fastyz400

After taking a look at the stock downpipe, I didn't see that much restrictions as far as bends or kinks.

Can someone explain why a aftermarket down pipe is better?

Wouldn't a high flow cat in the place of the factory cat have the same effect?

HIGHBRED8

the factory exhaust system its self is a full 3", but it does has lots of restrictions. first the d/p: even though its 3" it has a very harsh 90 degree bend right at the top where the exhaust flow first enters it. this totally goes against performance where exhausts are supposed to be as free flow as possible. second the cat isnt a high flow one but its not the worst either. third is the factory exhaust has 10 bends in it , and then youve got that gigantic muffler in the back. the suit case in the back is not only a restriction by being a muffler but its design is bad too. it has no baffles or flow directors in it so the exhaust just kinda bounces around in it and creates a lot of turbulence. so there you go thats pretty much all the main issues with the stock tbe.

compare that to the tbe i have on my car that has a smooth gradual bend off the turbo with no cat (my choice highflow will work fine too) only 4 mandrel bends so it keeps its 3" diameter even through the bends, instead of 10 like the stocker, and no suit case in back. and you can see that even though the factory exhaust is 3" its has tons of restrictions. and the down pipe with the 90 in it is one of the biggest.

fastyz400

Who makes the best downpipe & will the pcm throw a code?

HIGHBRED8

i cant say who makes the best, i know of 3 on my regular forum, and thats exhaust depot, dcr and maxxfab. i wont say anythind about the other guys other than dcr imo is over priced. i run the e.d tbe. i knw the owner he's a really cool guy great customer service and if any problems come up he does everything to fix it, so i always recommend him but do your research. as for a code, if you get a cat then no, without cat its hit or miss. most cars dont, but mine does for some reason. it has not adverse effects on the car. usually a spark plug non fowler take care of the code.

HIGHBRED8

some stupid rule wont let me p.m, heres my response

im lucky enough t be local to exhaust depot so i had the tbe installed by them. but i did my neons d/p and it wasnt very hard at all and supposedly the csrt is much easier. many members of the main forum im part of have done it in less than 1hr. it comes with instructions, and as long as yu take the time to spray all the bolts with wd40 first i dont see what would give you issues.

i havent heard of anyone at all getting a code with a cat, and the majority dont even get one without a cat. the system is designed with the second 02 sensor far enough out of the flow to avoid a code but some cars throw one (like mine). others who did throw one have said the code one day just went away or they have the afg and clear the code and some of them said after clearing it a few times it never came back. so without a cat there is a chance, with a cat ive never heard of anyone getting a code.

SRT4Life

whats the best brand name down pipe?

WRX2SRT

The DCR pipes are nice quality products! I would recommend them, however their pipes are made to order, so if you don't want to wait a few weeks go with someone else.

HIGHBRED8

brand name? look at the nsrt forum, i think youll agree that exhaust depot has a pretty good name when it comes to exhaust and srt's. dcr is good too but all their stuff is over priced imo. maxxfab has one, dont know much about it, never heard anything bad about the though.

i back e.d all the way, great price, great product, proven quality, and great customer service.

fastyz400

I'll be looking for the downpipe towards the end of this year. gotta finish paying off my wife's medical bill next month, then Property Tax in Sept. Ouch. I'm hating life.

Gosh, I want a downpipe now!!!

g-mac

Stupid question, but what will doing these exhaust mods do to your gas mileage? I would like to gain power for when I want to use it and for regular driving, just maintain close to stock gas mileage. Does that make sense?