I'm looking at getting down pipes at some point soon and I was wondering if there are any real differences in 2.5" downpipe from any vendor. Let's keep it from getting heated here but I can't see how they can be all that much different. LME says their downpipe will throw a CEL on stock tune so I can't roll into the dealer with their pipes but others say they have no problem. Has anyone owned or used multiple sets? Is there any real difference between manufacturers? Wanted to go with catted downpipe by the way.
Difference in Downpipe Brands
- Thread starter sunwolf
- Start date
LME and PPE are 2.5". LME says theirs might throw a code, basically CYA in case it does. Both have potential to do so, though PPE has yet to. LME updated their cats and shouldnt either.
PPE offers ceramic coating options for aesthetic upgrades (and while proven otherwise, I think better heat dissipation if even only realized in the long term).
Unleashed has 3"
My personal thought process (I do not have DPs or Tune... or anything modded yet for that fact; I'm wrestling with the same questions you are, and more with other products):
*2.5 or 3?
If 3, then there is only one option
If 2.5,
*Do you want coating yes/no?
If Yes, PPE
If No -
*Are you going to, or do you have a tune with LME?
If Yes- I'd support the tuner, and continue being their customer for prolonged support
If No - Go with the cheapest option
PPE offers ceramic coating options for aesthetic upgrades (and while proven otherwise, I think better heat dissipation if even only realized in the long term).
Unleashed has 3"
My personal thought process (I do not have DPs or Tune... or anything modded yet for that fact; I'm wrestling with the same questions you are, and more with other products):
*2.5 or 3?
If 3, then there is only one option
If 2.5,
*Do you want coating yes/no?
If Yes, PPE
If No -
*Are you going to, or do you have a tune with LME?
If Yes- I'd support the tuner, and continue being their customer for prolonged support
If No - Go with the cheapest option
I am tuned by LME and I do want to go with their product but I am also still under warranty and do not want to take the pipes off every time I go to the dealer. LME is cheaper for me also since I live 35 miles away and I can go pick them up (don't think I should waste my money on install if its 12 bolts and I can use my friends lift).J-Will said:
The fact that you are passing emissions has nothing to do with your tune but more because the cats are efficient enough to satisfy the parameters in the stock tune and the unaltered obd settings in the 3 bar tune.none of the commercial tuning companies are adjusting the the items nessasary to to facilitate aftermarket cats or lack of to pass emissions as it's highly illegal...they've said so on this vary forum.
The cats used on the PPE pipes are very expensive and very high quality, these cats not only flow better than stock or other aftermarket cats but also work correctly for your vehicle and ECU.
On my wife's truck I ran it 6 months on the downpipes (same 2.5" cats) on stock tune, no CEL. On my Flex I ran catted pipes and made 600WHP with the cutout open post downpipes. They can flow as much power as you can possibly make and still will not throw a CEL. As far as 3" vs 2.5" the 2.5" pipes can support around 400WHP per pipe (800WHP) so until we start getting to that scenario the 2.5" is more than enough for anything you guys can make.
The only way the PPE pipes are competitive with others is I'm selling them at a very very low margin as I have very little overhead. This helps me and you both, I don't have employees to pay, rent to pay, machines to pay etc. I'm not marking them up to pass on the price of doing business to you. This was my goal from day one, a great downpipes made by an amazing manufacturer that would pass emissions, make big power and be cost effective.
On my wife's truck I ran it 6 months on the downpipes (same 2.5" cats) on stock tune, no CEL. On my Flex I ran catted pipes and made 600WHP with the cutout open post downpipes. They can flow as much power as you can possibly make and still will not throw a CEL. As far as 3" vs 2.5" the 2.5" pipes can support around 400WHP per pipe (800WHP) so until we start getting to that scenario the 2.5" is more than enough for anything you guys can make.
The only way the PPE pipes are competitive with others is I'm selling them at a very very low margin as I have very little overhead. This helps me and you both, I don't have employees to pay, rent to pay, machines to pay etc. I'm not marking them up to pass on the price of doing business to you. This was my goal from day one, a great downpipes made by an amazing manufacturer that would pass emissions, make big power and be cost effective.
ajpturbo said:
I returned to stock to solve my issue of the o2's not being ready. I didn't know they turned them off on my tune. I have a monitor and checked the other tunes I have ( which do not include downpipes, just regular tunes) and they read ready as well. Long story short, my 3 bar tune with dps won't pass ready, but others will. My bad lol, exhausting explanation for my lack of info.
shouldn't 3in DP's give a tad more power over 2.5 with the rest of the exhaust being stock ?
catted vs catted
&
non catted vs non catted ?
that being said seems like 3in would be the best option. If you want catted buy some high flow cats and have them welded into the 3in (this is what I would like to do).
Or is there a 3in catted option ?
catted vs catted
&
non catted vs non catted ?
that being said seems like 3in would be the best option. If you want catted buy some high flow cats and have them welded into the 3in (this is what I would like to do).
Or is there a 3in catted option ?
Livernois Motorsports
New member
68_GT said:
Actually no, because of the amount of backpressure that is lost by going to that large of an ID. The ideal size increase for the SHO/XSport is to go from 2 1/8" to 2 1/2".
As for passing inspections, we do not ever advertise our products as being emissions ready or legal. It is virtually impossible to make anything 50 state legal, especially as that amazing 50th state gets increasingly more strict on what does and doesn't pass. We are in a non-emissions state, so there is no testing that we do for our performance support.
Livernois Motorsports
New member
sunwolf said:
The race catted DP's will gain 10-15whp/wtq. We do not sell anything by 1/4 mile times, there are too many variables.
askoncemore
New member
Does the lower engine cover still fit with the 2.5" & 3" downpipes?
I have a 2013 Flex.
I have a 2013 Flex.