Exhaust Cutout Sizing

[XJSman89]

It was $224 for the kit which comes with everything. It seems steep but I talked to a buddy that put a budget cutout on a few months ago (for like $130, not sure of the brand) but it has a plastic motor housing like most of the cheaper ones do. He doesn't like it, and actually said he wishes he had gone with QTP before I told him what one I wanted to get. The quality is great, I figure it's best to get it right the first time than get some. Cheap one that ends up being too raspy like his and breaking too soon. I have seen that too but their stuff is stainless and I have had good luck with my stainless tubes that are in place of the mufflers. We get snow here but not all that much, nothing like some of you kids up north. I'm not worried about it.

I planned on routing exhaust out from underneath the car. I'm not sure if that will take the form of rear exhaust through the stock tails or custom side exhaust. We'll have to see what it looks like on the car.

[XJSman89]

Hmm, it's too bad I didn't find them sooner. They're cheaper than QTP too. I'll give QTP a call tomorrow and see if they can cancel the order. The warranty alone is worth switching.

[XJSman89]

Fair enough. I had done some research and couldn't find them at all, good catch. I called QTP this morning and they were able to turn the order around. I'll wait for the money to come back in and then I'll go to DMH for their cutout.

[XJSman89]

Just talked with DMH and ordered a cutout from them. From what I have seen online people like DMH better, they close a considerable amount faster, and the warranty is better. People consistently say that the DMH customer service takes longer, though, and trying to contact them through email is almost completely worthless. You have to call to get service since it's a one man operation. Not the end of the world, just something to keep in mind.

Some people complain about leaking and some don't... it seems pretty random with both QTP and DMH. It will either happen or it won't haha, it is the nature of cutouts. I hope I get lucky with a good set. If they leak then the company will cover them under warranty, so I hope that the 4 year DMH warranty is worth it!

Apparently there is a third company called Race Ready Performance that sells them too. It was more expensive at $250. Lifetime warranty, but I haven't heard many good things about them. If someone else decides to buy one from them be sure to post the info here so we can have a master cutout thread!

Am I the first one to get cutouts for the Aurora then? At least on ACNA/ that we know of? We need more! Hopefully my install will inspire some people.

Just one cutout for now, I hope to order a second "open headers" cutout soon.

[XJSman89]

I went with a 2.5" kit for use before the Y. I'll just buy a stainless pipe with a 2.5" ID and throw it on the lathe to turn down the inside a couple thou until it fits perfectly, then weld it onto the outside of both sides. There's no flange or anything on the Y which is unfortunate, but not a dealbreaker. I didn't want to lose any diameter in the exhaust by getting a Y that was smaller than the stock diameter.

[XJSman89]

I got my cutout in the mail today. It looks great! I can't wait to get the exhaust off the parts car and ready to go. Hopefully I can order one more before I pull the system off for open headers too. ;D

[shelbyracing]

If I had it near manifolds, I would have them flow to a tuned pipe so it will scavenge better. Put side pipes on for the cut outs

[XJSman89]

The instructions say anywhere after the cat is fine, but I think I'll try to move the cat down a bit and put it where the cat is. I'm going to throw it on the lift soon and get a game plan together before I order another one. You're right about the heat, it may not be a good idea. I'm not even sure it will fit either.

I like the idea of side pipes haha, I thought about that. It would sure be easier than trying to pipe it back out the rear as there isn't much space underneath there. A single side pipe isn't as much fun as duals but I guess the fact that it will be a working side pipe makes up for it haha. Maybe with a nice dual tip on the end.

[shelbyracing]

If it were me I would do it before cat, because they only want you to comply with emissions. However if you drive with your converter side you will. The idea is to get ad much heat out of the pipes as fast as possible. If you ran 5' of pipe or so it would sound good too. Really loud, but it would work great. As long as everything seals good there shouldn't be a problem. I would imagine they are built for a lot of heat.

[shelbyracing]

Glass pack would be a good idea though. If it was set up like that.

[XJSman89]

I imagine that they're meant to take some heat as well, we've got some F1 grade heat shielding at the shop that I can use as well. I don't know if moving the cat would be an issue but I'm not sure that it's even going to need to be moved. No inspections here so I'm not worried about that either way.

I'll post my findings and pictures when I get it on the lift. We had the same thought though, Shelby. I figured that "after the cat" thing was probably an emissions compliance thing.

[XJSman89]

Pulled the exhaust off the parts car a couple days ago. I'm excited to get started. I'm also excited with how easily the system came off! I just unbolted it at the cat and then unbolted the four hangars underneath the car.

I hope to get the cutout welded in, the cats swapped, and the system installed in the 96 in the next few weeks but I'm not sure what time I'll have with school and all. I'll probably weld the 99's old cat back onto my current straight pipe system and throw it back on the parts car, no sense in throwing it away.





I had to take a quick shot, I love the Leeds plant as a background. She's patiently awaiting her transplant. ;D

[RCA1186]

Awesome haha, I wish my exhaust system would come off that easily. Those cat nuts are basically welded on with rust. Come to think of it, they're pretty much little balls of rust now, not nuts. No pun intended there ;D

[XJSman89]

The cutout is done. I love it. I used to say that the straights were one of the best decisions that I made about the Aurora, but I was wrong. The Cutout is by far one of the best, tied right up there with the projectors.



Teaser vid of testing:

i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn305/XJSman89/f84bce2d.mp4

It worked perfect the first try, hence my father in law's cry of "It's working!" haha

More pics, videos, and short writeup soon!

[tigger]

She's alive, ...alive!


Nice work Collins, 5.1 Dolby audio on the post-install video plz.

[bobsblue95]

Nice! I just wish iPhones were smart enough not to record "tall-screen" video.

[sall]

lol maybe hold the phone the other way and it's panoramic?

[wireless]

^^ you have to be smarter than the smart-phone

[bobsblue95]

Jun 4, 2012 10:44:52 GMT -6 sall said:

lol maybe hold the phone the other way and it's panoramic?

The trick is you have to rotate the phone *before* you activate the camera. Even professional journalists have trouble getting it right.

Can't wait to hear it in the car Collins!

[XJSman89]

I ran it and installed it all on my father in law's lift. And I'll take pictures to show it, but it comes up from under the driver's seat and follows along the driver's kick panel to be wired under the dash. Haven't mounted the rocker switch yet, I haven't decided on a suitable place and didn't want to rush it. Here's another iPhone video of the actual sound. There was a lot of condensation, the exhaust doesn't actually leak:

i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn305/XJSman89/95ae2c79.mp4

[nelson480]

That is SO COOL!!

So this is after the cat, res right?

[wireless]

I hope it's before the cat & the resonator.. >_>

[XJSman89]

Nope, after the resonator a little before the Y. I thought about it and it would be dumb to run open headers. There isn't space for a Y setup before the cat anyway, you would have to go with a different cutout setup. This way sounds great. It gets rid of any raspiness that I got from the straights since it exits sooner and exits during the 2.5" section. I like it!

I don't run it open much at the moment because I still need to make a turn down to bolt on that shoots it out from under the car and away from the fuel filter and such.

[wireless]

Yeah, I figured it was a little quiet to be before it all..

[poofables]

Do it before the cat. Because cats are for losers.

[XJSman89]

There isn't enough room before the cat for the Y cutout. And that would work but I like having all my outlets, I couldn't give one up. I think I'm going to put it down on the lower dash panel toward the left... Still not sure. I won't have a chance to work on it for a whole due to just starting work.

[shelbyracing]

Wonder what it would sound like with a Y coming off cut out then to two 2" pipes about 10"-2.5' long then downturn pipe? hhhmmm
Should amplify your deeper V8 sound ;D

[shelbyracing]

Could use your window lock switch. An idea I derived from reading one of bobs post. I want the chiming to end, lol.

[XJSman89]

That's a good idea since it's either an up or down switch. The cutout switch is a temporary three position where it can be pushed up or down to open or close it, but rests in the center. If you hold it too long in one direction (or permanently like with a two position switch) it can burn up the motor.

[lanceslambos]

I'll say this. a while back i got the chance to ride in his car after the cut out was in. i didn't notice a whole lot of difference but it was there and sounded just killer.