proper exhausts vs budget modded stock

[RAPID_BA]

I have pretty much fitted an exhaust system (including extractors and cats) to every car I've owned. Generally I find they enhance sound, add power, increase economy and enhance the overall driving experience.

But can you get away with hacking up the standard exhaust system and swapping mufflers or pipes or replacing add hoc pieces. I know plenty of xr6t owners simply cut a muffler out and change the cat and report astonishing gains, others just cut out resonators or a muffler for a more sporty tone.

Exhaust shops would describe this practise as bodgy, not giving the same power benefit having nasty sounds.

But has anyone tested the modded stock exhausts vs proper exhaust?

Personally I find doing a proper exhaust far more satisfying, for instance I have a full system on my windsor v8, try y headers, 200 cell 2.5 inch twin cats and a 2.5 inch catback. It sounds very crispy, deep, no drone, smooth, adds plenty of grunt and I've noticed it better on fuel too. The guy across the road, has a windsor v8 in his blue el. But he has cut the resonator out the back and its probably louder than mine but has a nasty sound about it. But is he getting the same benefit as me in reality? At a fraction of the price?

[Dave R]

XR6T owners don't necessarily need to change the exhaust to support a power increase, the stock systems already flow well enough... that's why a lot of blokes don't bother and just replace a muffler. As for V8s, I've heard some GM V8s with just muffler deletions and they sounded great, so obviously there's no hard rule as to which method will sound good or not.

[Powdered Toast Man]

It think it comes back to the quality of the factory system too. If the OEM system flows reasonably well then there may not be need to replace it.

The systems on the '90s windsors were very restrictive and quiet. A must for replacement in my book.

[RAPID_BA]

Does anyone have dyno sheets for hacked up stockers producing more power

[DJM83]

Yeah because if you were chasing power you would hack up your standard exhaust

[last fairlane]

Hi all
back when I had a 5 Litre Fairlane
and in the process of fitting a sports system
I ran around with just the twin cats
they did not have a very loud note at all
I could have just left it at just the cats
and no one would have been the wiser
when the system was fitted it sounded a lot better
John

[ZA-289]

XR6T Exhausts will handle 250rwkw easily, people remove mufflers to aid slightly + add some noise.

Why spend hundreds or thousands when you dont need to?

[RAPID_BA]

Originally Posted by ZA-289

Why spend hundreds or thousands when you dont need to?

That's a fair point but I'm trying to get whether any gains transpire from el cheapo jobs