Magnaflow shorty x-pipe

[4.6guru]

Hey guys. Getting ready to do my exhaust. BTW, I live in CA. I have decided on going with the magnapack cat-back for the 2004. I am really having trouble with the x-pipe stuff though. The thing is I need to stay completely legal. With this said, is my only option to go with half of an x-pipe such as magnaflow's shorty style (part # 15447)? This simply goes in place of the H-pipe but leaves the factory cats in place. Is it worth it to do this or should I just leave the h in? Here is the link, keep in mind I can get it for $285 installed.

http://www.magnaflow.com/02product/shopexd.asp?zone=American&id=289

Tell me all what you think.

 

[mustang70]

Do you have to cut out the stock H part of the mid-pipe? Or does the X go on after that? If you have to cut out the stock H, then it's not going to be legal.

 

[bdcardinal]

as long as everything goes in behind the cats and the O2 sensors its legal. you cannot move or modify anything in front of hte cats without an EO number.

 

[98V6 K.I.T.T.]

Just get a catted mid pipe, or just don't add one.

 

[bdcardinal]

just do what im gonna do, get on O/R X pipe and every 2 years swap it out.

 

[Jonez]

I live in CA and I'm looking at getting an aftermarket midpipe as well. I don't know about O/R though, if your car is too loud can't a cop pull you over and check for cats? And give you a bigass fine if they're not there?

I was thinking about getting a catted X or prochamber and just swapping it out for smog checks, if they even do the visual check.

BTW anyone know the emissions laws regarding headers? I think I heard that longtubes are illegal in CA. If this is true are shorties worth it?


^^bdcardinal, according to your profile you're in that business, maybe you could educate us.

 

[GNN60GT500]

Long tubes are illegal in CA-

The shorty X pipe is good for about 5rwhp and 6rwtq-

 

[mogs01gt]

hmm if you long tube headers then you dont have the stock H pipe or if you have shorty headers with the stock H pipe, the shorty X pipe will not work.


Get the full length Catted x pipe.

 

[5.0zone]

I went with the Magnaflow Short X on my 2003 GT. With the stock exhaust it didn't sound much different. BUT when I added the LoudMouth II cat-back it had the sound I wanted. I like the way X-pipes sound. Its not too loud, I don't set off car alarms.
But I did replace the mufflers with straight pipes once (for about 2 weeks, its easy to do with the SLP modular exhaust) to see what it sounded like. I LOVED IT. But you have to be real easy taking off in populated areas. At cruse speed it wasn't bad.
To install the Short X, you cut the H-pipe 1.5" after the back converter then slid the X-pipe on and weld. It bolts to the Cat-Back just like stock. I had the welding done by a muffler shop for $20.

 

[hognutz]

I think if you leave the 4 cats there you will have a hard time picking up more than 2-3hp.

now if you went to 2 high flow cats and the x pipe there is proably 8-10hp there.

I don't live in CA so I don't know how there visual inspection works but there is no 4 cat midepipe execpt stock. so I am sure in some areas even an aftermarket catted pipe would fail the inspection.

I would get the magnaflow catback with a o/r x pipe.

then just swap the factory midepipe back on for inspection.

magnapacks are too loud for an o/r pipe IMO.

 

[Jonez]

Yeah, I'd like to get an O/R pipe and just swap it out for inspection, but I already have the SLP Loudmouth catback. Could I get busted if a cop noticed it was too loud?

I have an '02 GT btw.

 

[posm6s]

I feel sorry for you CA people. Can't do more than a cat-back on the exhaust.

 

[bdcardinal]

I live in CA and I'm looking at getting an aftermarket midpipe as well. I don't know about O/R though, if your car is too loud can't a cop pull you over and check for cats? And give you a bigass fine if they're not there?

I was thinking about getting a catted X or prochamber and just swapping it out for smog checks, if they even do the visual check.

BTW anyone know the emissions laws regarding headers? I think I heard that longtubes are illegal in CA. If this is true are shorties worth it?


^^bdcardinal, according to your profile you're in that business, maybe you could educate us.

ya the cops can pull you over and check for cats. they have the option of writing you a ticket for modified emissions and modified exhaust, in which the only sign off is a passing smog certificate from a state referee. the other option is to impound your car for 30 days, then give you 5 days after that to get a passing smog cert from a referee. or else you can pay the outrageous fine and not get the referee's cert.

it is true that long tubes are ILLEGAL in CA. only certain shorties are legal. the only legal midpipe currently is the stock one. you are allowed to cut off the H portion after the cats and weld in an X, that being said, you cannot modify the location of the cats or the O2 sensors.

btw im currently not in the smog biz. im getting my license. but my employment changed. there was a long thread abotu that, but basically the Bureau of Automotive Repair read my posts and wasnt happy that i was informing fellow car enthuiasts how to legally pass smog.

 

[PistolPete79]

i got the magnaflow shorty x-pipe on mine cuz i was scared of it not passing the visual smog check and it made my flowmasters a lot quieter. im thinking of going with bassani prostreet i think. theyre pretty loud

 

[Jonez]

Well the first option is just fine, it'd be a pain in the ass but all you'd have to do is put the stock H back in for the check. I really don't want my car impounded though... I'll be going to school in LA in August (living in NorCal right now), maybe the cops there will be too busy dealing with real crime to care about us "environmental criminals."

Stupid California...

 

[bdcardinal]

nah in LA they crack down hard on the emissions violations. street racing is a huge problem in the LA area, so if they see a modified car they pull it over.

 

[Jonez]

nah in LA they crack down hard on the emissions violations. street racing is a huge problem in the LA area, so if they see a modified car they pull it over.

Ah, good call. It's already hard/expensive enough to get parking at school, I wouldn't be surprised if they'd use that as an excuse to revoke my parking. I guess what it comes down to is if the magnaflow shorty is worth it or not. Unless I could maybe get away with a catted X if a cop checked and swap it out for smog checks?