X pipe question / cats or no cats ?

[Scott99GT]

I have decided to go with the Steeda Cat back exaust
system for my 1999 GT.
I also want a X pipe to go with the system for more power
and torque.

My question is, since I live in Tennessee and we have no emissions testing,
should I go with a X pipe with cats or without ?
The Steeda rep told me that I needed the X pipe with the cats because
the 4.6L engine needed a certain amount of backpressure to run and have
low end torque over stock.

Is this true ?
Or should I get the X pipe with out the cats ?

How loud will this be ?

The only mods that I plan on doing are:

Steeda Cold Air
Steeda underdrive pullies
Steeda Cat Back
X pipe cats or no cats ? (hense the question here)

Possibly the Acufab TB and plenum combo,
if it is worth it.

Any help you guys could provide is greatly appreciated.

Thanks again,

Scott

 

[streetstang03]

i hate the environment, so i went w/ no cats. Go no cats, u wont regret it. Sound difference is big between cats and no cats. you'll love it

 

[White Stang]

If you are using it as a daily driver and don't want to smell like gas get cats. If your using the car for racing at the track and occassional joy rides go no cats. Your only loosing a horspower or two with high flow cats. Thats my opinion.

 

[mcmmotorsports]

i hate the environment, so i went w/ no cats. Go no cats, u wont regret it. Sound difference is big between cats and no cats. you'll love it

 

[Defleshed]

Cats make a world of difference on minimal muffling mufflers (glasspacks, racemufflers, ect.)

If you don't HAVE TO HAVE CATS, DONT PUT THEM ON!!!!!!!

Take those cats off. There's starving children in california.

 

[Gearbanger 101]

Go with the Cats. I've got a catless X-pipe on mine and It still stinks me out at idle. For the super small amount of horsepower they do cost (1-2 max), it's not worthwhile to delete them.

 

[twogts4us]

Go with the Cats. I've got a catless X-pipe on mine and It still stinks me out at idle. For the super small amount of horsepower they do cost (1-2 max), it's not worthwhile to delete them.

I'm with Gearbanger and WhiteStang on this one. The sound difference isn't that much with a good aftermarket X (or H) pipe with low restriction, high flow cats as opposed to a stinky O/R X. I don't have emissions testing here either, but we had a pair of Magnaflow cats welded into my wife's O/R H on her 01 GT...the sound difference was minimal, the power difference wasn't even noticable, but the smell difference was huge!
My 02 GT is getting a catted X or H...still can't decide which one...but I'm poor right now, so it really doesn't matter much! I'm leaning toward the www.pypesexhaust.com catted X (the same thing that MustangTuning sells)
X pipe for stock manifolds/shorties - $315 catted, $392 catted & ceramic coated (sweeeet!)

 

[streetstang03]

i cant believe people complain of the smell of an o/r pipe its not bad at all unless ur running dumps.

 

[gtstangrunner]

Yeah I agree about the smell. I have LT's and BBK O/R X-pipe and my car stinks to high heaven at start up and worse after I run it like i stole it. However the sound is awesome. So if you can stand the funk go catless, I for one want every HP I can get thats why I went catless

 

[green_fow_six]

I had hi flow cat's welded in my bassani X after I moved to a place with emmision testing. There was a HUGE difference in sound, CATless is the way to go if you are able to. Plus the smell wasn't bad at all, reminds you of being at a racetrack!!

 

[Blue Blurr]

i have the SLP o/r X pipe, and it is sooo damn nice. i have a borla catback which is pretty much the same as steeda because borla makes the steeda one. anyway im going to make a sound clip of mine so if you would like to hear wht it sounds like let me know.

 

[crew_dawg16]

I have to go catted, but I actually want to. I've heard a few stangs rollin' around with o/r pipes and I want a more refined sound which the cats will help me get.

 

[ChadS98GT]

Go CATLESS especially if you have no emissions testing.....you will get over the smell in no time...it's only really noticeable when you are stopped at a light with the windows down....and even then you don't always smell it...just depends on the winds....

but if your worried about torque I know I didn't lose any...I probably gained torque...with my bassani O/R Xpipe and 2 chamber flows my car dyo'd 280rwtq that is far above stock for my car....

for those saying the sound isn't that noticeable with or without cats they are lieing.....no cats is quite a bit louder...but IMO sounds WAY better.....although there are times that I wish my car wasn't so loud...

overall I would definately not hesitate on going without cats

 

[twogts4us]

The smell wasn't bad at all, reminds you of being at a racetrack!!

And don't get me wrong - I do love the smell...just not every day. I love the track, the smell, the sounds - yum! I just don't want to live at the track.

 

[Gearbanger 101]

Besides, if I've got to hear the chick i'm riding with say "Ewww, what's that smell?...Your car stinks!" one more time, I'm gonna hang myself.

 

[RedBullitt]

if you have the bassani catback and an offroad x , try putting the baffles in the tips. no im not crazy, but i think they do improve the sound. by the way, if the chick dont like the smell, dump her off lol.Gotta be selective with those ladies.

 

[streetstang03]

Besides, if I've got to hear the chick i'm riding with say "Ewww, what's that smell?...Your car stinks!" one more time, I'm gonna hang myself.

you are obviously looking in the wrong place for chicks

 

[FallenPhoenix]

I'm probably going with the SLP loudmouth so I'm also getting the SLP X-pipe, leaving the cats in for daily use and only swapping in the race pipes for the dyno or at the track.

 

[White Stang]

you are obviously looking in the wrong place for chicks

You like Butch

 

[snkchmr]

I have the magnapack catback on my car & have the new BBK short headers (not on yet) & just can fig out what pipe to put on the car.