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Old May 11, 2006 | 12:43 PM
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Default Test pipes or Cats

So ive searched and searched and havnet been able to find anything.

I dont know much about cars, but im still learning. Can someone please explain to me what the differenct between cats and test pipes are. I see test pipes are straight through and cats have like a "bubble" in the middle of the pipe, what is the difference for?

Thanks
-adrian
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Old May 11, 2006 | 12:44 PM
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hfcs - vrooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooom
test pipes - *fart* *fart* *fart* *fart* *fart*
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Old May 11, 2006 | 12:46 PM
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heh not only the sound though, sum1 give me a good explanation please
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Old May 11, 2006 | 12:48 PM
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Originally Posted by k4nx
heh not only the sound though, sum1 give me a good explanation please
http://www.howstuffworks.com/catalytic-converter.htm
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Old May 11, 2006 | 01:17 PM
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High-flow catalytic converter. Similar to the OEM catalytic converter, but not as restrictive. Not guaranteed but most likely will pass emissions tests.

Test pipes. Just as you mentioned: an empty piece of pipe.

Last edited by davidv; May 11, 2006 at 01:20 PM.
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Old May 11, 2006 | 01:23 PM
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Unless FI, leave cats on your car.
With test pipes you can smell your exhaust and it is bad for the enviroment.
With FI, you can gain 40 rwhp w/o your cats.
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Old May 11, 2006 | 02:01 PM
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TPs = half the price and more power (more than the 1-2 peak whp than some people claim, its a significant diff across the power band) but they have some smell and some rasp.

HFC = more expensive, heavier, more restrictive, dont smell, might pass emissions.


Choice is yours...i went with TPs cause I wanted a more raw sound / better performance...and they were 100 bucks.
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Old May 11, 2006 | 02:13 PM
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Originally Posted by DG350Z
TPs = half the price and more power (more than the 1-2 peak whp than some people claim, its a significant diff across the power band) but they have some smell and some rasp.

HFC = more expensive, heavier, more restrictive, dont smell, might pass emissions.


Choice is yours...i went with TPs cause I wanted a more raw sound / better performance...and they were 100 bucks.
But you WILL lose low end torque and sound like a broken honda!
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Old May 11, 2006 | 02:13 PM
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Get resonated TP's...you'll be ok.
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Old May 11, 2006 | 02:36 PM
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Ive never heard a honda that sounds like my car. Or a broken one for that matter.
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Old May 11, 2006 | 02:42 PM
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My HFCs from Crawford kept cracking so I got UT-R resonated test pipes and they are loud and somewhat raspy but not like a broken Honda it actually sounds real mean but much louder than HFCs it sounds more like a Z from the Japanese GT than an American street. Feels better than HFCs so far, no noticeable torque loss so I dont know what thats all about but at the same time I am breaking in a new engine and tranny so I am babying it. I will give my butt dyno results after I hit 1500 miles but so far it feels more powerful then before from stop to 4000rpm(low end, havent driven over 4000rpm yet) and rev matching seems easier as the throttle is more responsive now, I dont know if its the pipes that did it but when I blip my throttle the tach moves instantaneously and its quicker and climbs higher then before when tapping the peddle with the same force. I am happy with the change but the sound is not for the meek or timid.

Last edited by ObZeZZed; May 11, 2006 at 02:46 PM.
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Old May 11, 2006 | 02:45 PM
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Depending on where you live.....straight pipes baby!!!
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Old May 11, 2006 | 02:49 PM
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Just to avoid potential confusion:

Straight Pipes=Test Pipes
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Old May 11, 2006 | 03:09 PM
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Originally Posted by DG350Z
Ive never heard a honda that sounds like my car. Or a broken one for that matter.
Trust me, i didnt think it was possible until i put test pipes on But i will remove them once i get back home. I might try HFC and see how that sounds. i can care less about emissions since i dont have to worry about passing every year.
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Old May 11, 2006 | 03:22 PM
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HFCs definately retain more of the stock sound and I understand that Nonresonated test pipes are very raspy but the resonated ones I got are not that bad. I think it sounds like a monZter. HFCs sound much less agressive though.

When Need for Speed was at a recent Dyno run taking test audio samples to find a Z for their next game, they seemed alot more impressed with the carz that had Test pipes then HFCs, as far as I can remember, and that combined with Rickdogg having the most N/A power that I have seen and running test pipes I tend to lean toward test pipes(RESONATED) but the sound is not for the meek or timid.
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Old May 11, 2006 | 03:43 PM
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Originally Posted by ObZeZZed
HFCs definately retain more of the stock sound and I understand that Nonresonated test pipes are very raspy but the resonated ones I got are not that bad. I think it sounds like a monZter. HFCs sound much less agressive though.
I agree. All of the above complaints about test pipes have been NON-resonated ones. I have Labree resonated and believe me, it doesn't sound like any broken honda. I was driving it around my college campus for the first time today, and it turned many heads. The sound is incredible, and only gets better as the RPMs climb. Labrees are expensive ($395), but well worth the money. As for the smell, I duno, it doesnt really bother me. I've smelled worse exhausts before... Ill just leave it at that.

Vote = Test Pipes (resonated)
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Old May 11, 2006 | 07:53 PM
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where can i find resonated pipes at online??
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Old May 11, 2006 | 09:25 PM
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Originally Posted by DG350Z
TPs = half the price and more power (more than the 1-2 peak whp than some people claim, its a significant diff across the power band) but they have some smell and some rasp.

HFC = more expensive, heavier, more restrictive, dont smell, might pass emissions.


Choice is yours...i went with TPs cause I wanted a more raw sound / better performance...and they were 100 bucks.
What brand did you go with and how do they sound with the Borla?
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Old May 12, 2006 | 12:43 AM
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Originally Posted by ObZeZZed
My HFCs from Crawford kept cracking so I got UT-R resonated test pipes and they are loud and somewhat raspy but not like a broken Honda it actually sounds real mean but much louder than HFCs it sounds more like a Z from the Japanese GT than an American street. Feels better than HFCs so far, no noticeable torque loss so I dont know what thats all about but at the same time I am breaking in a new engine and tranny so I am babying it. I will give my butt dyno results after I hit 1500 miles but so far it feels more powerful then before from stop to 4000rpm(low end, havent driven over 4000rpm yet) and rev matching seems easier as the throttle is more responsive now, I dont know if its the pipes that did it but when I blip my throttle the tach moves instantaneously and its quicker and climbs higher then before when tapping the peddle with the same force. I am happy with the change but the sound is not for the meek or timid.
Hi ObZeZZed, where can I get those UTR resonated test pipes ?

Don't tell me to look on ebay...or mynismo (momentarily closed),

Thank you
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Old May 12, 2006 | 01:18 AM
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test pipes....smells good
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