Anyone runs aftermarket header with stock catback?
 

I’ve revert my car back to 100% stock except my ACE header and flex fuel kit. I’ve scheduled to remove those next week. But while driving home from the shop yesterday I kind of the sound of ACE header with the stock catback. Has anyone run aftermarket headers with stock catback? Just curious.

I remember it being a commonly suggested combo if you wanted a quiet system but an aftermarket header.

Since you like it, why not keep it?

yep i run ace and flex with the rest stock

Does removing second cat give some power/response?

Some. Especially if it's only cat removed. But biggest gains come from catless header+tune, as cat placement in stock header for it to heat up to working temps sooner makes it also more negatively affecting performance. Once one already upgraded header & tune, more gains start to hit diminished returns. Also often many leave 2nd header for emissions purpose instead of going fully catless.

I did my custom tuning while having the catless header plus flex fuel kit and aftermarket catback. Now the catback is back to stock do I need a tune revision?

Also somewhat unrelated, if i remove the flex fuel kit altogether l while keeping the aftermarket header do I need a tune revision?

Hey guys with ACE header and stock exhaust...mind posting some video clips for sound?

@CSG Mike

He is turbo now, but pretty sure he ran ace with stock catback.

The sound of an ACE header with stock catback is nothing special, sounds really close to stock and is almost as quiet as well. I got a little bit more sound with the CSG Touring 86 Competition catback but again, it is not a sophisticated sound.

Ofh e85 stock exhaust. Sounds like stock to me. Thank God because road noise is loud enough by itself. Last thing I need is drone.

So it’s perfectly normal to run stock catback with aftermarket header and tunes. That’s great, now my car feels like a sleeper, sounds like stock 86 but has ace header and flex fuel tune.

+1 It's fine and probably the best power/volume ratio out there.

Question is do I need to have to do a tune revision when I switch back onto stock catback while still running ACE header and flex fuel kit?

Not needed.

Not needed!

:D

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNLKubCqMhk[/ame]

I’m running a catted UEL header with aftermarket over pipe and a catless dual resonated front pipe with the stock cat back currently on a stage 2 tune. I like the quiet but do wish it was a bit louder.

How much louder do you want to be?

I’m running the ace a350 and ace front pipe with stock catback. It’s pretty quiet but buzzes and sounds like crap at certain rpms


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I'm probably the only guy running a Borla EL with the stock exhaust. I like the sound. A bit more revvy.

I like the low subi rumble that a N1 has but hate the loud drone after the RPM’s get around 3k.
If they made something that gave me both the low rumble but quieter at higher revs I probably would get it. Asking for a lot I know. Lol

It's not. Check out the Touring86.

Did you hammer down your skid plate? Ace headers rub that. It may look like it has 1/2” clearance but under load engine shifts and header rubs. If it’s happened awhile you should see rub marks on header and skid plate and know exactly where to hammer out.

Also running an aftermarket header, stock catback. Turbo is going on with stock catback as well. If you enjoy the car, who cares if you lose a pissing match on a dyno sheet? Put the money you've saved into an oil cooler or tires

I’m just surprised how quiet the car is now with the stock catback. I know it’ll be quieter than before but this is almost exactly stock-quiet. Doesn’t header by itself make the car louder? I’m not complaining just curious.

Gruppe-S UEL headers + overpipe, little more rumble but more or less OEM like, and when you thrash it (depends also from your map) it has the nice boxer sound!

Anyone runs aftermarket header with stock catback?
 

Yea I’ve hammered my skid plate in a few spots also have Cusco motor mounts.

The buzzing is from the stock catback since I’ve full catless with no resonator in the front pipe.



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I ran ace, with hks FP, and stock exhaust. It didn’t really buzz. But personally I thought it sounded bad. Hard to explain something just sounded off. So I got the CSG touring86 didn’t make it louder but deepend and crispened up the sound. Now it sounds right. Just my opinion and experience.

Yea, plan on ordering the csg catback


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Currently running JDL UEL Catless Header with stock catback.

I'm on Tomei EL + stock

We're just lame nerds
:bellyroll:

Although I struggle to jack up the rear with the stock can, CSG tempting me with their exhaust after I gave up on the cheap axleback...

You'll notice the difference if you compare back to back. I think just a header is quieter than an axleback exhaust. Getting louder can be tricky if you're picky.

I ran Tomei EL with stock midpipe and Nameless single exit muffled axle back.

I found that, in most cases, having an aftermarket header paired with an aftermarket mid pipe (especially one that isn't resonated) leads to the exhaust note sounding very raspy and obnoxious in the higher RPMs.

So I opted to keep the midpipe stock and was really happy with the exhaust note.

Ive personally found that UEL headers with HKS lega max is the perfect balance between loud and quiet

Do you guys sell these through any Canadian dealers? www.ft86motorsports.com perhaps?

Unfortunately not, but it can be shipped via UPS Ground!

Many Canadian folks ship to a depot south of the border.

Ive tried different setups (4 now) and that was my favorite, with HKS dual resonated FP.


Im on ACE 350 headers, Hooker Catted/ Helmholtz resonated FP, Borla Catback. I wanted 2.5" piping all the way through and I got a bit lighter.


However I prefer the sound with the HKS Legamax premium the best I regret selling it.


I still find it hard to believe there isn't a bottleneck when using the stock FP with the ACE 350 headers. The Ace headers end in a 2.5" opening, the Stock FP is ~2", That's a huge restriction


Almost all aftermarket FP's taper down to the stock FP diameter size at the back end so after the FP its doesn't really matter as much the diameter of the Catback.


In conclusion I would go with a FP with a high flow cat and Diameter piping that matches up with your headers. The catback size doesn't seem to matter after that. Its what do you want in sound/weight at that point.

How much louder is it? Do you have a video clip? This is the setup I'm looking at.

Thats. . quiet wow. What exhaust? Ace or Touring86?

After one week of daily commute with this setup I think I will go back with aftermarket catback again. Nothing wrong with stock catback, but starting to miss that deep growl once a while. Main targets are quiet catbacks with good build reputation. I’m down to two choices: Perrin 2.5 resonates or CSG Touring 86. I have ACE 350 header and stock front pipe. Which one would you pick?

Neither actually, because both the Ace and Touring86 did not exist at the time; it was a modified (now discontinued) GReddy.