Has anybody tried the catted bbk x pipe?

 

Just to share my experience with my exhaust. Our 3.7's need back pressure or you will lose a lot of low end torque. I don't think it is made up for in the higher r.p.m. range also. This mistake cost me $500, maybe you all won't make the same mistake.........

Long story short. I have long tubes with a 'catted' x-pipe and Magnaflow 'Streets'. Very strong 'low end' torque. Installed some Magnaflow 'Competition' (muffler delete) axle backs. Lost a lot of 'low end' torque. Felt like i was running on 5 cylinders. I removed them and just to see how my 'factory mufflers' would sound with my long tubes, since the long tubes increased the sound of my Magnaflow 'Streets'. The factory axle backs did sound louder but, i still had lost a lot of 'low end' torque. I reinstalled my Magnaflow 'Streets', Power is strong and 'low end' torque is back.

 

Thanks for sharing David, did you also upgrade the diameter of your pipes?

 

According to A.M.'s site you have to have long tubes to use the bbk x-pipe. They make it for use with there long tubes but thats not to say you can't use it with another set.

 

I would be interested in a before and after dyno. I know on my 95 I had to stay under 2.5" as dyno tested have shown anything over that size created a loss of power.

 

Mines is 2.5. I agree I wouldn't recommend going any bigger either. No I haven't been to a dyno since install.

 

No. Factory size.

 

It came time to torque my header bolts. I found a quick and painless way to do it. Took me less than 15 mins this time. Here is a quick video that shows the tool needed.
Tool used:
Laser - 3888 Ratchet Ring Spanner - T-Handle - 13mm
http://amzn.com/B009VFRT6S

 

Thanks for the video. What radio/tablet set up are you running? I have a Galaxy tablet installed right now but am going to take it out as I am having nothing but problems with it.

Matthew

 

It's an iPad HD installation. Works wonderful. Talks great with the sync and controls via Bluetooth.

 

How often are you guys having to torque your header bolts?

 

I did a check after 500 miles of installation. I put about 2k miles on them since. A couple of bolts needed the torque. They were not loose. Nothing that would cause a leak. I drive this pony pretty smoothly and tend to roll on the throttle versus punching it.
There is a tool for every job and this has to be the best solution I have found so far. What tools did you guys use for installation?
This is the tool I am using for the job now, please let me know if anyone knows of this tool American made please.
Laser - 3888 Ratchet Ring Spanner - T-Handle - 13mm
http://amzn.com/B009VFRT6S

 

That tool is slick. However my concern would be if the ratchet head is too big to fit on the nuts. Some headers I have done barely let a box end on much less a ratchet. The studs and nuts are so close to the pipe sometimes.

 

It takes me about 10 minutes with my 13mm box end wrench to do all the 11 I can get from top, another 10 minutes to jack the car up, put it on stands and get the bottom nut on #6.
I heat cycled mine and tightened them up before it got off the stands during install and have checked them twice since with about a quarter turn more on them each time.

 

Heat cycled = warm engine? Is this due to heat expansion?

 

Yes Basically, warms everything up including the gaskets, plus you still get engine torque and things settle in better, I got about a full turn after doing this and I have always done this with headers. Make the 500 mile check almost not needed. I still check mine once a month or so just to make sure. Since they are such a pain to get off and on I don't want to be changing header gaskets to soon

 

Thank you for the tip.

 

I had the BBKshorty tuned ceramic headers, BBK cattedx pipe, Borla ATAK axleback and Vibrant resonators put this weekend I love thesound now, vary deep at idle and a racecar growl when you step on it. just great.

 

That's great. I don't think I've heard of anyone doing this combo. I like to see people doing something different which is what I try to do. Post up a sound clip if you get a chance.

 

I would love to do that set up but **** tree hugging ****'s here wont let us run a catted X pipe. .

Matthew