simple exhaust upgrade question
 

I was recntly intrigued by someones post about swapping in a test pipe. I have a stock exhaust '83 SC. I did a search on cat bypass, but still have some questions:
1. If I put in a test pipe, will there be added performance? How much?
2. I don't need to do smog tests, but will this item pass a visual test?
3. Will my exhaust be louder?
4. How hard would it be to deal with the exhaust studs, and what should I consider doing while I'm down there?
5. Is ther more involved than just the test pipe and some gaskets?

Thanks.

Magilla

I just did this on my 82. Pretty easy to do.

1. Performance. Some say yes maybe 5-10hp. I can't verify this.
2. If the inspector doesn't know what to look for yes. But it is pretty obvious that the cat isn't there to someone who knows.
3. I think my exhaust sounds a slight bit louder but that may just be perception. At least it sounds better to me.
4. Soak the bolts overnight. Some may still not come loose. I had to grind one. I guess I may have been lucky. Because most came loose or just broke. ( on for 19 years ) Replace bolts with new.
5. Thats it. Just bolts and gaskets.


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Gunter
'82 SC Targa

Cool. That sounds like a great deal. I know that 5-10 bhp isn't much, but every little bit helps...
I thought the test pipes that Pelican sells *look* like a cat. Is it clear that it isn't? How had would it be to just punch out the cat I have now?

I can't remember where I got mine at this point. A test pipe that isn't specifically made to look like a cat won't look anything like a cat. However if it is made or modified to accept the heat shield that was on the cat that you took off it would look like a cat at a quick glance. That sheild was a requirement so that if you parked the car over dry grass the heat from the cat wouldn't ignite it.

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Gunter
'82 SC Targa

1.- It depends on what condition your cat is in. If it's old and plugged up, you will *regain* some of your *original* power. I found I did gain a bit of *extra* power using the test pipe and a quality free-flowing muffler.

2.- If the visual test is strict (as in, does the inspector know what he is looking at), probably not. The test pipe does not look like a cat. But if you can find a Euro Pre-muffler, they look a bit like one.

3.- Slightly.

4.- You won't be touching "exhaust studs". You will be dealing with rusted-solid nuts and bolts, however. Don't waste your time with penetrating oil...you will be cutting them off with a Dremel or oxy-ace torch at the muffler shop.

5.- Bloody knuckles. (See above).

[This message has been edited by Doug Zielke (edited 06-14-2001).]

Hey Magilla,
I did my 83SC six months ago, you will not notice any more HP but it will sound a bit louder make sure you get a test pipe that has a placement for your O2 sensor. Find a local weld shop to cut the old bolts off I started on mine and it was a big pain just to get the cover off the cat convertor, I paid twenty bucks to get the screws off it would have taken two days to do by hand. The motor will run cooler also. I am thinking of replacig my stock muffler with a bursch for more power I look at Chucks dino and with a cat test pipe and a bursch it hit 183HP at 5 grand his car is a SC with 200K on it. Most people say the Bursch is to loud but for 250.00 if you dont like it you can change back. E-mail me if you have any questions.
GB83SC