exhaust questions

[Ron46]

Hey guys, as I was power washing the underneath of my truck, I was looking at the exhaust. I was thinking about a couple different thinks. First, couldn't I just unbolt the muffler and resonator pipe and gain hp just from that without loosing low end torque. Second, if I do a whole exhaust system, can I get rid of the second cat, or put a high flow cat in place of the secondary cat because it looked like the only o2 sensor was after the header cat. Third, I was thinking about doing an electronic exhaust cut out so I can still have a quiet exhaust, but then when I want some more power or tone, I can open it up, but where would be the best spot to put it without loosing low end torque, after the header? after the 2nd cat, or after the resonator? I'm leaning towards option 3. Any info would be greatly appreciated thanks!

here is the electronic cutout
http://www.quicktimeperformance.com/QTEC/

[video=youtube;3rCT5FfwBl0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rCT5FfwBl0&feature=related[/video]

 

[skippy]

ron there has been a few that have done the muffler delete (me included) and it feel like there is hp gain but i don't know?
it sounds good with the delete

 

[Ron46]

Ok thanks, did you just cut the muffler off, or did you remove the whole pipping including the resonator?

And if I go with the electric exhaust cut out, where do you guys think would be the best spot for it without loosing low end power?

ron there has been a few that have done the muffler delete (me included) and it feel like there is hp gain but i don't know?
it sounds good with the delete

 

[skippy]

cut the muffler off and ran a new pipe to the back

 

[skippy]

there is a thread somewhere on it i think alrock did one?

 

[alrock]

Wasn't me - I have a Gibson exhaust.

 

[Flash]

there is a thread somewhere on it i think alrock did one?

Tried to find it but not seeing it. Actually very interested in this particular option. Any further information would be appreciated.

Thought about just cutting off the muffler, splicing a Y onto the pipe and then running dual exit pipes - but would prefer to see pics of how others mounted the pipes and spliced the Y - maintaining cdlearance for off road use. Also concerned about it being too loud. But suspect a small HP gain - especially mated with the GM Performance air intake. Perhaps enough to offset the added 50 pounds of combined weight of the 315's over the 285's.

 

[silvrzuki77]

I had cut the resonator and muffler out and placed a new muffler in the resonator spot. I tried just running the resonator and the drone at freeway speeds were driving me crazy.

 

[SolidusJ]

I've always wanted a cut out!!!!! All I have is a flowmaster with the pipe kicked out before the rear axle. It sound OK but it would be better with a cut out and also want to know where would be the best to mount it.

 

[Ron46]

I've always wanted a cut out!!!!! All I have is a flowmaster with the pipe kicked out before the rear axle. It sound OK but it would be better with a cut out and also want to know where would be the best to mount it.

x2! thats what I really want to do too, does anybody know where the best spot would be to mount a cut out without loosing low end torque? after the header, after the 2nd cat, or after the resonator? thanks!

 

[skippy]

all we did is cut the muffler out and extended the pipe straight out the back!

 

[Ron46]

Ok, I mean I want to do an electronic exhaust cut out, but I just need to know where to place it on my exhaust system, you keep everything on the exhaust the same, but you weld in a electronic cutout, its in the top post the video of one

 

[skippy]

would you put it before the cats?or before the muffler?

 

[Ron46]

I don't know lol, what do you think would be the best place to put it where I wont loose low end torque, its a waste to put it before the muffler, thats why I would like to put it before the cats or before the resonator, I just need to know which place is better to put it without loosing low end torque.

 

[SolidusJ]

Well when I cut off the pig roster and ran it for 2 months is wasn't to bad. I would say before the muffler but on the T it's in the middle and yours is way back there. I would try smack on the middle and see how it is. Just got to thinking how would it hold up under water?

 

[Portager]

This sounds like a complex and expensive solution in search of a problem. I think you need to perform a cost benefit analysis. I think the performance benefit could only be a few percent, i.e. 3% to 4% over what is possible with a high performance exhaust. There are much cheaper ways to gain 3% to 4% more HP.

 

[SolidusJ]

This sounds like a complex and expensive solution in search of a problem. I think you need to perform a cost benefit analysis. I think the performance benefit could only be a few percent, i.e. 3% to 4% over what is possible with a high performance exhaust. There are much cheaper ways to gain 3% to 4% more HP.

I think what it comes down to is having a more exhaust sound then for HP. The 3.7L is not the meanest thing rolling around and with a deep rumble could help.

 

[Portager]

O, I see!

Personally, I find loud exhaust offensive, but I understand others like it. I guess I've make the transition to curmudgeon.

 

[Ron46]

The only reason I want an exhaust cutout over an exhaust system or muffler, its because I like having my quiet exhaust, and then when I want I can also have some what of a nice tone to it, unless I can find a muffler that is like that. I just like the cut out of the reason I can choose when its quiet and loud, and the cut out is cheaper then doing a full cat back. I called the company up, and they said it will be fine in water and mud as long as you silicon the connection

 

[Portager]

My cat back exhaust was $299 on ebay with free shipping and I think the seller has more. It is the GM Performance exhaust made by Borla. I think it sounds great. It is pretty quite at cruising speed but it gives a nice rumble when you apply more skinny pedal. Is the cut out cheaper than that?

 

[Ron46]

the cutout is $200, and which exhaust do you have the performance touring or the performance? I might just go with the cat back, I like the sound of the touring.

 

[Hans3T]

My cat back exhaust was $299 on ebay with free shipping and I think the seller has more. It is the GM Performance exhaust made by Borla. I think it sounds great. It is pretty quite at cruising speed but it gives a nice rumble when you apply more skinny pedal. Is the cut out cheaper than that?

Are you willing and/or able to post a quick video or sound clip of the Borla at idle and with a bit of skinny pedal behind it?

 

[Portager]

the cutout is $200, and which exhaust do you have the performance touring or the performance? I might just go with the cat back, I like the sound of the touring.

I bought GM part #18159984 for my H3T, but I forgot you have the I5 engine and I have the alpha. I couldn't find a cat back on ebay for the I5.

Hans3T: I'm getting my truck back from the shop tomorrow morning, so I'll try and post a video tomorrow night.

 

[Ron46]

So then, Ill skip the cutout, what would you guys recommend my best bet is for an exhaust, go for a cat back like magnaflow or gm performance exhaust, or just get a high flow muffler? I want it to have a nice low rumble but not too loud, and gain some hp

 

[Portager]

For my H3T there were only two choices, B&B (Billy Boat) or the GM Performance Cat Back exhaust. Both options were about $1,000 until the GM Performance Exhaust came out on eBay. The $299 price tag of the GM Performance Exhaust made my decision easy. My recommendation is keep an open mind and wait for a good deal to come along. I got mine from a GM Dealer that was closing out old inventory. A similar deal could come along for the H3 in the future. If you get an opportunity to hear some firsthand (I don't think sound recordings are worth much) then maybe you can eliminate a couple of options.