Questions about cutout for aftermarket DP / stock exhaust

[dmharvey79]

I've read through the posts about cutouts and most of what I'm seeing is a little fancier, and a little more expensive, than my budget will allow. Here is the general plan I'm considering on my stock '13 SHO/PP with a 93 LMS tune -


- PPE catted DP, since I need to pass emissions.

- Cutout similar to this: http://www.amazon.com/QTEC25CPSK1-Electric-Exhaust-Stainless-Cutout/dp/B00C43CY5U/ref=sr_1_1?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1390493605&sr=1-1&keywords=qtp+2.25%22+cutout

- Stock exhaust, or as close to stock as possible if some modifications are required.


Any insight into whether or not this is a worthwhile project with just a DP/tune, and how much fabrication or modification would be required to do this, will be greatly appreciated. My car is a daily driver but I get to the strip on a regular basis and I figure the time to consider a cutout would be while I'm installing an aftermarket DP.

This will be my first time modifying the exhaust on a turbo vehicle so any feedback will be greatly appreciated and I'll continue to scan the forum for new posts on this topic. Thanks in advance!

 

[SRT82ECOBOOST]

Come this spring this is the exact route that I am going with. It offers the best bang for the buck for performance and sound. Here are two suggestions:
-Off from your downpipes run a short section of 2.5" exhaust piping to mount the cutouts and have more effective flow through.
-Look at QTP low profile cutouts. They are far smaller in height and may be needed to easily fit under your vehicle.
With this system you get the best of both worlds. Loud when you want and toned down when you want. Plus the cutouts were proven by another member to truly add performance to the vehicle.

 

[BiGMaC]

Come this spring this is the exact route that I am going with. It offers the best bang for the buck for performance and sound. Here are two suggestions:
-Off from your downpipes run a short section of 2.5" exhaust piping to mount the cutouts and have more effective flow through.
-Look at QTP low profile cutouts. They are far smaller in height and may be needed to easily fit under your vehicle.
With this system you get the best of both worlds. Loud when you want and toned down when you want. Plus the cutouts were proven by another member to truly add performance to the vehicle.

The QTP's have a great selection and some absolute control (functioning vs. not functioning) is important.  For my SHO I was thinking a boost activated cutout, BUT with an electric solenoid valve in the boost tubing so I can disable it… like the electric ones… but also have a quiet car at idle.  I was thinking' so i could "cheat on the street" with it.

 

[SRT82ECOBOOST]

I like the idea of the boost activated cutout if there was also a way to disable it completely when needed. I also am leary of the longevity of the boost activated cutouts I have found. My vehicle sees sand and salt for six months out of the year. I know from personal experience that the QTP and DMH cutouts hold up under these harsh conditions.

 

[BiGMaC]

Good point… I don't know on the salt/debris durability of the boost activated and most do seem to have an exposed actuator piston.  In southern AZ none of that to deal with and trips to the mountains can be scheduled to avoid foul weather.  In AZ they don't use salt anymore.. mostly a lot of cinders.

To do the system I describe I envision a solenoid operated (electric) valve in the boost tubing to the cutout valve actuator… when "on" the valve would open with boost (but close with the manifold vacuum present at idle) and when "off" the valve in the boost tubing closes and so the cutout stays closed…

 

[dmharvey79]

I guess my next step will be to look over the stock exhaust system over to get a feel for how much room is available to splice in the cutout components. I'm definitely planning to go with an electric cutout so the car whill stay quiet during daily driving. Thanks for all of the comments so far!

 

[BiGMaC]

Definitely

 

[FracaSHO]

Why just a single cutout? I thought the SHO's were dual exhaust.


Brad
2010 SHO with PP
Sent from my iPhone

 

[BiGMaC]

For me two factors... Using an H-pipe and install it there cuts the cost about 50% without any significant demonstrated performance loss and simplifies the mod.

 

[dmharvey79]

What is your gameplan for fabricating the H-pipe setup? If anybody has pics or drawing I' be interested in seeing them. I saw the super-fancy one posted on the forum, and it looks awesome, but I'm not looking to go that far with it.

 

[FoMoCoSHO]

I'm pretty sure 4dr has pics on the site somewhere. If you can't find them let me know, I bought his and I can post a pic for you after work.

 

[BiGMaC]

I'm pretty sure 4dr has pics on the site somewhere. If you can't find them let me know, I bought his and I can post a pic for you after work.

There is one in group buys and another video of it working on his flex ... just search "cutout"

BTW... can I ask what you had to pay..... the company lost the jig, so reproducing it will be a little costly and the actual valve is extra.

 

[SRT82ECOBOOST]

The QTP cutouts run about $380 plus I recommend the wireless controller for another $80 roughly. These cutouts either can be installed with the y-pipes or welding directly to the exhaust pipe. Each time I had them mounted it cost me only $100 to have them welded in. It will be tough to beat that price with any other approach.

 

[BiGMaC]

What is your gameplan for fabricating the H-pipe setup? If anybody has pics or drawing I' be interested in seeing them. I saw the super-fancy one posted on the forum, and it looks awesome, but I'm not looking to go that far with it.

I think PPE has it or can fab it with everything excet the valve.  I like 4DR's design (search this forum for cutout or it is pictured on the ecoboost performance parts main page).... I like srt's price!... So I'm thinking still in terms of a hybrid system for more control than just closed or open.

 

[panther427]

ya i love the fancy cutout 4DR had but its to much money for me.. I will probally get QTP electric cut outs and mount them when i do the DP.

 

[dmharvey79]

Would it be possible to use 3 Y-pipes and sections of straight/bent pipe to build something similar to 4DR's setup? (not nearly as nice to look at but still funchional) See my attempt at a rough diagram below...

                            ---------------------- >- --------DOWNPIPE
STOCK EXHAUST      CUTOUT -<
                            ---------------------- >- --------DOWNPIPE


This is the sort of Y-pipe I have in mind
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003M2EP36/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=2A0UE9JFWPJA8&coliid=I3RC7UJXP8NAW1

 

[SRT82ECOBOOST]

I don't think the stock exhaust is.spaced further enough apart to do this.

 

[dmharvey79]

That's what I was wondering about. Something along those lines would wind up measuring roughly 18" wide and 36" long, so pretty bulky. Maybe a possible approach with removal of the third cat? There's no o2 sensors downstream of the third cat right?

 

[4DRHTRD]

What if I worked with PPE to do a dual stage exhaust where you don't see the cutout and at WOT it opens automagically?
Would be around $1500 for a catback but would be a full stainless two stage exhaust.

 

[BiGMaC]

Would it be possible to use 3 Y-pipes and sections of straight/bent pipe to build something similar to 4DR's setup? (not nearly as nice to look at but still funchional) See my attempt at a rough diagram below...

                            ---------------------- >- --------DOWNPIPE
STOCK EXHAUST      CUTOUT -<
                            ---------------------- >- --------DOWNPIPE


This is the sort of Y-pipe I have in mind
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003M2EP36/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=2A0UE9JFWPJA8&coliid=I3RC7UJXP8NAW1

I don't think the stock exhaust is.spaced further enough apart to do this.

Here are couple of picks of 4Dr's install and the part... more and a video of it working is at this link:
http://www.ecoboostperformanceforum.com/index.php?topic=695.msg5510#msg5510

Here it is uninstalled seen from the top...click to enlarge


Here's a bottom view installed... click to enlarge