doctorj77

Hey everyone, I'm a newb here and wanted opinions on a exhaust setup. I have a 06 GT and just bought a Pypes axleback from Americanmuscle. $210 shipped and I love the sound. But like all other stangers I still want more. Now I've read the debates about H vs X pipes. I like both but cannot affort the catted H. I say catted because I don't want to fiddle with emissions testing at any point. So I've heard the catted X pipes too, like it for the price but a little too loud. So here is my question....

Has anyone removed their H section on the stock midpipe and replaced it with a straight thru pipe, retaining 2/3 of the stock pipe and factory cats? If so what difference is there in sound, in any? Another question, has anyone installed the X pipe kit from FordRacing, the one that just replaces the H section of the stock mid pipe? My imagination says it would change the exhaust note, obvisouly, but wouldn't be as loud or raspy as a high flow X or OR X.

Thanks in advance

Menace

Going straight pipe would decrease your power. The sound would be ... different. Not sure if that means bad or good. The connection between pipes, whether X or H is to merge the tones coming from each side of the engine. I'm no expert, but I imagine it has something to do with the flow as well. Improves flow by preventing back pressure to return, or maybe it gives the engine a little back pressure because it needs a little resistance to help push it out stronger.

doctorj77

Thanks for the info. Seems to me the folks at MRT told me that once before. So my other thought might be the X kit. I don't want too loud but one would think it would certainly change the exhaust note.

vsop

X will give most power, H is more for sound..

Straight Pipes will kill power

doctorj77

I agree 100% but I got to imagine somebody has tried this before, the X kit. I'm just curious how different it would sound from a factory cattedH to a factory catted X.

Ringo01

The x-pipe from ford racing is not loud at all. It is whats on the GT-H which I have rented before. I love the sound of the GT-H, but it is definately not loud.

vsop

the gt500 has a stock x pipe

Daniel60

Pypes x pipe with no cats = 8 rearhorsepower
Kooks Headers with cats = 15 rearhorsepower

Difference in price over thousand dollars, however Kooks is street legal.

vsop

Actually no Long Tube header for the S197 is Legal.. While they will pass a sniff test with cats they don't have a carb cert and if a visual inspection is done they can fail you, if they wanted to.

Daniel60