Mease 3" DP with cut-out or Hooker exhaust?

[Dr. Jeckel]

I was wanting to get the hooker exhaust...$300. But I was looking at Mease down pipes with the cut-out and thats $410+shipping. I was just thinking that for about $100 more I could have a nice down pipe and still keep the quiet stock exhaust for trips and everday driving. I had 2 cut-outs on my LS1 car that had a cam and headers and it was a pain to get on and off because they were bolted but the mease cut-out uses wing nuts which would be easier. I know the cutout is going to give me better power than the hooker system but will tunning between closed(through stock exhaust) and open cutout be a big difference. Am I going to be lean with the cutout open as opposed to closed? I should probably just tune with the cutout open but then I wonder what it will do with the exhaust closed. Anybody have any opinions?
Thanks, James.

Also, I am fixing to install a TA60 and plan to run about 23psi ounce I get alky and the larger injectors and chip, for now it will stay at 15psi because of my 30# injectors and 91 octane.

 

[Dr. Jeckel]

Maybe I should reword this. Am I going to see a difference between the Mease/TH DP's and a cut-out over the hooker exhaust and stock DP after everything is upgraded to go with the TA60 or should I just get the hooker exhaust? My cat is gutted. What kind of a horsepower difference is there between the two?
I know people has opinions and I am open to all.

$300- Hooker exhaust shipped to me
$460- Terry Houston DP w/ cut-out shipped to me

Which one would you go with if you were me?

 

[Dr. Jeckel]

I believe after reading some more that my money would be better spent on the exhaust. With how fast i will be going i don't beleive I will see much of a difference, the cut-out would give me the biggest gain probably.
Answered my own question

 

[DCVING 6]

I may be able to help.
My car was pretty muchly stock except for fuel pump and regulator. I put on the Hooker exhaust as my stock system was rusted. I didn't really see much of a difference performance wise. A little bit.
I then put on a 2.5" ATR downpipe with a ported exhaust elbow to replace the stock stuff. Man what a difference. Even with it being a small 2.5" downpipe, it totally woke the car up.

I would say go for the downpipe if you've got the money. Keep your eyes peeled in the forsale forums. I've seen a few THDP's in the $350-$400 range.

HTH

 

[kshef]

i'm stock except for the 2'5" ATR....think a downpipe would help me? is it a driveway job or do i need to get it up on a lift?

 

[Zero Tolerance]

You can definately do the job in a driveway.

 

[JToups386]

Speaking for both sides, there are gains to be had in each. (I have both.)
The Hooker exhaust will definitely offer better performance, simply due to the 'straight-thru' Aerochamber mufflers. It sounds crisp, but is quiet until you put it under a load. I went 12.06 @ 110 through my Hooker system.
The exhaust dump is definitely a worthy gain as well. With the Hooker exhaust mentioned above, I opened my dump and picked up .10 in ET and 2 mph, yielding a 11.96 @ 112.
I use a 3" THDP as well.

When I had a stock DP, I also had a dump on it, and used to pick up .15 in ET and usually 1.5 - 2 mph as well.

Many factors in play here. However, remember that an engine, and everything related to it is one big "air pump". Get as much air in, and out, as quickly as possible. How do we do this? Bigger holes/better flow. I think you'll see gains from either one, however, if you're willing to be slower while driving around all the time, then stay w/ stock exhaust and go balls out when you open it.
If you want a happy compromise between the two, mildly better performance all the time, then go with the Hooker exhaust.

And finally, to really see the gains, go with both...!

 

[Dr. Jeckel]

I know all this from experience. My LS1 that I had flowmasters with dual cutouts behind the headers. when dynoed through the flowmaster it made right around 333rwhp and 342rwtq. Open up the cutouts and got 350rwhp and 367rwtq.
I think I am going to meld the best of both worlds for the time being: I am going to port my stock elbow and do the hooker exhaust. Later when I have all the other stuff going good I will upgrade to a TH DP with cutout. I really like having street performance and not having to say "let me pull over so I can open my cutout" when someone wants to run.
Thanks for all the advice and help in making my decision.
James

 

[Garycar]

Go with the down pipe first. The elbow is the bottleneck. Start at the front and work your way back as funds become available.

 

[Dr. Jeckel]

I'm not sure how many posts I have read were guys have only gained a tenth or two and that was with an 11 second car. Since I don't want to run an open exhaust all the time and it would be pointless to add a down pipe that goes through a stock exhaust nearly all the time, I feel like my decision is the best for me.
i understand the elbow is a bottle neck but its not enough of a bottle neck right now to justify the $430. I believe that for my current needs that the $300 hooker exhaust would suit me better. Thanks for the advice though.