2004 Gt Factory H Pipe?
05-02-2014, 11:27 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: California, Texas
Posts: 43
2004 Gt Factory H Pipe?
I bought a 04 GT (40th anniversary) used off the lot. I wanted to install headers, a H Pipe and a cat back. Today while installing springs I noticed what looks like a H Pipe under there. My mechanic says it is a H Pipe but I'm wondering if this came from factory like that or did the previous owner have them installed. The car sounds stock and it doesn't make sense why the previous owner would install that and not cat backs you know..?
Anyone know of the 04 GT came from factory like that and 2nd question. .what's the difference between those and aftermarket H Pipes? ( keep in mind the cat back flowmaster is already sitting in my garage)
Anyone know of the 04 GT came from factory like that and 2nd question. .what's the difference between those and aftermarket H Pipes? ( keep in mind the cat back flowmaster is already sitting in my garage)
05-03-2014, 12:00 AM
#2
4th Gear Member
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: SoCal
Posts: 1,826
Yes, it's an H directly from the factory.
Aftermarket pipes flow better due to having only 2 catalytic converters instead of the 4 yours has, or none at all if you get an "off road" pipe.
For as disappointing as many of the bolt on's for these cars tend to be, an aftermarket midpipe is actually one of the few decent ones, generally worth about 10 hp or so in addition to waking up the sound level a bit.
Aftermarket pipes flow better due to having only 2 catalytic converters instead of the 4 yours has, or none at all if you get an "off road" pipe.
For as disappointing as many of the bolt on's for these cars tend to be, an aftermarket midpipe is actually one of the few decent ones, generally worth about 10 hp or so in addition to waking up the sound level a bit.
05-03-2014, 07:26 AM
#4
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: California, Texas
Posts: 43
[QUpipe28KLR;8383979]Yes, it's an H directly from the factory.
Aftermarket pipes flow better due to having only 2 catalytic converters instead of the 4 yours has, or none at all if you get an "off road" pipe.
For as disappointing as many of the bolt on's for these cars tend to be, an aftermarket midpipe is actually one of the few decent ones, generally worth about 10 hp or so in addition to waking up the sound level a bit.[/QUOTE]
I think here in texas we must have Cats unfortunately. But what I'm thinking about doing is keeping my factory H pipe for inspection time and buying off road pipe. Would a pypes off road bolt on to a flowmaster Catback? reason being the Flowmaster H pipe cost about $600 and the pypes off road cost 190
Aftermarket pipes flow better due to having only 2 catalytic converters instead of the 4 yours has, or none at all if you get an "off road" pipe.
For as disappointing as many of the bolt on's for these cars tend to be, an aftermarket midpipe is actually one of the few decent ones, generally worth about 10 hp or so in addition to waking up the sound level a bit.[/QUOTE]
I think here in texas we must have Cats unfortunately. But what I'm thinking about doing is keeping my factory H pipe for inspection time and buying off road pipe. Would a pypes off road bolt on to a flowmaster Catback? reason being the Flowmaster H pipe cost about $600 and the pypes off road cost 190
Last edited by CarNoobLovingIt; 05-03-2014 at 07:35 AM.
05-04-2014, 02:34 AM
#6
4th Gear Member
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: SoCal
Posts: 1,826
Dunno about the 6 cats thing... Early SN95's, like '96-'98 definitely had 6, pretty sure '99/'00 also had 6. 2001+, every one I've ever seen only had 4. Only way I can think of an '03 having the 6cat pipe is if it were for whatever reason swapped for one off an earlier car.
OP, your idea about getting an aftermarket pipe and swapping back to stock for inspections should be fine. They recently just this how they do smog testing here in CA, but until recently that's what I did as well. It's not a bad job to swap them out, about an hour or maybe less once you get familiar with it. Kinda gets to be a pain in the *** after a few years though.
OP, your idea about getting an aftermarket pipe and swapping back to stock for inspections should be fine. They recently just this how they do smog testing here in CA, but until recently that's what I did as well. It's not a bad job to swap them out, about an hour or maybe less once you get familiar with it. Kinda gets to be a pain in the *** after a few years though.
05-04-2014, 07:06 AM
#7
6th Gear Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: South FL
Posts: 8,540
Swapping back and forth will get you passed inspection, but it still illegal on the street. If you get pulled over, you'll get nailed for it. Just keep it legal. The minimal power gains from the swap are not worth the trouble.
05-04-2014, 02:33 PM
#8
2nd Gear Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: NJ
Posts: 451
Dunno about the 6 cats thing... Early SN95's, like '96-'98 definitely had 6, pretty sure '99/'00 also had 6. 2001+, every one I've ever seen only had 4. Only way I can think of an '03 having the 6cat pipe is if it were for whatever reason swapped for one off an earlier car.
OP, your idea about getting an aftermarket pipe and swapping back to stock for inspections should be fine. They recently just this how they do smog testing here in CA, but until recently that's what I did as well. It's not a bad job to swap them out, about an hour or maybe less once you get familiar with it. Kinda gets to be a pain in the *** after a few years though.
OP, your idea about getting an aftermarket pipe and swapping back to stock for inspections should be fine. They recently just this how they do smog testing here in CA, but until recently that's what I did as well. It's not a bad job to swap them out, about an hour or maybe less once you get familiar with it. Kinda gets to be a pain in the *** after a few years though.
05-04-2014, 09:46 PM
#9
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: California, Texas
Posts: 43
Dunno about the 6 cats thing... Early SN95's, like '96-'98 definitely had 6, pretty sure '99/'00 also had 6. 2001+, every one I've ever seen only had 4. Only way I can think of an '03 having the 6cat pipe is if it were for whatever reason swapped for one off an earlier car.
OP, your idea about getting an aftermarket pipe and swapping back to stock for inspections should be fine. They recently just this how they do smog testing here in CA, but until recently that's what I did as well. It's not a bad job to swap them out, about an hour or maybe less once you get familiar with it. Kinda gets to be a pain in the *** after a few years though.
OP, your idea about getting an aftermarket pipe and swapping back to stock for inspections should be fine. They recently just this how they do smog testing here in CA, but until recently that's what I did as well. It's not a bad job to swap them out, about an hour or maybe less once you get familiar with it. Kinda gets to be a pain in the *** after a few years though.
05-04-2014, 09:47 PM
#10
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: California, Texas
Posts: 43
Damn, do they check right then and there? That would suck lol