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08-06-2017, 08:02 PM
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#1
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Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Somerset, NJ
Posts: 4,223
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making a y-pipe decision
so i'm finally beginning to collect all the parts i need for a header / y pipe swap. i was fortunate to get a really nice set of used american racing headers off these forums.
next is a y-pipe. I'd like to get a catted y to cut down on rasp and keep it somewhat emissions friendly. i've been shopping around. i would have liked to stick with american racing headers but the cost is astronomical compared to competitors. i understand it's one of the top brands in the industry but is shelling out that much for a y-pipe really worth it?
texas speed has one at almost half the cost and the reviews aren't bad at all. could someone justify to me spending almost $300 more for a better name brand on any pipe?
Thanks in advance
Jon
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Jon
1999 Trans am WS6
1996 Corvette LT4 6 speed
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08-06-2017, 08:29 PM
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#2
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American Road Warrior
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Wastelands of NJ
Posts: 6,116
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What about materials? Is the American one stainless and the Texas one not?
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unstable bob gable: LEGENDARY LEGEND,
ICONIC ICON, AND AMERICAN BAD AZZ!!!
1991 Dodge Spirit R/T: Gran'pa lookin' 150+ mph turbo rocket.
2013 Dodge Avenger RT: Wastelands cruiser.
2008 Crown Vic Police Interceptor: 'Nuff said!
THE ONLY THING THAT SUCKS WORSE THEN IMPORTS ARE RICED OUT IMPORTS!!!
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08-06-2017, 08:54 PM
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#3
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Admin.
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Hamilton, NJ
Posts: 20,151
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ARH full stainless, made in usa
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Vent Windows Forever!
The looser the waistband, the deeper the quicksand. Or so I have read.
Feather-light suspension, Konis just couldn't hold. I'm so glad I took a look inside your showroom doors.
Hey everybody, it's good to have you on the Baba-too-da-ba-too-ba-ba-buh-doo-ga-ga-bop-a-dop
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08-06-2017, 09:31 PM
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#4
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Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Somerset, NJ
Posts: 4,223
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texas speed says their y pipe is stainless steel as well. their cats say "high flow bullet cats" are are not designed to pass emissions. i have no idea what that means but maybe that could be the difference.
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Jon
1999 Trans am WS6
1996 Corvette LT4 6 speed
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08-07-2017, 06:28 AM
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#5
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Meet Coordinator
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: brick/pt. pleasant beach
Posts: 19,341
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304 or 409 stainless? 409 won't look as pretty after some time in the elements.
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08-07-2017, 06:46 AM
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#6
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Power Member/NJFBOA Bookie/Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: North Jersey = Best Jersey.
Posts: 4,435
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Jon-
You're an '96+ NJ car, so all you need to do is pass a visual inspection & not have a CEL on. Those "high flow bullet cats" will be fine for a visual check.
As far as the y-pipe itself, I'd be more concerned with fitment as well. ARH doesn't seem to be as interchangeable as other brands. With that said, I have a TSP adjustable ORY that I somehow managed to persuade on, between my ARH 1-7/8 & Magnaflow. If I could do it again, I'd either go with a ARH Y as well, or try my luck with TSP's new 3" over-the-axle true dual system.
Adam-
I believe the new TSP stuff is 304.
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1995 Firebird... Stock-ish.
Quote:
Originally Posted by LS1ow
Good. He microwaved my phone 6 years ago, i hope his intake erupts.
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08-07-2017, 07:24 AM
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#7
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American Road Warrior
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Wastelands of NJ
Posts: 6,116
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You could rack up a lot of aggravation trying to make a piece fit which could be averted if you go with the ARH piece. When I had my GTO I danced with the idea of having catted mid pipes fabricated for my Kooks headers, but ended up going with the Kooks pieces, and glad I did.
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unstable bob gable: LEGENDARY LEGEND,
ICONIC ICON, AND AMERICAN BAD AZZ!!!
1991 Dodge Spirit R/T: Gran'pa lookin' 150+ mph turbo rocket.
2013 Dodge Avenger RT: Wastelands cruiser.
2008 Crown Vic Police Interceptor: 'Nuff said!
THE ONLY THING THAT SUCKS WORSE THEN IMPORTS ARE RICED OUT IMPORTS!!!
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08-07-2017, 12:28 PM
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#8
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Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Arm pit of the world... NJ
Posts: 2,676
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Build your own catted Y pipe.
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John
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08-07-2017, 01:32 PM
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#9
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Ebearnezer Scrooge/Power Member/Lips
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Hamilton, Mercer county
Posts: 4,141
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sweetbmxrider
304 or 409 stainless? 409 won't look as pretty after some time in the elements.
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Meh, my Borla still looks pretty good after 20 years, driven in the snow and salt. It has changed color from heat, but it's not all oxidized or anything.
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08-07-2017, 04:34 PM
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#10
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Ayatollah of Rock N Rolla / Admin
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Parts Unknown
Posts: 12,573
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Do you know for certain that they are interchangeable? Not all headers and y pipes work together.
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08-07-2017, 04:40 PM
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#11
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Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 586
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I have Kooks on my 30th TA. Happy with it.
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08-07-2017, 05:18 PM
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#12
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Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Somerset, NJ
Posts: 4,223
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Quote:
Originally Posted by WildBillyT
Do you know for certain that they are interchangeable? Not all headers and y pipes work together.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by unstable bob gable
You could rack up a lot of aggravation trying to make a piece fit which could be averted if you go with the ARH piece. When I had my GTO I danced with the idea of having catted mid pipes fabricated for my Kooks headers, but ended up going with the Kooks pieces, and glad I did.
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ok thanks for the advice guys. i really dont know if they are interchangeable. a disadvantage i have is that the headers i got that are used im not sure the model or when they were made or if arh changed their design on them, so idk if even their new y pipes would work. i could imagine they would.
i definitely dont want the aggravation of trying to fab up different brands then. i thought as long as the size at the collector and the i pipe was compatable then there wouldnt be much difference.
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Jon
1999 Trans am WS6
1996 Corvette LT4 6 speed
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08-07-2017, 05:27 PM
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#13
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Meet Coordinator
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: brick/pt. pleasant beach
Posts: 19,341
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Unfortunately that is not the case. Different manufacturers will have different ending points, heights, angles, etc of their respective collectors. The i pipe usually has room to be played with and it slip fits into the y on most setups so there is room for "error."
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08-07-2017, 06:31 PM
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#14
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Power Member / trans break does not equal transbrake
Join Date: May 2009
Location: The Meadowlands
Posts: 4,513
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99 Z28 - SBE LS1/60e
Motor - 10.84 @ 128 - 1.47 60'
Nitrous - 10.16 @ 132 - 1.40 60"
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08-07-2017, 06:43 PM
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#15
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Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Somerset, NJ
Posts: 4,223
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sweetbmxrider
Unfortunately that is not the case. Different manufacturers will have different ending points, heights, angles, etc of their respective collectors. The i pipe usually has room to be played with and it slip fits into the y on most setups so there is room for "error."
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yeah i didnt know that. now im leaning more towards getting an arh y pipe.
Quote:
Originally Posted by LS1ow
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yeah thats an awesome deal. i wish i were able to get it without worrying if it will fit the headers or not.
__________________
Jon
1999 Trans am WS6
1996 Corvette LT4 6 speed
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08-07-2017, 09:33 PM
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#16
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Power Member/NJFBOA Bookie/Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: North Jersey = Best Jersey.
Posts: 4,435
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__________________
1995 Firebird... Stock-ish.
Quote:
Originally Posted by LS1ow
Good. He microwaved my phone 6 years ago, i hope his intake erupts.
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08-08-2017, 05:48 AM
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#17
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The Mayor / 2009 Member of the Year / Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Northwest
Posts: 8,863
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I remember Josh @ JS Performance years ago complaining about fitment of the cheaper y's even with their own complete setup.
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1995 Z28 Convertible A4 13.78 @ 100 (CAI, high flow cat, catback, 160 thermo, hypertech, Strano springs, Koni yellows, sway bars, 3 pt. UMI SFC)
2018 Sea Doo GTX - 3 cylinders and das boooooost
Quote:
Originally Posted by BonzoHansen
Is English your 2nd language? Did you graduate high school? Your posts make my head hurt.
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Team FARM
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08-08-2017, 09:23 AM
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#18
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Hippy Mod, Bergermeister Meisterberger, Moderator
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Ewing
Posts: 6,213
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I think I went with the TSP non catted y-pipe with the used XS Stainless headers (and they had the driver's side collector cut short) on my old 2000 SS and I bought the cats separately and cut the y-pipe myself to get it to fit. It fit pretty good, even with the short header. I clamped everything up and it worked well, I never got around to having any of it welded. I basically did the same thing to my old 96 SS. The biggest issue is if your stock motor mounts are worn, it will allow the engine to move and the headers/y-pipe will hit the floor. You definitely want new motor mounts with headers. It's nice when everything goes right into place, but the f-body with dual cat y-pipe is so tight to the floor, you will most likely need to tweak it to fit the way you want it.
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69 Z28 JL8 4 wheel disc brakes - being restored
09 Silverado Z71
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08-08-2017, 01:53 PM
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#19
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American Road Warrior
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Wastelands of NJ
Posts: 6,116
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I'm never doing exhaust work on my back in the driveway again. Even getting a stock exhaust to bolt up to a header on my Cavalier required a hot wrench and some hammering.
__________________
unstable bob gable: LEGENDARY LEGEND,
ICONIC ICON, AND AMERICAN BAD AZZ!!!
1991 Dodge Spirit R/T: Gran'pa lookin' 150+ mph turbo rocket.
2013 Dodge Avenger RT: Wastelands cruiser.
2008 Crown Vic Police Interceptor: 'Nuff said!
THE ONLY THING THAT SUCKS WORSE THEN IMPORTS ARE RICED OUT IMPORTS!!!
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