OK to all of you that have your H pipe........ its been a couple of weeks and although some of you maybe are just now getting yours put on, what are your thoughts??

Any comments or concerns, regrets, etc? Would you buy another one if you had another S197?

Thanks for your input!

tom281

 

I definately would buy another one! It is great!

 

I like the sound of mine, but I still have yet to get it welded. Those of you who welded, did you notice a difference in the sound under the car? I can't tell if it is leaking, or this is the normal sound.

For the price I don't think that you can beat the sound.

 

I finally got around to putting mine in this past weekend. I ended up welding the H portion of the pipe together.

I can't say I am too happy with the sound. Below 3 grand it sounds good, over three grand it sounds "tinny". Keep in mind I am currently using the stock muffs. I am not quite sure if it is the design of the stock mufflers + the increased airflow that is causing this sound or an exhaust leak somewhere.

I know it's not the clamps, I've double checked those. It could be my welding job being it's the first thing I've ever welded, but I doubt it. The weld ain't pretty, but it sure as heck looks sealed.
Also, the "tinny" sound only happens under acceleration, its going to take some more investigatin.

All I can say is, if I don't find any exhaust leaks, the pipe is comming off. Flowmaster's are in my near future so if it's the stock muff's then I'll re-install the H pipe later.

 

That is what you hear since there are no cats. I currently have a MAC o/r Prochamber with the stock mufflers (waiting till spring to put on Brent's H and some Flows) and I hear that exact same sound. Personally I think it sounds awesome. It sounds like I have a set of longtube headers, and you can really hear it outside the car too. I'm not sure why it makes that sound....maybe the pulses of the exhaust gasses from the 3 valve design, but I like it. It only does it under a load (acceleration) and people think that I have headers. Dont ditch the H-pipe just yet!!

 

Oh, now I can't wait for my car to get here so I can put my exhuast on. That is exactly the sound I am looking for. I will make some clips of the Mac's and h pipe if anyone wants (I know brenspeed has one, but maybe different angles will show it off better).

 

Well, I started the car this morning in cold weather, looked under the car while the engine was still revving high due to the cold start and saw nothing, no leaks! The sound is definitely comming from the H portion of the pipe though!

So this "tinny" sound as I would describe it, is normal for an o/r H pipe?

Anyone else with this pipe expeiriencing this?

I went for a 20 mile cruise today before work and I must say that the new sound is starting to grow on me, just want to get others imput on this "tinny" sound.

Thanks

Nick

 

does anyone else have an irregular amount of exhaust smell? I know that this is from the lack of cats, but it just seems like I am getting way too much.

 

I also have that tinny sound and I love it!


I have more gas fumes, but not bad at all. I like it. I wish I smelt it more!!!

 

When I started mine for the first time, it was smoking and smelled horrible. I had my hood closed and it looked as if my engine was on fire. It stopped smoking after a couple minutes and the smell died down considerably after 20 miles or so.

When I recieved my pipe the inside was coated with an oily type substance, not sure what it was, but I'm sure it was the cause.

I now have about 200 miles or so on the new exhuast and it smells like an older car due to lack of cats, but nothing too bad.

My problem lies in the sound comming from the H portion of the pipe, when I go WOT all I hear is this "tinny" sound. I can't hear the sound comming from the mufflers at all.

 

I have installed my H-pipe but will not be driving the car untill spring. Running it in the garage I don't recall hearing any tinny sound. But i'm not under load. I like the sound I have now with the stock mufflers.

One thing that I did do prior to installing it was to open up the H area where the Tee's are welded to the main pipes. When I received the two pieces and looked in this area it was not fully cut out, just kind of slopply with a plasma torch, so I went in with a hole saw and die grinder and matched the hole to tube size prior to installation and welding. Don't know if it will make any sound/flow difference or not, just the way I am.

JLH

 

I was wondering the same thing about the opening where the tubes were welded to the main pipes. I spoke to Brent and he said that is an equalizing chamber, not used to flow exhaust. So I guess it doesnt matter if the hole opening in the main pipes match the tube diameter. I'm sure Pypes is a very knowledgeable company, and if it were to affect the performance, they wouldve made it the same diameter.

You really dont notice the so called "tinny" sound unless it is under load. I like it....makes it sound healthy. I've driven big block cars with headers and they have that same "tinny" sound. I am glad because I get a lot of compliments on how good it sounds!!

 

Hey guys,

To all that are using the h-pipe with stock mufflers-

Did you get a tune? If not, did you see any difference or change in performance? The reason I ask is that I really really want this H pipe, but I don't have the $$$ for mufflers or a tuner. Let me know, thanks!!


Erik

 

I too noticed how the hole was sloppily cut out in this area, but I also understood that the cross-over was for equalization purposes, nothing more. What you did may make a slight sound difference, is my guess too. :scratch:

 

The H pipe without a tune/tuner will produce a CEL light because your 02 sensors will no longer detect a change in the exhaust gases due to lack of cats.

You can still get a performance gain by simply bolting the H pipe on without a tune/tuner, you'll just get the CEL light to accompany it. It all depends on you. The CEL lights will will represent a fault in the exhaust system(lack of cats), but if something else was to go wrong to cause a CEL light, say a misfire or something, you would not know because your light is already illuminated.

If I was you, I would save the $, wait till you can get a tuner/tune first. That way you will be able to make these kind of small adjustments later down the mod list.



On a side note.............When I received my pipe the hole in the main pipes where the H joins the two together was also cut in a rather sloppy fashion. Oh well, at least there's no leaks and mines not the only one that way.

 

Sounds like everyone is having similar experiences.

I smell a lot more exhaust now. Sounds a little tinny, but not too bad. Sounds a little like it has long tube headers, but not quite. It smoked a lot out the tail pipe on start up, but quite after 20 minutes. H pipe join doesn't seem to be perfect, I will probably get it welded just to make sure it doesn't leak or rattle.

Sound grows on you. I thought it was too loud, but I like it now. I dropped some more Dynomat in the trunk and it helped to quite it down just a little. I find with the louder exhaust, my dash vibrates a little more at certain RPMs.

But overall, I'm happy with it.

 

I'm with you Hatchman

quality could be a touch better, meanining the H should come welded and the cut out's in the main pipes could be a litter cleaner, but for the price I don't think you find a better deal on o/r H pipes.

The sound definitely grows on ya, at first I was really concerned, but now that my car's computer has had time to fully recognize the diff in backpressure, the "tinny" sound has died down a bit, it's still there, but like I said it's growing on me.

The pipe is definitley staying on!!!!!!! And I am totally happy with it.

 

Just installed The O/R H tonight. I like the sound reminds me of a header equipped car (sort of). As for power I noticed a slight loss in the lower RPM ranges and it seemed to be a little stronger up top. With only a 8hp/10tq difference it may be hard to gauge by driving. :scratch:

 

Give the car some time, once the ECU fully recognizes the change, you should regain any power lost and then some, but not much. Like you said a 8hp/10tq gain will probably only be seen on a timed run or a dyno.

 

I'm with Nick on this as well. Give the car some time. Mine definitely felt like it lost some torque in the low revs, but after a few hundred miles, the computer must have learned the lower back pressure and power came back and then some.

The car rips now, and I confirmed the G-tec Pro RR with the butt meter and the car is faster than ever with the H pipe.