Exhaust Cut Outs-Any Problems
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
Exhaust Cut Outs-Any Problems
I like the idea of having cut outs on my exhaust 
. Especially when you can adjust the opening on them and control the sound. I was wondering about changing the positions on them from open through closed...does this effect the computer?
When I put my Halltech Stinger on, it took about 100 miles for the computer to stop giving me bogus read outs.
Do the cut outs cause any other problems? I tried a search in General and Tech but found nothing on this. Thanks guys and gals.
. Especially when you can adjust the opening on them and control the sound. I was wondering about changing the positions on them from open through closed...does this effect the computer? When I put my Halltech Stinger on, it took about 100 miles for the computer to stop giving me bogus read outs.
Do the cut outs cause any other problems? I tried a search in General and Tech but found nothing on this. Thanks guys and gals.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 5,811
Likes: 31
From: Minnetonka MN
St. Jude Donor '06
hey
i have cutouts on my vette. First, and most important, do u have a M6 or an A4?
if u have an A4, u'll want to mount the cutouts where the exhaust comes down over the rear leafs. u'll install the y-pipe right there. then install the cutouts and get turn downs to route it against the road.
if u have a M6, the pipes that come under the tunnel, right where they exit the tunnel and under the tranny, u can put a y-pipe there, then the cutouts, followed by the turndowns.
as for wiring, its fairly str8 forward. instructions tell it all.
i have a set of QTPs. due to the improper installation by the previous owner, i have had many headaches. but its all fixed now. i can get pics of it later...been meaning to do that anyhow.
McCord also sells good cutouts... check them out. i think QTP is a forum vendor here, so u may get a deal...
if u want to hear what they sound like, click on the dyno vid link in my sig..kinda gives u an idea of what they will sound like. and thats only ONE cutout open... with two open, car sounds like a freakin funny car!!!
Aj
i have cutouts on my vette. First, and most important, do u have a M6 or an A4?
if u have an A4, u'll want to mount the cutouts where the exhaust comes down over the rear leafs. u'll install the y-pipe right there. then install the cutouts and get turn downs to route it against the road.
if u have a M6, the pipes that come under the tunnel, right where they exit the tunnel and under the tranny, u can put a y-pipe there, then the cutouts, followed by the turndowns.
as for wiring, its fairly str8 forward. instructions tell it all.
i have a set of QTPs. due to the improper installation by the previous owner, i have had many headaches. but its all fixed now. i can get pics of it later...been meaning to do that anyhow.
McCord also sells good cutouts... check them out. i think QTP is a forum vendor here, so u may get a deal...
if u want to hear what they sound like, click on the dyno vid link in my sig..kinda gives u an idea of what they will sound like. and thats only ONE cutout open... with two open, car sounds like a freakin funny car!!!
Aj
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 5,811
Likes: 31
From: Minnetonka MN
St. Jude Donor '06
hey Rick
im sorry man, i totally forgot to mention to computer related question of urs..no, i have had no issues with this at all... did u still have cats on urs? if not, thats possibly why u have codes being set off.
Aj
im sorry man, i totally forgot to mention to computer related question of urs..no, i have had no issues with this at all... did u still have cats on urs? if not, thats possibly why u have codes being set off.
Aj
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 11,308
Likes: 1
From: The Beautiful Greater Bay Area California
Originally Posted by 1 BAD BURB
hey
i have cutouts on my vette. First, and most important, do u have a M6 or an A4?
if u have an A4, u'll want to mount the cutouts where the exhaust comes down over the rear leafs. u'll install the y-pipe right there. then install the cutouts and get turn downs to route it against the road.
if u have a M6, the pipes that come under the tunnel, right where they exit the tunnel and under the tranny, u can put a y-pipe there, then the cutouts, followed by the turndowns.
as for wiring, its fairly str8 forward. instructions tell it all.
i have a set of QTPs. due to the improper installation by the previous owner, i have had many headaches. but its all fixed now. i can get pics of it later...been meaning to do that anyhow.
McCord also sells good cutouts... check them out. i think QTP is a forum vendor here, so u may get a deal...
if u want to hear what they sound like, click on the dyno vid link in my sig..kinda gives u an idea of what they will sound like. and thats only ONE cutout open... with two open, car sounds like a freakin funny car!!!
Aj
i have cutouts on my vette. First, and most important, do u have a M6 or an A4?
if u have an A4, u'll want to mount the cutouts where the exhaust comes down over the rear leafs. u'll install the y-pipe right there. then install the cutouts and get turn downs to route it against the road.
if u have a M6, the pipes that come under the tunnel, right where they exit the tunnel and under the tranny, u can put a y-pipe there, then the cutouts, followed by the turndowns.
as for wiring, its fairly str8 forward. instructions tell it all.
i have a set of QTPs. due to the improper installation by the previous owner, i have had many headaches. but its all fixed now. i can get pics of it later...been meaning to do that anyhow.
McCord also sells good cutouts... check them out. i think QTP is a forum vendor here, so u may get a deal...
if u want to hear what they sound like, click on the dyno vid link in my sig..kinda gives u an idea of what they will sound like. and thats only ONE cutout open... with two open, car sounds like a freakin funny car!!!
Aj
Great heads up advice. 
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 23,283
Likes: 906
From: Lake Elsinore, CA
I installed a set of McCords but switched to QTP's due to some wiring problems related to the McCords. The QTP's are built better but they still leak slightly occassionally. Not really a problem but I do take them off once a year to reseal them with RTV.
Here's a link to my website detailing the installation and a couple of videos.
http://redshift.homestead.com/cutouts.html
Here's a link to my website detailing the installation and a couple of videos.
http://redshift.homestead.com/cutouts.html
Racer
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 450
Likes: 0
From: Northern N.J. NJ
Originally Posted by Patches
I installed a set of McCords but switched to QTP's due to some wiring problems related to the McCords. The QTP's are built better but they still leak slightly occassionally. Not really a problem but I do take them off once a year to reseal them with RTV.
Here's a link to my website detailing the installation and a couple of videos.
http://redshift.homestead.com/cutouts.html
Here's a link to my website detailing the installation and a couple of videos.
http://redshift.homestead.com/cutouts.html
Patches, The QTP web site shows the butterfly units connected to a Y-pipe. Looking at your pictures, I didn't see this. Were you able to unbolt the units from the supplied Y-pipe connector? I ask since it looks like your Y-pipe was custom made.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 257
Likes: 0
From: SF Bay Area (Norcal) California
One thing to understand about electric cutouts is that they are a constant-maintenance item. I'm willing to bet a lot of people that complain about their cutouts dont maintain them. You need to check up on them once a month and make sure they are lubricated, free of excessive carbon buildup, and some people rtv them so they seal better.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,059
Likes: 12
From: AKA Harvey Mushman-I know just enough to be dangerous "Those who sacrifice liberty for safety deserve neither"- B. Franklin
Senior Member
Cruise-In V Veteran
Patches write up and advice convinced me to go with cut outs about 1 1/2 years ago. I have them with my stock mufflers. Mine are located behind the axle where the pipe transitions from "down" to "back". They fit up there nicely and you can't see them unless you put your head at ground level. I have 2 turndowns that are about 3" long so the gasses don't heat the center tub of the trunk. I used QTPs. I have not had any issues and I use them frequently. I probably have 15K miles on them. You might want to consider an X pipe to get rid of the popping you'll get. The only problem with that would be that mine actually sounds quieter than stock with them closed. (Which isn't often.)
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 8,142
Likes: 0
From: Time is a great teacher. Unfortunately, it kills all its pupils.
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07
Originally Posted by EZEDDIE
Rtv?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,654
Likes: 5
From: Silver Spring MD
I put QTP cutouts on my car a little over a month ago and love them. I'm running LG Pro's with cats and Z06 Ti catbacks... With the cutouts closed, it's a nice rumble... With them open, they're loud as can be! I installed my switch in the center console...
Here's a few pics:
Without turndowns
project done!
Here's a few pics:
Without turndowns
project done!
Pro
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 534
Likes: 3
From: DECATUR ALABAMA
Mine don't leak at all, but they are manual, not electric. Mine is based on the old 50's-60's cut-outs for you old timers of which I am. I used a short piece of 2" carbon steel pipe threaded on one end and cut the other end of the pipe at 45 degrees and welded it to the exhaust just as it straightens out after going over the rear axle. If you want to quiten it you just screw on the 2" pipe caps that has a large nut welded to it to allow you to use a wrench on them for tightening and uncapping. I keep a folded piece of plastic (lg. garbage bag) in the car to lay on if I need to install/remove. The sound so good open that they are rarely closed. Total investment including welding labor was less that $100.00.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 5,811
Likes: 31
From: Minnetonka MN
St. Jude Donor '06
my old setup was just like CULooking's setup, except mine is an A4, so the y-exited right under the tranny pan. the cutout was literally 2-3" off the ground, so any slight bump or deal on the road, i would scrap, which would push the cutout up into the tranny pan, so now my tranny pan has a fat dent in it... not to mention, i melted many housings, and also melted a tranny gear selector switch or something like that..messed with my engine ecu and also i didn't have reverse lights.
But if u have a M6, heck, ur golden!!!
PAtches: with the cutout mounted perpendicularly, is that ok? how does it sound??? Flow of exhaust needs to be laminar, your setup must kill the flow...if u put in some sort of y-pipe like discussed here, it can give u more power and a better/deeper sound... just a thought, but a very clean install u have done!
Aj
But if u have a M6, heck, ur golden!!!
PAtches: with the cutout mounted perpendicularly, is that ok? how does it sound??? Flow of exhaust needs to be laminar, your setup must kill the flow...if u put in some sort of y-pipe like discussed here, it can give u more power and a better/deeper sound... just a thought, but a very clean install u have done!
Aj