it will be louder and a little less back pressure 
Test pipe ?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,186
Likes: 309
From: SIMSBURY CT
St. Jude Donor '07 thru '25
Test pipe ?
I saw this on ebay for "off road use" and it got me wondering about some things.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...category=33633
I guess this replaces the Cat-converter? What would this do for performance on a mostly stock L98 (1989 w/Borla mufflers, open lid, accel ignition).
Also, I know it would not pass emissions, but how loud would this be and do the police in CT/MA/NY/RI give tickets if they figure out your driving around with w/no catalitic converter?
I guess I'm just wondering if this will give me a little taste of what the mods I'm saving up for will feel like (and sound like)?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...category=33633
I guess this replaces the Cat-converter? What would this do for performance on a mostly stock L98 (1989 w/Borla mufflers, open lid, accel ignition).
Also, I know it would not pass emissions, but how loud would this be and do the police in CT/MA/NY/RI give tickets if they figure out your driving around with w/no catalitic converter?
I guess I'm just wondering if this will give me a little taste of what the mods I'm saving up for will feel like (and sound like)?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,098
Likes: 0
From: Plantation Fl
I had a friend do this to my vette. It sounds louder, but I don't think it is loud enough to get me into any trouble. I have not dyno it so I don't know how much gains, but it does feel like it helped. I don't have emission here but I kept my cat just in case.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 20,254
Likes: 221
From: Summerland B.C. Canada
I removed all 3 cats. First I did the main cat and I did feel a difference.
I have a magnaflow catback and it lets everyone know I'm behind them when I crush the loud pedal
It is docile when I am
I have a magnaflow catback and it lets everyone know I'm behind them when I crush the loud pedal
It is docile when I am
Drifting
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,747
Likes: 0
From: Port McNicoll Ontario
I'm not an expert but, It shouldn't be any louder.
It's just a pipe,the rest of the exhaust is a pipe too.
I was looking at that test pipe on ebay as well. Just seemed a little expensive. The same seller has all kinds of them for sale. All the other cars and other years of corvettes were cheaper.
Must be a reason for it but it pushed me away.
my 2 cents
It's just a pipe,the rest of the exhaust is a pipe too.
I was looking at that test pipe on ebay as well. Just seemed a little expensive. The same seller has all kinds of them for sale. All the other cars and other years of corvettes were cheaper.
Must be a reason for it but it pushed me away.
my 2 cents
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 5,726
Likes: 46
From: Waukesha WI
St. Jude Donor '15
It will change the sound quite a bit. Probably louder as the cat acts like a muffler.
Depending on the rest of your exhaust, it may either reduce or worsen resonance. It is interesting to note that many of the people on the forum that complain about resonance with various systems also still have a cat. I removed all traces of mine and have ZERO resonance with Hookers and Flowmasters.
I had a test pipe made a local exhaust shop for $40. 3in slip on the front and a flange on the back so I can go back to a cat easily if I must.
Food for thought...
Depending on the rest of your exhaust, it may either reduce or worsen resonance. It is interesting to note that many of the people on the forum that complain about resonance with various systems also still have a cat. I removed all traces of mine and have ZERO resonance with Hookers and Flowmasters.
I had a test pipe made a local exhaust shop for $40. 3in slip on the front and a flange on the back so I can go back to a cat easily if I must.
Food for thought...
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,167
Likes: 0
From: What did the 5 fingers say to the face? SLAP!!
Originally Posted by CTYANK2
do the police in CT/MA/NY/RI give tickets if they figure out your driving around with w/no catalitic converter?
That's funny. I remember being worried everytime I was near a cop because I thought he knew my car was "illegal" You will soon forget about it. If your Borlas are anything like my Flowmasters, the car will get MUCH louder and draw compliments from gearheads at stoplights as well. It's funny to watch cars in my side mirror that are in the next lane over at a stop light. If the occcupant is under the age of 50, the window invariably comes down to listen to rumble. I love it!
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 24,650
Likes: 8
Ive basically got muff. elims on my car, just slightly longer pipes from where the pipe splits into two. Would my car be much louder? Ive got an old stocker cat, no telling how old it is.
I tried to get my cat off once...had it up on ramps, but the bolts were rusted...so I didn;t want to round them off.
If I took it to a muffler shop, how much would they charge me to pull the cat, and put on a "Test" pipe?
I tried to get my cat off once...had it up on ramps, but the bolts were rusted...so I didn;t want to round them off.
If I took it to a muffler shop, how much would they charge me to pull the cat, and put on a "Test" pipe?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 5,726
Likes: 46
From: Waukesha WI
St. Jude Donor '15
If I took it to a muffler shop, how much would they charge me to pull the cat, and put on a "Test" pipe?
Getting a pipe made is not a big deal because they have no way of knowing what it is for. Well, they know but if the Feds come by they have an out.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,186
Likes: 309
From: SIMSBURY CT
St. Jude Donor '07 thru '25
Originally Posted by Professor
It will be quite difficult to find a shop to do this because it is illegal and punishable by a HUGE fine ($10K or more for the shop).
Hmmm ... so if the shop can get fined $10,000 or more what does the law do to me? Even 5 or 10% of the "shop" fine would be brutal.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,331
Likes: 3,245
From: Hartford WI
Originally Posted by 87 rag
I'm not an expert but, It shouldn't be any louder.
It's just a pipe,the rest of the exhaust is a pipe too.
I was looking at that test pipe on ebay as well. Just seemed a little expensive. The same seller has all kinds of them for sale. All the other cars and other years of corvettes were cheaper.
Must be a reason for it but it pushed me away.
my 2 cents
It's just a pipe,the rest of the exhaust is a pipe too.
I was looking at that test pipe on ebay as well. Just seemed a little expensive. The same seller has all kinds of them for sale. All the other cars and other years of corvettes were cheaper.
Must be a reason for it but it pushed me away.
my 2 cents
I guess he charges more because he believes Vette people are good for it and/or he doesn't sell that much in Vette parts so it costs more to make.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 3,032
Likes: 4
Originally Posted by RED-85-Z51
I know of a place here that will knock the cat hollow for me if Iwanted it, for 200 bucks.
But Its alot less labor to make a pipe, than to hammer out the inner workings of a cat though, right?
But Its alot less labor to make a pipe, than to hammer out the inner workings of a cat though, right?
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 83,381
Likes: 87
From: Boston, MA
Originally Posted by CTYANK2
Also, I know it would not pass emissions, but how loud would this be and do the police in CT/MA/NY/RI give tickets if they figure out your driving around with w/no catalitic converter?
Hooker 2149 Headers
Hooker Front Y-Pipe
Test Pipe
Flowmaster Rear Y-Pipe
Flowmaster Mufflers
.... I've been pulled over plenty of times for "other" stuff, but not once has any officer commented on the exhaust in a bad way. I have gotten a "Ya know... you can hear this thing a mile away." response a few tiems.
Last edited by scorp508; Aug 11, 2004 at 12:02 PM.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,186
Likes: 309
From: SIMSBURY CT
St. Jude Donor '07 thru '25
Originally Posted by scorp508
.... I've been pulled over plenty of times for "other" stuff, but not once has any officer commented on the exhaust in a bad. I have gotten a "Ya know... you can hear this thing a mile away." response a few tiems.
"Ya know...you can SEE this thing a mile away."
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,331
Likes: 3,245
From: Hartford WI
Talked to the guy selling it and this is what I get:
THE PIPE IS 3.00" AND IS AROUND 21" IN LENGTH.ONE REASON THIS ONE IS MORE EXPENSIVE IS BECAUSE IT IS 3.00" BUT THE MAIN REASON IS THE SPECIAL FLANGE IT REQUIRES IS HARD TO GET. USUALLY IF WE ORDER 50 OF THEM WE ARE LUCKY TO GET 5 .THANKS FOR YOUR TIME AND THE BEST THING TO DO IS GET A FEW PEOPLE TO BUY AT THE SAME TIME. WE CAN ALWAY'S DO BETTER ON PRICE FOR MULTIPLE ITEMS.THANKS
THE PIPE IS 3.00" AND IS AROUND 21" IN LENGTH.ONE REASON THIS ONE IS MORE EXPENSIVE IS BECAUSE IT IS 3.00" BUT THE MAIN REASON IS THE SPECIAL FLANGE IT REQUIRES IS HARD TO GET. USUALLY IF WE ORDER 50 OF THEM WE ARE LUCKY TO GET 5 .THANKS FOR YOUR TIME AND THE BEST THING TO DO IS GET A FEW PEOPLE TO BUY AT THE SAME TIME. WE CAN ALWAY'S DO BETTER ON PRICE FOR MULTIPLE ITEMS.THANKS
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 5,726
Likes: 46
From: Waukesha WI
St. Jude Donor '15
Those flanges are not hard to get. The crummy little exhaust shop I went to just looked up a 90 cat in their book, saw the flange and ordered one. Took 2 days to get it. They put a ball end (mates w/ Flowmaster rear Y-Pipe perfectly) on a 20 - 24in long (don't remember)3in diameter pipe and flared out the other end to fit over my Hooker Y-pipe (same setup as scorp508's I think). Took them about 3 days total and $40. I did not give them the car to play with. I just told them to make the pipe a few inches longer than a stock cat (spec was in their book).
I could have got it in stainless pipe but they didn't have any in stock and it probably would have cost quite a bit more. I think this guy is charging some serious Corvette Tax for this pipe.
I could have got it in stainless pipe but they didn't have any in stock and it probably would have cost quite a bit more. I think this guy is charging some serious Corvette Tax for this pipe.