test pipe

**Experimental_Honda** · 05-25-2003, 08:06 PM

we dont have emissions testing here in ky because of the farm trucks so can some one tell me how much a test pie would help me out with a catback and how much more power could i gain with headers? also one last question are bomz mufflers any good? my muffler is rusting and i want a new one.

**Mike's89AccordLX** · 05-25-2003, 08:08 PM

Well I have headers and straight pipe and 2.25" exhaust with AROSPEED muffler. And I noticed a nice gain. I don't have numbers for you but the butt dyno says maybe 3 to 4 hp for a test pipe.

**IWLSF** · 05-25-2003, 08:18 PM

In the whole exhaust system, any type of a catalytic converter modification (excluding gutting) will provide the biggest boost in power. Especially on our cars. The pipe is so narrow as it is, and then throw a honeycomb inside, and you've got quite a difficulty pushing exhaust out. Muffler-wise, anything will work, so long as it's stainless/polished aluminum/chrome.

**Experimental_Honda** · 05-25-2003, 08:22 PM

cool thanks is 35 to much for a test pipe?

**Mike's89AccordLX** · 05-25-2003, 08:24 PM

Nope b/c I paid $30 for mine.

**IWLSF** · 05-25-2003, 08:26 PM

Uh, well you come across a few problems. Regardless of the fact you dont have emissions, you still by law cannot modify the catalytic converter on a car equipped with it. So you will not be able to find a shop to install the test pipe. Basically the test pipe is a 2.25" foot long or so segment of pipe. That's it. Basically you're buying a piece of pipe for $35. If a foot worth of pipe ran $35, then you'd be paying around $300 for a full exhaust, which is outrageous for custom work. Assuming you have a friend to help install this, just go out to a muffler shop and buy a 12" long piece of pipe for $5-10 or something, and have the friend weld it for you. Also remember, if you buy a 2.25" sized test, your old exhaust will be a BIT too small for it. You'll have to upgrade the whole thing.

**Mike's89AccordLX** · 05-25-2003, 08:30 PM

Well mine came with flanges so it was a bolt on test pipe

So you don't need a shop to put it on.

**IWLSF** · 05-25-2003, 11:46 PM

Assuming you can raise the car up and break those bolts. Any bolt on the exhaust feels like it's welded on there and will easily break ratchets lol. Use 1/2" drive, 24" flex handle if you cant break em.

**Experimental_Honda** · 05-26-2003, 08:08 AM

see i can do all the work on my own i have never had a shop do work for me. its a bolt in test pipe and i have a impact wrench, so i will be fine.

**Kevin** · 05-26-2003, 08:36 PM

What about just gutting your Cat?? Thats what i did and it made a hole shit load diffrence!!! Our cats are so fulled with that honey comb bullshit that just tearing it all out will make a diffrence!!! But when you gutt it you hafta tear the whole thing out!!! It should be totally hollow!!!

**sl103** · 05-27-2003, 11:59 AM

i will be doing that to mine i can weld so it will be a snap ;-)

**Experimental_Honda** · 05-27-2003, 06:53 PM

i need a new cat any way so ima get a test pipe. i think its got a hole in it and i have a leak cuz i hit some shit on the road one day and i broke a bolt off when i was messing with my catback.

**ae85levin** · 05-29-2003, 12:20 AM

if u dont have emissons, and you dont care about sound or loudness, forget the exhaust, by a header and a b-pipe, and thats it, no exhaust neede, although u will sacrafice low-end power.

**88 Accord DX** · 05-29-2003, 05:06 AM

i wanna gut my cat but i dont have a lift or an impact wrench. getting the car high enough wouldnt be a problem but getting those damn bolts off would be damn hard. maybe i should get out the dremel and just cut the bolts off.

**Experimental_Honda** · 05-29-2003, 06:07 AM

cutting the bolts off is a pain we had to do that to my boys delsol. try pb blaster you can get it at wal-mart, its in a yellow, red, and white can.

**AccordEpicenter** · 05-31-2003, 09:09 PM

yeah that stuff works better than just about anything. Just spray it and leave it for a while, its best to leave it overnight if you can, and if it wont come loose with that stuff... it wont come loose period.

**Mike's89AccordLX** · 06-01-2003, 03:32 PM

What do you mean cutting the bolts was easy. I used my trusty Dremel

**Sabz5150** · 06-01-2003, 03:40 PM

I dropped my exhaust and had to stand on it and use my other foot to push on a 1/2 drive breaker bar. After a bit of jumping up and down, they came loose.

Don't even try breaking them with the exhaust still on the car unless you have air tools. Even then some of the bolts are impossible to reach with it still on there.