thanks guys all the comments have been helpfull. now as for resonated test pipes vs hfc. which would give me more power and which would be more raspy? my guess i'll make more power from the test pipe but it'll be more raspy. correct?

 

Yes. Get Motordyne Xy Pipe with the HKS

 

Headers did change my exhaust note,.. not drastically but there was a level up in agressiveness note. but I had TDE and HFC on it prior to that install.
Definatley right on this one, heavy builds that go into cam work possibly with porting, and Definatley right on a reflash. Will lose power without the reflash minimum.

Test pipes are great.... but I just don't think(opinion) its practical for every day street use, maybe really not nessesary, personal fan of HFC's though.
But if your planning on tracking, then hell yeah.... test pipes for sure!!

 

Why no do both

 

He could do both, but there wont be a gain with the Exhaust manifolds. realistically and from experience its gonna feel like low end torque drops a lil, even with upgraded Cats.

Ive asked the question before on header dimensions to try to see what kinda headers are most compatible without having to do heavy builds and no one really knows.

 

i completely agree but for the amount it changes it it wasn't worth noting, at least in my case. I'm sure it's probably brand dependant on how much it changes the volume and tone of the exhaust. For my headers through a borla true dual if there was a difference it was so slight that i haven't noticed it.

HFC or test pipe question. If your state doesn't test emissions then test pipes will get you the "most" gains. Resonated test pipes will help reduce the rasp but rasp is also a factor that will depend on your exhaust as well.

HFC are great, depending brand they'll flow slightly less than test pipes. Flow won't make that must difference in an NA application. I chose not to do HFC due to their failure rate and being an FI car i wanted the most flow i could get. A quality HFC will last but there is always an element of possible failure of th catalytic which will clog the exhaust. The risk is minimal but it will be your decision whether it is worth it or not.

 

Low end torque is great for driving around town, but I'd rather give some up down low and make it scream up top If you are racing under 4krpms, you're doing it wrong

 

hahaha i like that "if your racing under 4krpm your doing it wrong". ok so basicly headers are out of the question now if a matter of high flow cats or resonated test pipes.
binder- i completly agree for the hfc failier rate i've heard alot about that. plus they're about twice the price.
i think im between the motordyne art pipe (which are really pricy and i think it's still a little raspy), or just any brand test pipe that has resonators on it. does anyone have resonated testpipes on a hks tde?

 

The ART pipes that I've installed actually removed the rasp previously caused by a set of HFC's.

 

really?! do you have a you tube video of them on your car? i wanted to hear it

 

Under 4K... thats funny.

I wonder what the failure rate is among HFC brands are.
I've had AAM's in just over a year in my daily driver and I shift typically over 4K RPMs.

 

I installed megan racing test pipes which do not have mounting brackets. After being under my car while a friend reved on it, i found that they were moving a little more than i felt comfortable with. Not to mention my y pipe was leaking. (Due to too much movement i'm guessing) So i had a local muffler shop rig me up a few mounts.

 

Thank you, this info was extremely helpful to me as I was wondering about installing HFC~ I didn't want to go w/ test-pipes mainly due to the noise/emission/legal issues~