Headers and Exhaust. Worth it???

[Stuntman]

Back to back stock vs K&N vs Smooth tubes on a Dynojet 224xLC:

http://www.motoiq.com/MagazineArtic...Part-4--Baseline-Dyno-and-KN-Intake-Test.aspx

431hp 468tq stock and +20whp & 25tq from K&N & smooth tubes.

Most people remove their cats or replace them with HFC when they go to aftermarket headers which seem to increase power by 10-15whp from replacing the restrictive factory cats alone. Only a few people have posted before & after results of headers alone which seems to be <10whp gains, while gains of 20-25whp that many people find when doing HFC & headers at the same time makes sense, but is not due to the headers alone.


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[Darth Menace]

Back to back stock vs K&N vs Smooth tubes on a Dynojet 224xLC:

http://www.motoiq.com/MagazineArtic...Part-4--Baseline-Dyno-and-KN-Intake-Test.aspx

431hp 468tq stock and +20whp & 25tq from K&N & smooth tubes.

Most people remove their cats or replace them with HFC when they go to aftermarket headers which seem to increase power by 10-15whp from replacing the restrictive factory cats alone. Only a few people have posted before & after results of headers alone which seems to be <10whp gains, while gains of 20-25whp that many people find when doing HFC & headers at the same time makes sense, but is not due to the headers alone.


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That was a great read. Loved the HP gains from such little things like filters and smooth tubes. I would love to find a similar write up on other mods on the Viper

 

[Stuntman]

Great to hear HFC & 3" Corsa exhaust will be tested next along with an off-the-shelf tune.

Stay tuned!

 

[Darth Menace]

I just need to sniff a couple local vipers with HF cats and no cats to see if it's worth the misery. Magnaflow 3 inch cats look to be well priced. Does anyone have experience with them>

 

[Stuntman]

I'd probably stay away from their ceramics and go with their stainless, my friends truck had them and they fell apart within 2 years. I went with Looks Green Cats (Gesi) stainless which are expensive but some of the best HFC on the market. No odor difference from stock and 49-state legal.

 

[ViperJohn]

Two reasons I went with HF cats instead of no cats. First one is the smell......in certain traffic or wind conditions it can be downright unbearable. Second reason is, I remember back in the day a few guys actually had their rear bumpers catch fire due to build up of unburnt fuel depositing on rear bumper.....a nice little backfire comes along and then you have ignition. Cars this happened to were modded if memory serves me (supercharged, etc). These two reasons were enough for me.

 

[Darth Menace]

I'd probably stay away from their ceramics and go with their stainless, my friends truck had them and they fell apart within 2 years. I went with Looks Green Cats (Gesi) stainless which are expensive but some of the best HFC on the market. No odor difference from stock and 49-state legal.

OP, sorry if I robbed your thread. I am in the same boat (but I can't afford headers) wanting to do some exhaust work.

Thanks for the info on ceramic vs SS. Looks like these are the babies I will snag: http://images.magnaflow.com/02product/parts/54959.jpg

Another question as I am relatively new to this, I have 3 inch magnaflow catback so I am assuming I will snag the 3 inch cats, but is there a midpipe I can buy/get made that will be 3 inch from the manifolds to the cats that can be used now and when/if I get headers? Or am I just dreaming here

 

[Sybil TF]

Two reasons I went with HF cats instead of no cats. First one is the smell......in certain traffic or wind conditions it can be downright unbearable. Second reason is, I remember back in the day a few guys actually had their rear bumpers catch fire due to build up of unburnt fuel depositing on rear bumper.....a nice little backfire comes along and then you have ignition. Cars this happened to were modded if memory serves me (supercharged, etc). These two reasons were enough for me.

I just went catless a few months ago and I have no smell at idle, cruising, windows down or up. after much research I have come to the conclusion that people that do have an improperly tuned car with the air flaps stuck open or an exhaust leak.

 

[steve e]

I just went catless a few months ago and I have no smell at idle, cruising, windows down or up. after much research I have come to the conclusion that people that do have an improperly tuned car with the air flaps stuck open or an exhaust leak.

I agree, how can the exhaust smell worse without the cats, that rotten egg smell is the pits, my car with out the cats smells like the good old days. If your dumping raw fuel on the bumper you need a tune up.