Will the REAL THDP get Revealed !!!!

[BobbyBuick]

THREAD POSTED TO HELP IDENTIFY THDPs AND OTHERS ONLY.... NOT FOR PISSING MATCH PURPOSES
Getting kind of tired of all the THDPs getting sold that are not THDPs so here guys is some info .The THDP comes in 3 and 3.5 inch .Close impostors are ATR, Mease,DLS, TA, Gbody,0-60,BA performance, and I am sure there are others please post if you know of some.
1) THDP has longical lines in the stainless VERY HIGH QUALITY
2) THDP has a full non stainless flange thick and hefty normally discolored
3) THDP has a rounded opening with no straight edge cuts or angled area .it is ob longed as pictured
4) THDP is not shiny stainless even if polished it normally will discolor again.DLS is shiney and is made by BA performance .Normally shiny means China
TA make a very High quality DP 3 AND 3.5 .My 3.5 inch matches the bends of the TH 3"
RJC makes a nice pipe in 3 inch not 3.5 and they make a mega monster also both nice quality
The TH 3"is bent different than the TH3.5 inch(The 3 inch in the picture the tail has been cut from the original)
The 3.5 DLS or BA performance Pipe is a replica to the TH 3.5 only Shiny and lighter quality
I dont have an ATR pipe here or a Cotton feel free to add anything to help future buyers
I think ATRs had a stainless flange

3.5 THDP

3 THDP FLANGE

Flange inside

 

[626gn]

Good info. I always see them being sold here and often wondered how many really were the real deal...

 

[84gbodyss]

Hi Bobby so in your opinion.Which 3" is the best fitting?What should people expect to pay on all these different ones?

 

[DR BOOST]

don't forget the real terry houston for atr headers..

 

[BobbyBuick]

Hi Bobby so in your opinion.Which 3" is the best fitting?What should people expect to pay on all these different ones?

Nothing compares to the REAL THDP IMHO however ATR had some great stainless steel.They had some puck sticking issues though.I also notice Terry Houston used a couple different flanges on his 3" pipe .I have 2 -100% sure THDPs bought from Quad Air and the flanges are slightly different

 

[84gbodyss]

Cool thanks for the info.So why did ATR and Terry Houston stop making DP's?

 

[Chuck Leeper]

ATR is out of business, and TH is.....

 

[Chuck Leeper]

I have what looks to be a 3" TH pipe.
The puck shaft was frozen up. I took it apart and found what looks to be a bronze bushing, and a couple very small holes leading thru the bushing.. weep or lube holes??

Has the deep discoloration w/ the longitudinal lines.
A TH, or??

Also, AIRC, the ATR I had, had a much wider radius coming off the turbo. So much so, it came dangerously close to the inner fender.

 

[BobbyBuick]

ATR is out of business, and TH is.....

Out of business TOO

 

[BobbyBuick]

I have what looks to be a 3" TH pipe.
The puck shaft was frozen up. I took it apart and found what looks to be a bronze bushing, and a couple very small holes leading thru the bushing.. weep or lube holes??

Has the deep discoloration w/ the longitudinal lines.
A TH, or??

Also, AIRC, the ATR I had, had a much wider radius coming off the turbo. So much so, it came dangerously close to the inner fender.

I think the ATR looks almost exact with the lines in the stainless and the front top bolt has a slight dimple for the bolt to go in.Also i think the puck lever has chopped corners

 

[Steve V]

Good info, thanks!

 

[84gbodyss]

While we are on the subject of DP's.What do you think of this one?

 

[BobbyBuick]

While we are on the subject of DP's.What do you think of this one?

Its like a little league team playing a game with the a major league team

 

[84gbodyss]

LOL I was thinking for the guys that can't afford the high dollar ones.This one is only $185

 

[BobbyBuick]

LOL I was thinking for the guys that can't afford the high dollar ones.This one is only $185

And for the money probably worth it ,but you also need to port the hell out of the stock elbow and install a bigger puck to make it worth your while .the stock 90 is restrictive as hell unless you do work there you are not going to get much gain just bolting on the pipe

 

[84gbodyss]

What about doing this with the kirban one?

 

[V6sleeper]

I wouldn't call a TA or a Rjc an imposter but a suitable replacement for a TH...and ATR had a lower quality metal in their exhaust systems, ive had a few rot out over the years... I think the atr dp and headers were a notch up on metal quality then the rest of their exhaust if im not mistaking..

 

[Coelacanth]

Here's the real issue, though...Terry Houston downpipes are damn near impossible to find, unless you're willing to spend a ton of cash. While I'm sure the THDP is the only option for the well-heeled sticklers, a good percentage of us can't afford those and would like to know what the best-quality options are, for a reasonable price...say, under $300 for example--while avoiding the cheap knockoff junk. I personally like to avoid a lot of Made in China crap, while getting the best bang for my buck at the next-best level.

 

[BobbyBuick]

Here's the real issue, though...Terry Houston downpipes are damn near impossible to find, unless you're willing to spend a ton of cash. While I'm sure the THDP is the only option for the well-heeled sticklers, a good percentage of us can't afford those and would like to know what the best-quality options are, for a reasonable price...say, under $300 for example--while avoiding the cheap knockoff junk. I personally like to avoid a lot of Made in China crap, while getting the best bang for my buck at the next-best level.

Even back in 1996 there were no GOOD 300 dollar options A 0-60 was 349.00 with no cut out, a mild THDP no cut out was 279.00 +100 for the cut out and SS was 379.00+100. A used ATR ,TH,RJC will bring from 400 to 700 today.Best bet is to get the elbow off and start grinding or buy one ported for 75.00

 

[626gn]

Here's the real issue, though...Terry Houston downpipes are damn near impossible to find, unless you're willing to spend a ton of cash. While I'm sure the THDP is the only option for the well-heeled sticklers, a good percentage of us can't afford those and would like to know what the best-quality options are, for a reasonable price...say, under $300 for example--while avoiding the cheap knockoff junk. I personally like to avoid a lot of Made in China crap, while getting the best bang for my buck at the next-best level.

Might not be a popular answer but depending on your goals the stock downpipe will take you pretty far in the 11's with Alky or octane. And you wouldn't have to deal with fitment problems you are bound to have with the cheap $hit. Unless going faster than that money might be better spent elsewhere.