Cat back exhausts? Most bang for your buck?

[FRed-S]

Hi all,
I'm new to the FR-S and I'm kinda going a bit nuts thinking about mods lol. Just got it tuned and now she needs more horses. Not ready to go header back but are there better cat backs that give you a good hp increase? I know the header is the bottle neck but will a good cat back give much of a boost?
Thanks,
FRed-S

[cdrazic93]

No. All the gains to be had are in the manifold, a few in the overpipe but thats it.

[cjd]

For the buck, stock. Just an overpipe might be a tiny gain but... If you're not tuned, do that first, even just an off the shelf OFT tune. That opens the door for maximizing a header too.

[Rifle]

^, according to a few vendors on here, the front pipe is actually the most restrictive pipe in terms of flow, however, headers yield the most gains, a catback might make a few HP, but nothing noticeable. It's more of a cosmetic/sound thing.

[humfrz]

Oh, I'd suggest you just pick one that "sounds good" to your ears.

Most of them "sound and look" like you have more power.......


humfrz

[FRed-S]

Originally Posted by cjd

For the buck, stock. Just an overpipe might be a tiny gain but... If you're not tuned, do that first, even just an off the shelf OFT tune. That opens the door for maximizing a header too.

I got my ECUTEK tune 2 days ago. 27hp gain.

[cjd]

Originally Posted by FRed-S

I got my ECUTEK tune 2 days ago. 27hp gain.

Hah. Noticed that when I reread.

Even something like the Gruppe-S header and a nice overpipe on all stock will be a much bigger gain, but will want a re-tune. Can be quite affordable. Catted JDL (some FS here at a good price) if you needed a cat. For the money, especially tuned, header is where the gains live.

[FRed-S]

Originally Posted by cjd

Hah. Noticed that when I reread.

Even something like the Gruppe-S header and a nice overpipe on all stock will be a much bigger gain, but will want a re-tune. Can be quite affordable. Catted JDL (some FS here at a good price) if you needed a cat. For the money, especially tuned, header is where the gains live.

Thanks CJD,
I'm learning and appreciate the input. My last car was a 68 Chevelle SS, so all this tech savvy stuff is something I'm learning about.

[vtmike]

You may want to reverse your order. Many of us that got the axle/catback first find it too loud after getting a header. Front pipe and header are the 2 pieces that make the most power. Gruppe s seems to be best deal for a decent quality header, $525 for the header and op is a great deal.



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[stockysnail]

Don't bother with the exhaust unless you go turbo. if you add a header to your car you'll get maybe 10hp more with a retune. As you said you got 27hp more without changing the exhaust at all. 10hp more is about all you'll get with the header, which isn't much. You would see the torque curve disappear more. Price per hp it's not worth it so don't bother unless you go turbo. I recommend spending money, if not buying forced induction, on RE71 tires for summer street tires or money on autox/track days if you're into that sort of thing. If you do track days get an oil cooler and track pads as well. Aside from that if you want better handling then get a nice ($2k and up) set of coil overs.

[cjd]

Originally Posted by stockysnail

if you add a header to your car you'll get maybe 10hp more with a retune.

10HP peak, but that torque dip will see much nicer gains...

C

[why?]

yea pretty sure everyone on here says tune and header make the torque dip virtually disappear.

[chaoskaze]

Stock catback is very good unless you want more sound. Do header & tunes.