can I effectively modify the stock Y-pipe?

[SuperHO]

so I've been thinkin...

I'm a broke bastard who can't afford shiny new things, so I was thinkin rather than buying a fancy y-pipe for my 95, why not hack up the stocker and install a nice bend in place of the 90* into-the-cat flustercuck? Theoretically, I could even go equal-length if I got the measurements right.

would this idea be of any real benefit, or am I just barking up the wrong tree?

is the increase in pipe diameter over stock (if there is one) worth any power, or is it mostly in getting rid of that hellish bend on the rear bank?

 

[zach44102]

I think there Will be a gain if you modify the stock y pipe but I think you will see a lot more gain in buying a aftermarket y pipe.

 

[jelloslug]

The only way I could see that working is if you completly removed the cat and just replaced it with pipe.

 

[Bob Gervais]

You wouldn't be able to re-use the stock cat, because of the way the pipe goes into it. So, at least one aftermarket cat, some pipe, fabricating... If you can weld it yourself, I can see you saving some money doing it this way. If you're not getting the fabbing done free, you're likely to spend more doing it this way, than you would by buying a new pipe.

As mentioned, if you eliminate the cats completely, it'd be the cheapest route.

 

[kevinspann]

Or if you had two stock y-pipes, you could combine them into one. A lot of people have them sitting around, from parts cars, or just upgrading. I thought about the same thing. The aftermarket y-pipe I have is too raspy for my tastes.

 

[SuperHO]

I'm just wondering if there'd be appreciable gains to be had from doing this over an aftermarket pipe.

 

[jon93]

Buy a used aftermarket y pipe and be done.

 

[Ocnaj]

My '90 has a stock Y with the cats deleted and it runs so very good and sounds good with the Dynomax catback. Only mod on the engine and it ran a 14.2. So I would definitely say it helps.

 

[wingtip80]

When I first got my plus the previous po cut the stock y-pipe and put on a dual in single out converter. It would probably be easier to do equal length.

 

[somedude_001]

I did a cat delete on my stock Y pipe and there were noticeable gains all over.

 

[sperold]

I bought the Shosource equal length Y-Pipe and it is definately a thing of beauty. Before I installed it (myself, I may add, as it comes in easy to use pieces), I took it to the best exhaust shop in my area and showed it to them. They told me they could not make the 180 degree bend that is the heart of the equal length system. And they have a reputation of making just about anything. They also said they could not make it for the price I paid (which we all know is pretty high). So from that point of view, the equal lenght idea is out the window.
However, I think you could modify the stock pipe to get better results.
But I would not know where to start. Everyone points to that converter that has the inlet pipe sticking up out of the front of it as being a bad idea. However, aiming the exhaust to the front of the car before turning it around to go the back (Equal length) sounds stupid as well, but it is not.
Go to the website for Eastern Catalytic Converters and you will see a variety of y-splices and other components you can buy that would help your fabrication. As a side note, you can even buy that crazy converter I mentioned above - brand new. But I doubt if they sell many of them.
Try modding it, and don't just do the things based on the idea of gettting more water flowing through the pipes, gasses are different and don't follow the same rules.

 

[SHO n OFF]

I took mine to a local shop and had him take out the cats and put curved bends in place to mimic the shosource pipe. Only mod I've done so far. Took it to a dyno a few weeks ago and got 238 at the crank, and 216 at the wheels. :woo-hoo: Car seems alot more peppier too.

 

[Dieselchanic]

If you're needing a tight bend you could just purchase some mandrel j-bends and use them to fab it up yourself. That would eliminate the problem of a shop not being able to do it plus flow better anywho. I have an aftermarket y that had plugged cats so I cut em out but I don't really like it. I plan on just buying a bunch of mandrel bends and fabbing an entire new one, which in the long run probly won't be any cheaper than buying one but I love fabbin stuff....