats, and especially if you have a big cam with a lot of overlap. No cat is designed to "filter" that much raw fuel long term. So it's one more part you didn't need that cost more up front, AND you may have to deal with replacing it later.
3) Cats do smooth out rasp, but there are much more affordable options that won't have as much impact on exhaust flow, like bullet mufflers - cheaper and less impact on power.
4) If you can find a catback and Y-merge that doesn't rasp without cats (or go true duals), then the only thing that adding cats will do is complicate the exhaust system by making clearances tighter when running Y-pipe or duals, create additional connection points that can leak, spend extra money for a loss (no matter how small) in power, and add a part that can fail.
1) No matter how well the cats flow, you ARE losing some level of power. Maybe only a few HP, depending on the rest of your setup, but there would be a loss of some kind. If you plan on major internal mods or forced induction, there will be significant gains by deleting them.
2) Cats don't last forever, especially aftermarket cats, and especially if you have a big cam with a lot of overlap. No cat is designed to "filter" that much raw fuel long term. So it's one more part you didn't need that cost more up front, AND you may have to deal with replacing it later.
3) Cats do smooth out rasp, but there are much more affordable options that won't have as much impact on exhaust flow, like bullet mufflers - cheaper and less impact on power.
4) If you can find a catback and Y-merge that doesn't rasp without cats (or go true duals), then the only thing that adding cats will do is complicate the exhaust system by making clearances tighter when running Y-pipe or duals, create additional connection points that can leak, spend extra money for a loss (no matter how small) in power, and add a part that can fail.
i just ordered the tsp ory pipe. anyone else got this? how well is the merge on it compaired to other y pipes? is it good or bad in general? is the pacesetter one better? ive always heard texas speed is a goog company so im sure i will love the results.
one more thing im curious on... has anyone had a dyno with simular mods to mine? slp lid, slp catback, pacesetter headers, ory pipe. i know this isnt an original setup (seems like everyone had the same thing at one time) so i was just wondering how much power i might have a the rear wheels.
one more thing im curious on... has anyone had a dyno with simular mods to mine? slp lid, slp catback, pacesetter headers, ory pipe. i know this isnt an original setup (seems like everyone had the same thing at one time) so i was just wondering how much power i might have a the rear wheels.
I've heard adjusting it once its on the car can be tricky, but the fact that it allows for the necessary adjustment is a good thing.
It also includes the Flowmaster Merge, which is great for airflow and is supposed to cut down on rasp. Which will definitely be necessary considering you're going with LTs/ORY/LM Exhaust setup.
Once you complete your install, you should definitely post up with a video or sound clip. I'm very curious as to hear how an ORY with the Flowmaster Merge sounds matched to SLP's Loudmouth.
Good luck with your install.