Test pipe with stock exhaust

[Metal Angel]

Right now I rather like my stock exhaust. It looks good, it doesn't attract attention, and I don't think I want to be another ricer with a 3" exhaust and a stock engine. However, it wouldn't hurt if it was slightly louder, and a couple more ponies would not be unwelcome. If I put a test pipe on with my stock exhaust, what would be the results? Would it be a little louder? Or just raspy and awful? Would it free up any power? Or would all the advantages be lost by the time the exhaust got to my stock muffler?

[allenms240]

You'll see almost NO gains coming from it. and You'll be polluting the air.

[badbob2121]

and You'll be polluting the air.

check this exhaust out, you can choose smaller piping with a clean looking muffler, so you dont have to be a "ricer"...

[darens13]

i cut the muffler off and welded in a y shaped pipe with 2 pipes about 16 inches long. i left the cat and resonator. it sounds awesome. its really not that loud, only above 4000 rpm it gets pretty loud. it cost me a total of like $25.

[Metal Angel]

and You'll be polluting the air.

I'm driving a 21 year old car- the epitome of re-use, re-new, re-cycle. Prius and Leaf drivers have nothing on me. I'm not too worried about polluting the air. (not to mention I drive it about once a month) I guarantee you, my carbon footprint will be largely unaffected by the modifications I do to my exhaust.

[240TKE128]

As far as pollution goes, there are alot of other things that are lot worse you can do then put in the test pipe. It really wont make much different but yes it will be louder now on a stock exhaust it probably wont be a ricer but it will be louder. I can say this cause mine is a ricer, my exhaust rusted out of my 240 so i swapped it with the cheapest ebay exhaust/test pipe i could find, Its embarrassing to admit that, but you got to do what you can do with what money you have, if you can afford it i would just get a decent quality aftermarket system that looks close to oem if you like that look, and leave the rest be but if its only that one piece go right ahead it wont be to bad.

[costa_rican13]

apexi noir ws. thats what im getting!

[240sxAli4Life]

You'll see almost NO gains coming from it. and You'll be polluting the air.

[terry_240sx]

save up for an hks hi power
i love mines! even with a test pipe it isn't too loud and doesn't sound ricey at all.

but to address you're first question, i think a test pipe would help a bit, but the stock exhaust system is too restrictive to create large gains.

[pella]

Ask around, get a BRM exhaust. Its a NICO sponser. Also when i went to put my test pipe in I thought it might be a little loud, but when i took my cat out, what i thought to be a cat was actually a hollowed out cat. Point being, it was just like a test pipe but i dint know. Sounded exactlly like my friends S14 with a cat. We couldnt tell the difference. I would have left it like that but needed a spot for my wide band.

[LoserCard]

Some magazine did an article on catalytic converters and their restrictions. Compared to the old cat, a new OE one netted 1whp, High flow (Magnaflow/Catco) netted 4whp, and Test pipe netted 5whp. I am sure this is all on a good flowing exhaust so first get a good exhaust and then a real high flow cat. My Magnaflow High Flow cat works amazing, it did, however, increase my exhaust volume a little bit over stock.

[allenms240]

So, when people say, "Got my test pipe so my SR can BREATHE," they only gain 1whp vs a high flow cat?

[Taran14]

Putting a test pipe on with your stock exhaust doesn't do anything. Gives the exhaust a little more flow, but you won't feel power gain and it will barely be a little louder. If your exhaust is fine I would just replace it with a test pipe. A lot cheaper and it will be the samething you already have, just with a shiny new piece!

[LoserCard]

Moral of the thread:
Stock exhaust + test pipe = Pointless
Modified exhaust + high flow cat/test pipe = Best option