name brand catless downpipe Vs. local shop catless downpipe

[Lurch.sho]

Hey everyone, I have a 2013 non-PP I'm just starting to work on. I was looking to get catless downpipes for the added power and noise upgrade, but the close to $1,000 they cost online is a lil outside my budget right now. I was wondering what the difference would be between getting downpipes from a name brand like PPE or Stainless Works versus just going to a shop and getting it done for around $350? would love to say F it and save the money but Im also a firm believer in do it right do it once so id love to hear what yall think.

 

[SM105K]

Hey everyone, I have a 2013 non-PP I'm just starting to work on. I was looking to get catless downpipes for the added power and noise upgrade, but the close to $1,000 they cost online is a lil outside my budget right now. I was wondering what the difference would be between getting downpipes from a name brand like PPE or Stainless Works versus just going to a shop and getting it done for around $350? would love to say F it and save the money but Im also a firm believer in do it right do it once so id love to hear what yall think.

Are you tuned?

 

[Ta2dResqr]

Hey everyone, I have a 2013 non-PP I'm just starting to work on. I was looking to get catless downpipes for the added power and noise upgrade, but the close to $1,000 they cost online is a lil outside my budget right now. I was wondering what the difference would be between getting downpipes from a name brand like PPE or Stainless Works versus just going to a shop and getting it done for around $350? would love to say F it and save the money but Im also a firm believer in do it right do it once so id love to hear what yall think.

First problem would be finding a shop to make the catless pipes, then the second problem is finding a tuner that will tune catless pipes. I believe PPE and Stainless are 2.5" as opposed to the 2.25" factory as well.

 

[yaycandy]

A pipe is a pipe. Have a shop make it and its cheaper. It still works the same. Put the 3 bolt flan ge on the right angle and 2 o2 bungs on at the right spot and make the out 2 bolt flan ge the same angle. It wont be 350$ for stainless 2.5” it will be nearly 1000$ for some shop to make it. Lot of things to get right and time.

What the he ll i cant say flan ge. (******) I dont understand this hip new lingo

 

[SM105K]

I would venture to say, even having a full flowing exhaust...our turbine housings really negate any dramatic power gain. I was actually disappointed when I re dyno'd my SHO with downpipes and my custom exhaust.

 

[studio460]

I would venture to say, even having a full flowing exhaust...our turbine housings really negate any dramatic power gain. I was actually disappointed when I re dyno'd my SHO with downpipes and my custom exhaust.

That is disappointing. I wonder if the $2,000 downpipe-wrap posted in the, "What did you do to your SHO today?" thread produces any quantitative increase in performance? (Especially in an unmodified SHO.)

 

[yaycandy]

That is disappointing. I wonder if the $2,000 downpipe-wrap posted in the, "What did you do to your SHO today?" thread produces any quantitative increase in performance? (Especially in an unmodified SHO.)

On turbo. Wrap is a no. Why add more heat. Hurts the steel overtime

 

[yaycandy]

a turbo blanket is a yes and no. Racecar yes. Dd no, holds moisture to a cast iron turbo housing.

 

[studio460]

Sorry, I confused headers with downpipes: I meant this $2,000 header-wrap that I saw posted here:

 

[802SHO]

Sorry, I confused headers with downpipes: I meant this $2,000 header-wrap that I saw posted here:

View attachment 87020

This would likely not result in what you would consider a performance increase as far as power output goes. This will dramatically lower radiant temperatures and protect vital components from heat better than conventional wraps/ceramic coatings and blankets while the material will last substantially longer and be free from chips/flaking, tearing/fraying.

If this was put on the rear turbo downpipe you could rest assured you’d no longer be baking the PTU fluid. In an unmodified SHO it wouldn’t financially make sense to add HeaderShield to the OEM turbo/exhaust components as it’s the most advanced/expensive thermal protection and would be wasted (in a way) on OEM mild steel 2.25” piping. Especially if you decide later to buy aftermarket downpipes. It would be way overboard in that application in my opinion.

Even with increased exhaust gas velocity would there be a significant noticeable bump in power measurable on a dyno or street/strip pull? Id be impressed if it was marginally better.

The true intention for HeadShield is for maximum thermal protection in applications assumedly custom where heat from said components will without a doubt cause damage directly to other components in close proximity. The second half of stopping heat damage is the dramatic measurable temp drop that will most certainly aid in cooler temps and/or increased gas velocity aiding turbo spool/responsiveness that may or may not directly increase power output. Protection you can see and protection you can feel. It’s about protection, longevity and consistency more like an extreme version of preventative maintenance.

In my case it is vital for the use of my new turbos and all the thermal protection to save my bumper and other components from damage/premature failure while offering massive cooling effects, increased exhaust gas velocity and looking awesome all at the same time. Without testing my system unwrapped vs wrapped there’s no way to know if there’s a measurable performance increase.

 

[Lurch.sho]

Are you tuned?

Not tuned right now, but I plan on getting tuned when my warranty expires (+20k miles) or if I cant wait any longer, whatever comes first lol

 

[Lurch.sho]

First problem would be finding a shop to make the catless pipes, then the second problem is finding a tuner that will tune catless pipes. I believe PPE and Stainless are 2.5" as opposed to the 2.25" factory as well.

Thats what I thought too, but theres a shop about an hour from me where a few people I know personally have gotten catless downpipes made by them for like $180. I thought any tuner would tune catless downpipes, is there something I don't know about?

 

[studio460]

Wow! Excellent post, 802! So such a wrap would benefit the PTU, and likely performance, if just applied to the downpipe?

 

[SM105K]

Wow! Excellent post, 802! So such a wrap would benefit the PTU, and likely performance, if just applied to the downpipe?

Yes it would. Mine are wrapped, but I live in Arizona. I don't have the moisture problems that @yaycandy is correct about. If you daily it and you live in a wetter climate I would not advise.

 

[SM105K]

Not tuned right now, but I plan on getting tuned when my warranty expires (+20k miles) or if I cant wait any longer, whatever comes first lol

A tune would be your best bet honestly. Would be about the same as DP's but would yield far better results.

 

[802SHO]

Wow! Excellent post, 802! So such a wrap would benefit the PTU, and likely performance, if just applied to the downpipe?

The downpipes wrapped will benefit the ptu, to try and get more performance the turbine housings and exhaust manifolds in addition to the downpipes would likely yield the best result in terms of a performance gain

 

[802SHO]

Thats what I thought too, but theres a shop about an hour from me where a few people I know personally have gotten catless downpipes made by them for like $180. I thought any tuner would tune catless downpipes, is there something I don't know about?

Yes the EPA cracking down on the lowest hanging fruit which is the aftermarket community. Forget all the diesel fueled heavy equipment, boats, planes, semi trucks and everything in between that’s more harmful to the environment than Joeshmoe your next door neighbor that wants to remove his catalytic converters or do an EGR delete on his PowerStroke.

Companies have either been randomly attacked or someone reported them and they may lose their business with all the fines and BS.

Really what the catless downpipe tune revision is, is turning off the secondary o2 sensors so that you do not get a check engine light illuminated making you feel like you’re suddenly driving a hoopty instead of a luxury sedan.

You can get o2 sensor defoulers to trick the secondary o2 sensors that all is well. It’s really frivolous and extremely petty. Some tuners are absolutely petrified and some still tune them out depends on their personal beliefs/attitude.

 

[SM105K]

Yes the EPA cracking down on the lowest hanging fruit which is the aftermarket community. Forget all the diesel fueled heavy equipment, boats, planes, semi trucks and everything in between that’s more harmful to the environment than Joeshmoe your next door neighbor that wants to remove his catalytic converters or do an EGR delete on his PowerStroke.

Companies have either been randomly attacked or someone reported them and they may lose their business with all the fines and BS.

Really what the catless downpipe tune revision is, is turning off the secondary o2 sensors so that you do not get a check engine light illuminated making you feel like you’re suddenly driving a hoopty instead of a luxury sedan.

You can get o2 sensor defoulers to trick the secondary o2 sensors that all is well. It’s really frivolous and extremely petty. Some tuners are absolutely petrified and some still tune them out depends on their personal beliefs/attitude.

Nothing the EPA does is random. They selected big and little names in all of the aftermarket divisions for a reason. Makes them look less suspicious, and they get the coverage and fear loathing they want.

 

[Osiris3006]

Yes the EPA cracking down on the lowest hanging fruit which is the aftermarket community. Forget all the diesel fueled heavy equipment, boats, planes, semi trucks and everything in between that’s more harmful to the environment than Joeshmoe your next door neighbor that wants to remove his catalytic converters or do an EGR delete on his PowerStroke.

Companies have either been randomly attacked or someone reported them and they may lose their business with all the fines and BS.

Really what the catless downpipe tune revision is, is turning off the secondary o2 sensors so that you do not get a check engine light illuminated making you feel like you’re suddenly driving a hoopty instead of a luxury sedan.

You can get o2 sensor defoulers to trick the secondary o2 sensors that all is well. It’s really frivolous and extremely petty. Some tuners are absolutely petrified and some still tune them out depends on their personal beliefs/attitude.

Good luck with that. We bought catless downpipes for my dads SHO when his turbos went out and his cats got plugged. We put the defoulers on and they work for maybe a week and then the light comes on. I am to the point were I am considering putting cats back on with the stainless downpipes to get rid of the damned cel. They were actually PPE downpipes bought from a member on here. I thought I posted again, but now I can't find it...

 

[Osiris3006]

double post