Mid pipe with stock Catback???

[ToplessStang]

I'm not really in the position to buy a new mid pipe and a new catback. Would I get any benefits from installing just an O/R mide pipe on the stock catback??? Would it sound like crap??? I kind of like the stock exhaust sound but don't like having 4 cats . Thanks for the opinions.

 

[TL1000S]

It actually doesn't sound too bad, it just makes the stock system louder. You'll still benefit from the o/r pipe, just not as much as you would with having a catback system.

 

[300bhp/ton]

an arguable point this.

Gains - yes
How much - well....

Best bet decide how much money you have to spend and buy what ever bit matches the price. Chuck it in the corner of your garage and save up for the the other bit (this way the money you already have won't get spent on other non-car items, lol). Then slap em both on together.

Means only 1 install needed and maximum gains rather than peacemeal.

 

[pdl2flr]

Its fine. The first mod I did was install a MRT catted-H pipe with my stock catback. It made the car sound much better and gave a very nice SOTP gain.

 

[Pughman]

all i have is a upr off-road x-pipe ... and frome stock , it sounds kick ass ! and it just keep's geting louder ! and lots more top end...it pulls all the way to 6000 rpm's now...

 

[CanadaStang]

Its fine. The first mod I did was install a MRT catted-H pipe with my stock catback. It made the car sound much better and gave a very nice SOTP gain.

Did you notice any drone after the H-pipe install?

 

[road rage]

Go with the catback first

 

[pdl2flr]

Did you notice any drone after the H-pipe install?

No...there was absolutely no drone with the MRT and stock catback. Eventually I installed a Magnaflow catback and I did experience severe drone around 2000rpm's. It was annoying enough to me that I removed the Magnaflow and installed the FRPP catback. With the FRPP there is no drone but it also does not sound much different from the stock catback.

 

[pdl2flr]

Go with the catback first

If you are just looking for sound than yes, get the catback first. But if your looking for performance, get a quality, high flow mid-pipe. The stock mid-pipe with all the cats is very restrictive.

 

[GNN60GT500]

When modifying an exhaust system, you should always start from the back and work your way forward-

When planning an exhaust system, you should always start at the front, and work your way back-

Giving your car better lungs does nothing if it is still breathing through a straw-

 

[The Screwdriver]

I have a 99 GT with 6 cats and I've been wondering the exact same thing about replacing the midpipe first. Definitely looking at the MRT H pipe. Going to 2 high flow cats must have some performance gains than sticking with 6 stock cats. But will it be noticable if the headers and catback are still stock? Or will it be only top end increase and low rpm performance will suffer. Guess I'll go digging through dyno sheets now.

 

[PlatinumDevil]

would there be a drone or would i be annoyed with the o/r mrt midpipe (no cats)... we dont have emissions testing here and i can't afford the extra 100 for cats.

 

[CanadaStang]

No...there was absolutely no drone with the MRT and stock catback. Eventually I installed a Magnaflow catback and I did experience severe drone around 2000rpm's. It was annoying enough to me that I removed the Magnaflow and installed the FRPP catback. With the FRPP there is no drone but it also does not sound much different from the stock catback.

Thanks!! That's great to know! I find the drone annoying but the g/f really hates it. I didn't want to do the H-pipe incase it was pretty bad, I'd be getting b****** at till I took it off

 

[pdl2flr]

I have a 99 GT with 6 cats and I've been wondering the exact same thing about replacing the midpipe first. Definitely looking at the MRT H pipe. Going to 2 high flow cats must have some performance gains than sticking with 6 stock cats. But will it be noticable if the headers and catback are still stock? Or will it be only top end increase and low rpm performance will suffer. Guess I'll go digging through dyno sheets now.

I don't have any facts, but in my opinion the stock mid-pipe is more restrictive than the stock catback or headers. Adding a high flow catback will help with sound, but you are still choking at the mid-pipe.

I felt good mid-range power with my MRT, especially from 3000rpm and up and did not feel any loss down low. My first dyno was when I was completely stock with only the MRT mid-pipe. My numbers were 237/278 SAE. This was at a Mustang Performance shop and the tech stated that stock GT's are usually somewhere in the 220's on their dyno. So I think it definitely added some power.

 

[Pughman]

the stock cat sounds "GOOD" !!! after the off-road mid pipe !!! + you get a big gain in the top end !!!
http://www.excelsiornews.com/pics/chris/MVI_0938.avi
CLICK TO SEE VID OF MY CAR !!! " might load slow "

 

[trinity_gt]

When I put an MRT catted H on my GT I gained 8.1rwHP and 6 ft-lbs and that was with the factory cat-back.

http://home.golden.net/~trinity

check out the Modifications and Dynos page for info on it.

The thing sounded great (for a factory catback.) Definitely louder but nowhere near obnoxiously so. A bit more "stecatto", a bit lower in frequency and no drone at all.

In my car's case about the only "issue" was that the passenger side seemed a smidgen short (like maybe 3/4") and this made fitment of everything down the line on that side a bit tricker. No worries though...still an awesome pipe worthy of praise.

 

[pieromj3]

I have a bassani catted X with the stock catback and it makes it a bit louder and deeper.. It sounds good. You can tell there is something done to the exhaust other than stock. NEXT: SLP loudmouth

 

[GNN60GT500]

When I put an MRT catted H on my GT I gained 8.1rwHP and 6 ft-lbs and that was with the factory cat-back.

http://home.golden.net/~trinity

check out the Modifications and Dynos page for info on it.

The thing sounded great (for a factory catback.) Definitely louder but nowhere near obnoxiously so. A bit more "stecatto", a bit lower in frequency and no drone at all.

.

Average gains for a Magnaflow catback with stock midpipe are 12-14rwhp-

Midpipes offer good gains, but will give you an even greater gain if you have a catback in place- as I said before-

you can increase lung capacity all you want, but if you are breathing through a straw, you are breathing through a straw-

 

[Jackie Chan]

what on an 03 cobra?

i had dumped magnaflows that replaced welded in flows on a stock catback with a bbk xpipe and it didnt gain anything performance wise. Mufflers are for sound, midpipes make the power.

 

[trinity_gt]

Average gains for a Magnaflow catback with stock midpipe are 12-14rwhp-

Midpipes offer good gains, but will give you an even greater gain if you have a catback in place- as I said before-

you can increase lung capacity all you want, but if you are breathing through a straw, you are breathing through a straw-

Well, as I said, the gains I posted were for the MRT catted H with the factory catback. The addition of the Steeda catback on there now it went from 255.6 to 264rwHP and from 296.9 to 306.4 ft-lbs. Taken together then, the MRT pipe and Steeda catback combo were good for 16.6rwHP and 15.8 ft-lbs.

It's tough to buy that just a catback is good for 12-14rwHP with the factory 4-cat, 2-1/4" midpipe still in place but if you've got repeatable dyno proof I'm all eyes.