Hey guys. I'm looking to upgrade the midpipe on my '05 GT. Either going to go with a catted x-pipe or an o/r h-pipe. Trying to weigh the risks and benefits of each. Found a website that I can get a BBK catted x-pipe for $250 instead of $450, will this midpipe guarantee that I pass emmissions since it has high flow cats. If not I will probably go with the o/r h-pipe and just swap it out when I need to. What do you think I should do? Will the o/r pipe be too loud? By the way, this car is a daily driver and I will be going to school with it.

 

If you get a catted x-pipe I would suggest it had metallic high flow cats over ceramic. They hold up better, especially if you go FI later on.

 

The off road pipe will make your car considerably louder but in my opinion, the louder the better. You should not have any problems passing inspections with a high flow catted mid pipe. I passed when I had mine on here in Texas. I recomend the H-pipe for chambered mufflers and the X-pipe for straight through mufflers like the FRPP's.

 

I would get the cheapest off road X pipe or H pipe you can find and swap the pipes back when you need to do emissions testing. Look at summit for what you need. I got mine last month for $149.99 plus shipping. Came to around 175.

The hi flow cats have a history of failing (getting clogged) and not performing well for emissions.

 

It all depends on your axleback..what do you have? i have a catted X and mines more than loud enough. an O/R pipe will be pretty loud and trumpets badly with alot of axlebacks( ive been there, done that) as for inspection..youll pass with hi-flows as long as theyre not throwing any codes , jersey only hooks up to the OBD now on newer cars..no sniffer test. where in N.J are you?

 

Thanks for the help. I currently have the SSS Terminator axle-back (similar to the FRPP's and Stingers). I live in Aberdeen NJ and just had my car inspected. Can't believe it, the whole inspection took 5 mins. I might go with the O/R h-pipe to save some $, it is supposed to be less raspy and smoother sounding than the x.

 

I went with a O/R H from Summit for about 150, was very easy to install and i love the sound i got with that and my flowmaster A/T axleback... i noticed that an H-pipe will give you a slightly lower sound than an X does but both sound really good.. as far as passing emissions i would say go with the o/r pipe and just do a swap when you need to so you have no regrets on settling for high flow cats.

 

Whether you go with the o/r h or o/r x keep in mind that you will have trumpeting. To alleviate this, add 12" or 18" resonators to the OTA pipe. I personally would go with the X pipe with the SSS terminators. I myself just bought some SSS terminators, haven't received them yet but I have a catted x and resonators.

 

I have offroad H with AT flowmasters. Had a lot of trumpeting so I added some pypes m80s as resonators. It did the job. Has a nice deep tone.