hey i just bought a test pipe. it was cheaper than a cat back and what not and i figure do headwork n stuff b4 cat back cause it gives u little but with the test pipe i bught yield much power.
ive heard a solid 4 hp gain throughout the power band and 9 more hps in upper power band…im thinking 3 hp the whole power band and good amount of more tourque in lower areas
whats ur guys opinions… dont talk about the smell either
I’ve been told to stay away from it when I was getting my cat-back installed. Something to do with harming the headers and the engine itself. You won’t see the problem until you’ve put a lot of miles on your engine without a proper cat. So, once in a while it’s okay (like running 1/4s or autoxing).
Again, the owner of the exhaust shop told me this and that’s why he doesn’t sell 'em or install 'em. Personally, I don’t think the gains are that impressive and/or even worth it.
Regards,
Oz
i only paid 19.95
I bought the one off of testpipe.com it came to $42 shipped, and I was unsatisfied with it. It was about an inch to short, it made the exhaust sound really raspy and the heat that comes down the pipe that makes the cat heat up and do its thing was burning out more packing out of my exhaust (ya know how it makes that smell the first few days?)
I went around the block came back and took it right back off…
Maybe dan will post up about his resonated test pipe and enlighten us?
Mines for sale…
A test pipe is a NECESSITY on a heavily built motor or most turbo setups. In fact, Toda says a test pipe needs to be used with the Spec C cams. It will not harm your motor or your headers, so no worries there. What it will do, is free up some back pressure and give a few ponies on the top end of a highly built setup. Don’t expect much if any gains with a near stock/bolt ons setup.
I’m using a OBX-R resonated test pipe with custom 2.5" flange and it compliments my motor very nicely. I put a Catco high flow cat (2.5" inlet and outlet) on to pass emissions and it did hurt performance, especially on the top end.
Some drawbacks to test pipes, besides the fact that it’s illegal to run on the street in ALL states :rolleyes:, unlike the cat it doesn’t burn up the unburnt fuel in your exhaust which makes it smell awful and keeps your exhuast tip looking very dirty. If you get a resonated test pipe it’s not much if any louder than the catalytic converter (or at least mine isn’t).
Let me know if you have any other questions. Later.
I would just get a Carsound cat, they flow almost as well as a test pipe, are legal, and don’t give the car a raspy exhaust note.
I don’t care what companies claim. There is NO WAY any catalytic converter can flow near as well as a test pipe. It’s a simple matter of physics. Let’s put an obstruction between point “A” and point “B” and compare the flow to a non obstucted pipe. And my exhaust is no where near raspy even with the test pipe. I do agree with the legality factor though. My test pipe looks almost like a catalytic converter, so I’m not too worried about getting nailed for it.
does length matter ? my “hi flow cat” is only about a foot long if not shorter, so im pretty sure it’s “high” flow. I thought about going test pipe, but im a dumbazz and had them weld everything together…whenever i get some 4-1 headers i’ll do it the right way, and have them make some flanges. dan, where is that pic of your underside header-cat-exhaust pic? no mo photopoint…are you transferring everything over to imagestation or anything? seeya.
Originally posted by G2guru
[B]
I’m using a OBX-R resonated test pipe with custom 2.5" flange and it compliments my motor very nicely. [/B]
Dan where u order it again? and oh ARCHIVETHIS
Robbie: I got mine through Ground Zero Motorsports here in Portland for $90. Then I paid $25 for the 2.5" flange and another $25 to have the test pipe modified.
Dan: I have a 14" Catco cat with 2.5" inlet and outlet, and my test pipe still outflows it. And yes, I am actually transferring all of my photos to Imagestation right now. Imagestation is pretty sweet. But I have over 600 pictures to transfer :rolleyes:, so be patient.
Having all the bolt ons, cams, and nos, the test pipe to me is the best bang for the buck. However, the gains are not worth it if you get caught using it.
I just put my stock cams back on, it doesn’t seem to smell nearly as bad when the crower 403’s were in there.
Ok, I didn’t say the Carsound flowed as well as a test pipe, but relatively close. The power difference would be pretty small, and since cats are legal, I’d probably go with one of those.
Did the resonated test pipe do that burning out of the exhaust thing to you also, and what catback are you running?
If any of you would be interested in the OBX-R resonated testpipe, then you can email me at importstop@mindspring.com Since OBX is local I can pick up a bunch of them for whoever wants one. $90 + $10-$15 to ship. Let me know. Thanks.
I’m not exactly sure how he did it but my dad just broke out all of the internals in the Cat. works well
i gutted my cat and i noticed an increase in power but it did make my pacesetter exhuast raspey at high revs but that is all in the tip so im going to replace that. but all i did was take off my cat and rammed a pipe down it untill all of the stuff was out the metal mesh was the hardest to get out but it was only a 20 min job after i put it back on it smelled for about a week and then was gone but it did make the inside of my tip black but thats ok case that yellow is nasty looking i am satified with the easy power but i am alittle worried about burning up the valves should i be worried?
Burning up the valves? What do you mean?
well im not sure thats why i was wondering if anyone knew about it i know if you run a car with no back pressure you can burn up the exhuast valves im not sure and was trying to find out what i can do should i reset the ecu or what does anyone have any info on this
No back pressure means running an open header, and yes you will burn up your exhaust valves eventually. But with a test pipe you are in NO FEAR of running too little back pressure.
Dan, can you explain the physics behind why no back pressure will burn your exhaust vavles?
-Steve