My catalytic converters recently died so I pulled them out and installed the straight pipe inserts that come with the Bassani X. That was just way to obnoxious and a headache daily driving. Overly raspy and cackling as you drive and just way to loud. I had neighbors complaining and was just attracting way to much unwanted attention from the local cops.
I wanted to install some resonators in place where the cats used to be but didn't want to weld on that $650 X pipe in case I sell it one day if I switch to long tubes and need a different X.
For those that are not familiar with these X pipes they have cats that slip on and very wide band clamps that don't pinch the metal down so you can slip the cats in and remove them with basic hand tools and same for the straight pipe inserts. The only problem is one side slips in and the other side slides over. So one end is 2.5" ID and the other end is 2.5" OD. Humm....
So here's the closest thing I could find at Summit Racing. A stainless steel resonator of almost identical proportions to the Bassani cats. Here's the exact part
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/vpe-1792
Here's the resonator next to the cat
So the ends you see on the right side of the pic above where the same size. Perfect. The ends on the left side of pic where different. So I figured the cats are junked anyways might as well cut the end off and put it on the resonator.
So here we go. Cut the end off the resonator
Welded on the end from the old cat
Put slits in the other end just like the factory cats have so the band clamps can compress it down and seal
Two completed resonators that should now be slip on/in design like the Bassani cats
Test fitting the slip in. Perfect!
The resonators are straight through design too so performance should have no impact.
Slipped in and clamped down like it was made for the x pipe
The results were amazing. Day and night difference. I'm amazed at how much noise and cackle those two tiny resonators where able to get rid of. The idle is still pretty loud and it still has a mean sound it's just so much more controlled and all that high pitched rasp when you accelerate is gone. It's actually so much quieter on the highway now when I punch it the blower sounds much louder Love it.
So there you go guys. How to get some resonators in without cutting or welding on the Bassani x pipe.
I wanted to install some resonators in place where the cats used to be but didn't want to weld on that $650 X pipe in case I sell it one day if I switch to long tubes and need a different X.
For those that are not familiar with these X pipes they have cats that slip on and very wide band clamps that don't pinch the metal down so you can slip the cats in and remove them with basic hand tools and same for the straight pipe inserts. The only problem is one side slips in and the other side slides over. So one end is 2.5" ID and the other end is 2.5" OD. Humm....
So here's the closest thing I could find at Summit Racing. A stainless steel resonator of almost identical proportions to the Bassani cats. Here's the exact part
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/vpe-1792
Here's the resonator next to the cat
So the ends you see on the right side of the pic above where the same size. Perfect. The ends on the left side of pic where different. So I figured the cats are junked anyways might as well cut the end off and put it on the resonator.
So here we go. Cut the end off the resonator
Welded on the end from the old cat
Put slits in the other end just like the factory cats have so the band clamps can compress it down and seal
Two completed resonators that should now be slip on/in design like the Bassani cats
Test fitting the slip in. Perfect!
The resonators are straight through design too so performance should have no impact.
Slipped in and clamped down like it was made for the x pipe
The results were amazing. Day and night difference. I'm amazed at how much noise and cackle those two tiny resonators where able to get rid of. The idle is still pretty loud and it still has a mean sound it's just so much more controlled and all that high pitched rasp when you accelerate is gone. It's actually so much quieter on the highway now when I punch it the blower sounds much louder Love it.
So there you go guys. How to get some resonators in without cutting or welding on the Bassani x pipe.