Exhaust Questions (I'm new...)
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Joined: Aug 2007
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From: Middle Georgie
Exhaust Questions (I'm new...)
Hey guys, my name is Russ and I'm new to the forum. I've been dropping in from time to time and reading posts to learn more about my '06 Evolution IX since I bought it last summer. I drove an old pushrod 5.0 liter Ford Mustang to get me through engineering school. It was cheap and it is fast, but only in straight lines! Anyway, my experience in modifying and racing has been with (relatively) large N.A. engines with lots of low end torque, so there has been a learning curve in making the switch to a small displacement turbo engine. That being said, its fun to learn and its amazing to have a car that handles for a change.
On to my question... I wanted to know if there was anybody out there running the stock exhaust on an Evo IX with the factory cat replaced with a test pipe (for off-road purposes only of course
). I understand the basic physics of turbo exhaust and I know less restriction means more power. The cat is a source of restriction and its seems to me that simply replacing it with a test pipe (with the necessary Check Engine Light fix) would free up some power for a rather small financial investment. I think the best price I have seen on a turbo back exhaust was move than $700. Going with the catless set up on that could come back to bite me if I move to an area that is serious about enforcing that kind of thing. With a simple test pipe, I could swap the cat back on in less than an hour. I also know from working on my old Mustang that just because an after market company says their product fits doesn't mean that it actually does, so the cheapest TBE might not be the best choice. Besides that, the cat pipe looks very simple to build and I have a friend that thinks he can build it for me for the cost of the material. As far as the sound, I would love to get a little bit more volume from my exhaust but I live in a quite neighborhood and would rather not have a loud exhaust. I think replacing the cat would bring the volume up a little bit with out making it 'kid with a crappy Honda' loud.
I searched for this topic and wasn't able to find any threads on it. If there is one I'll apologize in advance for cluttering up the forum. If anyone out there has tried this set up please let me know what kind of results you got out of it. If I can get 10-15whp gain from a $50 investment and a $1000 investment would only net a gain of 20whp, then I'll take the cheap route. I plan on starting the process of tunning by reflashing the ECU after I upgrade the exhaust and buy some gauges. The only other mod on the car is a simple drop in K&N panel filter. Thanks!
On to my question... I wanted to know if there was anybody out there running the stock exhaust on an Evo IX with the factory cat replaced with a test pipe (for off-road purposes only of course
). I understand the basic physics of turbo exhaust and I know less restriction means more power. The cat is a source of restriction and its seems to me that simply replacing it with a test pipe (with the necessary Check Engine Light fix) would free up some power for a rather small financial investment. I think the best price I have seen on a turbo back exhaust was move than $700. Going with the catless set up on that could come back to bite me if I move to an area that is serious about enforcing that kind of thing. With a simple test pipe, I could swap the cat back on in less than an hour. I also know from working on my old Mustang that just because an after market company says their product fits doesn't mean that it actually does, so the cheapest TBE might not be the best choice. Besides that, the cat pipe looks very simple to build and I have a friend that thinks he can build it for me for the cost of the material. As far as the sound, I would love to get a little bit more volume from my exhaust but I live in a quite neighborhood and would rather not have a loud exhaust. I think replacing the cat would bring the volume up a little bit with out making it 'kid with a crappy Honda' loud. I searched for this topic and wasn't able to find any threads on it. If there is one I'll apologize in advance for cluttering up the forum. If anyone out there has tried this set up please let me know what kind of results you got out of it. If I can get 10-15whp gain from a $50 investment and a $1000 investment would only net a gain of 20whp, then I'll take the cheap route. I plan on starting the process of tunning by reflashing the ECU after I upgrade the exhaust and buy some gauges. The only other mod on the car is a simple drop in K&N panel filter. Thanks!
Evolving Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 129
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From: CA
I don't have that set up. Mine is stock. Also I have thought about Test Pipe too. Should give about 12-15 whp more!
But like many, we are aware of the consequences with that. There are the Perrin high flow cat (HFC), WORKS has it on sale now for $269, and there is one that is being made and is a 100 CELL from Erik for Aby. After the install you would need a bung, welded onto the intermediate pipe for the O2 sensor. Godd luck !
But like many, we are aware of the consequences with that. There are the Perrin high flow cat (HFC), WORKS has it on sale now for $269, and there is one that is being made and is a 100 CELL from Erik for Aby. After the install you would need a bung, welded onto the intermediate pipe for the O2 sensor. Godd luck !
Hey guys, my name is Russ and I'm new to the forum. I've been dropping in from time to time and reading posts to learn more about my '06 Evolution IX since I bought it last summer. I drove an old pushrod 5.0 liter Ford Mustang to get me through engineering school. It was cheap and it is fast, but only in straight lines! Anyway, my experience in modifying and racing has been with (relatively) large N.A. engines with lots of low end torque, so there has been a learning curve in making the switch to a small displacement turbo engine. That being said, its fun to learn and its amazing to have a car that handles for a change.
On to my question... I wanted to know if there was anybody out there running the stock exhaust on an Evo IX with the factory cat replaced with a test pipe (for off-road purposes only of course ). I understand the basic physics of turbo exhaust and I know less restriction means more power. The cat is a source of restriction and its seems to me that simply replacing it with a test pipe (with the necessary Check Engine Light fix) would free up some power for a rather small financial investment. I think the best price I have seen on a turbo back exhaust was move than $700. Going with the catless set up on that could come back to bite me if I move to an area that is serious about enforcing that kind of thing. With a simple test pipe, I could swap the cat back on in less than an hour. I also know from working on my old Mustang that just because an after market company says their product fits doesn't mean that it actually does, so the cheapest TBE might not be the best choice. Besides that, the cat pipe looks very simple to build and I have a friend that thinks he can build it for me for the cost of the material. As far as the sound, I would love to get a little bit more volume from my exhaust but I live in a quite neighborhood and would rather not have a loud exhaust. I think replacing the cat would bring the volume up a little bit with out making it 'kid with a crappy Honda' loud.
I searched for this topic and wasn't able to find any threads on it. If there is one I'll apologize in advance for cluttering up the forum. If anyone out there has tried this set up please let me know what kind of results you got out of it. If I can get 10-15whp gain from a $50 investment and a $1000 investment would only net a gain of 20whp, then I'll take the cheap route. I plan on starting the process of tunning by reflashing the ECU after I upgrade the exhaust and buy some gauges. The only other mod on the car is a simple drop in K&N panel filter. Thanks!
On to my question... I wanted to know if there was anybody out there running the stock exhaust on an Evo IX with the factory cat replaced with a test pipe (for off-road purposes only of course
). I understand the basic physics of turbo exhaust and I know less restriction means more power. The cat is a source of restriction and its seems to me that simply replacing it with a test pipe (with the necessary Check Engine Light fix) would free up some power for a rather small financial investment. I think the best price I have seen on a turbo back exhaust was move than $700. Going with the catless set up on that could come back to bite me if I move to an area that is serious about enforcing that kind of thing. With a simple test pipe, I could swap the cat back on in less than an hour. I also know from working on my old Mustang that just because an after market company says their product fits doesn't mean that it actually does, so the cheapest TBE might not be the best choice. Besides that, the cat pipe looks very simple to build and I have a friend that thinks he can build it for me for the cost of the material. As far as the sound, I would love to get a little bit more volume from my exhaust but I live in a quite neighborhood and would rather not have a loud exhaust. I think replacing the cat would bring the volume up a little bit with out making it 'kid with a crappy Honda' loud. I searched for this topic and wasn't able to find any threads on it. If there is one I'll apologize in advance for cluttering up the forum. If anyone out there has tried this set up please let me know what kind of results you got out of it. If I can get 10-15whp gain from a $50 investment and a $1000 investment would only net a gain of 20whp, then I'll take the cheap route. I plan on starting the process of tunning by reflashing the ECU after I upgrade the exhaust and buy some gauges. The only other mod on the car is a simple drop in K&N panel filter. Thanks!
you could also check out the DC sports downpipe. It's one piece and replaces the downpipe and cat. It should only be a little louder than stock, so it'll still sound nice. Also, replace the box intake with a cone intake. you can stick with the stock pipe, just go with a cone filter. Spool is much louder, but gains is better. With a tune, u're good to go. 
you could also check out the DC sports downpipe. It's one piece and replaces the downpipe and cat. It should only be a little louder than stock, so it'll still sound nice. Also, replace the box intake with a cone intake. you can stick with the stock pipe, just go with a cone filter. Spool is much louder, but gains is better. With a tune, u're good to go.
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 5
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From: Middle Georgie
How easy was the installation on the DC Sports TBE? Does everything fit right using stock mount points? AEM doesn't have their DC Sports page up right now. I know from working on my old car that some aftermarket companies make products that don't really fit w/o major headaches...
if your looking for cheap diy and have a shop weld them...like what i did...click on my sig. 200+ shipped i cut eveything my self and bought bends and flanges...this is a way to go if you want cheap...may i add this is 304 stainless all around, this isnt cheap material at all too. best investment in cat back exhaust i would ever make.
Last edited by downshift411; Apr 10, 2008 at 06:23 PM.
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Evolving Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 117
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From: Parkesberg, Pa
I know you want cheap but you get what you pay for. If I were you I would save my money and just get a TBE. But if you insist you can get a Megan test pipe from ebay for cheap and they fit.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Testp...spagenameZWDVW
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Testp...spagenameZWDVW
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 5
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From: Middle Georgie
Cool. I contacted the seller, optionimports , through ebay and they said they are the manufacturer of the test pipe in the link. Has anyone installed this pipe w/ an otherwise stock exhaust? If it fits, I'll give it a go... I have to say that I am quite tempted to just buy a whole turbo back system b/c I plan on buying a Tactrix cable and Innovate LC-1 wideband 02 kit to get started data logging and reprogramming the ECU soon... I'm guessing that I'll need to remove the down pipe to drill it for the O2 sensor bung. I'm not looking forward to pulling the down pipe (or at least the shielding) just to put the stock one back in place. I've never pulled a down pipe, so I'm not sure that I can get away with reusing the gaskets already on the turbo/O2 outlet or if I need to replace them. Can anybody that has done this help me out?
Last edited by Ramblin' Wreck; Apr 21, 2008 at 06:02 PM.
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