exhaust inquires

[Bullitt0616]

i want to improve my exhaust quality rather than replace for the sake of performance. performance gains are secondary to the exhaust longevity.

i definitely want to get shorty headers to replace my manifold, but im afraid if i get aftermarket mid-pipes (only H-pipes), ill fail my smog tests. i had a purpose-built free-flowing cat in my old rx-7 and it never passed smog and the car ran perfeectly and the cat was made for cali standards.

has anyone failed smog due to non-stock midpipes?

as bullitts have a unique sound, i hope not to change much of it.

any suggestins as to what good combos you guys have personally run?

 

[98laseredgt]

i do believe the exhaust is made of stainless steel, so longevity shouldnt be an issue with the stock exhaust. personally if you dont want to change the sound of the exhaust i would leave it stock. if you want a little more performance you could get an aftermarket H-pipe with Cats. i have not heard of them failing emmisions before. i nice catted H will probably run you north of 300 and maybe 350 bucks though. performance gains will be minimal maybe 10 rwhp. as far as the headers, they will change the exhaust note, they also take about 9 hours to install and also offer little performance. Shorty headers will bolt to a stock H-pipe if you want to retain your factory cats.

nate

 

[ANGRMNGT]

You should have stainless steel pipes and any quality pipe you choose to buy will be made with the same material. So you wont gain any "longevity". And changing any part of your exhaust system will alter the note you produse with a stock set-up.

As far as smog tests unless you live in the communist state of california you shouldnt have any issues with replacing your mid-pipe as long as you choose one with aftermarket cats.

I personaly run a bassani set up. very unique sound.

 

[Mossberg]

Just get an offroad midpipe and put the stocker back for smog tests.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

You could just remove the Intake Air Silencer to make it a little louder.

 

[1LowGT]

by the way my car is a 98 gt with 42000 miles on it

 

[Bullitt0616]

ive decided to go with an offroad H to fit my stock manifold and catback. with that, im told to expect some 10hp to be had.

should i go with an after market catback, could i expect some gains with that as well, above the gains from the H-pipe?

 

[Mossberg]

You may pick up a few horses with the catback but don't expect anything huge. It is more of a sound mod. Go with what sounds best to you.

 

[timeless2]

Keep the stock catback and go with an o/r midpipe. Do the swap when you have to. My $.02.

 

[deftsound]

if you want performance and no sound, go with dynomax ultra flows, i had the mufflers welded in and wasent really what I was looking for, but they are nice and did add some gainns. They sound good, just not very loud. They sound like stock but just a little louder. I was dissapointed because i wanted something louder, but if you want good quality mufflers for a decent price go with them.

 

[Mirrahasmycar]

I failed emissions once with o/r x pipe, but the factory h pipe passed with flying colors, it actually had 0's for some pollutants, so an aftermarket exhaust with cats should pass no problem, give you some performance, last, and sound good, I have Bassani off road Xpipe, with flowmasters, I would recomend for you getting a decent catted H pipe, and a flowmaster cat back, just make sure you don't drive on salted roads, and if you do, be sure to pressure wash your undercar or it will eat through the best of exhausts, and the rest of the metal parts

 

[Bullitt0616]

thanks guys.

salt is rarely used where i am and the fw times they have, i always power washed after.