Ni_Mo

Guys I need some help regarding getting a custom X pipe installed. I have been trying to search for something definitive but I couldn't find anything for my 997.1.
So I stopped by my local custom exhaust guy & asked him how much it would cost to get a custom made X-Pipe, similar to the few that are on the market, I was very impressed with the price he gave me, it was about 1/4 of the retail price of other brands and would be custom built on to the car.
My question is this, can anyone tell me what diameter tubing is used, the OEM size is 2.1inches IIRC, but I think I should go to 2.5 inches; if anyone has done this mod to a Gen 1 please chime in with thoughts and opinions and what was the sound/performance improvement like, if any.
Thanks
Nick

Tj40

For that sort of pricing he might want to make a dozen!
Where are you located? Who's the shop?

lowbee

Are you going Cat-less or putting in a pair of hi-flow cat ?
The cat makes a big difference in prices

I got quote with 2 hi-flow vibrant 200 cell cat locally and it was about U$1400 installed

vern1

Yes I had the same thought. Its the cats that cost the $$. Just ordering some AWE cats for mine. Didn't realize there was a local option. Where r u getting yours made? Who makes the cats?
Thanks

lowbee

PM me for info on local custom shop. The cats are made by Vibrant performance, a highly regarded Canadian manufacturer in GTA. At 1:00 in the video, the tech is putting a hi-flow cat downpipe in my friend's STi

Ni_Mo

I'm based out of Europe and the guy wants $300 fitted.

I've decided to go for the catbypass. I basically showed him a picture of the Fabspeed X Pipe and said I want that, how much! I told me he needs the car for 3 days, so booked it in for the beginning of September.
He already had a 996 turbo and a GTR up on the ramps for a full custom exhaust.
I'll update with lots of pics of the install and sound bites of before & after.
If anyone can provide any data on the diameter I'd appreciate it.

lowbee

I say go NO bigger than the stock pipe diameter as you are already removing the most restrictive component in the system (the cat) and that will increase flow but decrease back pressure which will affect your low-end. So you want to maximum flow by removing the cat but limit back pressure drop to not hurt the low-end. You can take this FVD cat pipe as reference and see how they deliberately make a U-design to maintain proper back pressure. I told my custom exhaust shop to make a Cat pipe using U-design approach with the vibrant 200 cell high-flow cat.

vern1

OP, have you heard a cat-less system on the 997.1? Can be very loud and stinky I hear from other reviews. Curious why you are going this route
Cheers

Ni_Mo

Thanks for the advice lowbee, I had watched the Fabspeed video regarding the concept of the X-Pipe & the theory of the X-pipe and the high to low pressure draw from the exhaust system:

vern1 I hadn't found any info on anyone fitting this to a 997.1, any links? Primarily going for a better sound and to remove the most restrictive part of the exhaust system.

vern1

I think guys use the xpipe on the .2 to get rid of the central muffler not the cats. On the .1 most guys need the cats to pass emissions and we don't have the extra muffler

There are about 100 threads on "best exhaust mod" etc for the .1 and .2. you just need to plow through them. I would say that the consensus (just my interpretation and excluding the emissions issue) is that going with no cats can be very loud and "fumey" for the .1. Some guys has gone with cats and no muffs but also on the very loud end of the scale

I would say the "best" route is headers, sport cats and muffs (Gundo, borla etc)

Cheers

John@Fabspeed

Well, as they say "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery". Not exactly what we had in mind with that video haha, but best of luck on your endeavor!

alleykat

$300 for a full system!? I couldn't even buy all the materials for that price. What's he making it out of, aluminized tubing probably. Check my thread in my sig, I made my own.

Ni_Mo

alleykat it's not the full system for $300 it's just the x-pipe, I have considered and read a number of threads that on the .1 it's very loud and as vern1 had pointed out on the .2 it gets rid of the center muffler.
More than likely i'll be going for the gundo hack to get the sound I want
I watched the vid in your sig, any other clips of yours on start up, drive by so I can get an idea of the sound, thanks.