I'm doing a motor swap soon so I need to get the exhaust system right once it's done. I thinking of a Comptech Race header, an electric cutout 2.5", maybe a carsound cat, and an ITR exhaust. I like to autocross and would like to visit VIR sometime. Is it OK to run an open header at a road course? What about the autocross? I'll be in street mod in the autox so I guess anything goes, right? And I can't see why the track folks would car if I'm running open out of the cutout. This maybe a dumb question, but I don't want to get elbow deep into this idea and not be able to pull out with a substantial loss of money and time.

 

Electric cutouts are retarded. If you're driving to the track, run some sort of exhaust. If its trailered, then use a resonator and a downturn.

 

Yes I'll be using the ITR exhaust for daily driving and to the track. I'm talking about on the track using the cutout. I really don't car about my street performance that's why I'll run the stock ITR. Stock = No harassment. If I may ask, why do you think cutouts are retarded? It's a whole lot easier than dropping the exhaust when your ready to run.

 

Cutouts are tempermental from what i've seen, and dumping it right behind the header is just going to be obnoxious to you, your instructor, the corner workers and those paddocked next to you.

I'd use the stock ITR exhaust and have a axle-back straight pipe or supertrapp fabbed up for the track, just unbolt the stock muffler it and put it on friday nite.

 

The only thing with running the ITR pipe is it's only 2.25". I see what your saying about the dumping being annoying. I don't know I've never been in or heard a car with just the open header. This was just a thought that popped in my head: a way to have a stock exhaust and get max performance at the track.

 

Even the racers use some sort of resonator and downturn

 

Well the downturn makes sense. I guess there is no way to have the best of both worlds for me. But, your idea of the straight pipe instead of the muffler is a good one and I'll keep that in mind. Do you know what size JDM ITR piping is?

 

The stock ITR exhaust is good as long as you remove the bottleneck in the b-pipe.

Also, the SMSP system is as quiet as stock and produces very nice numbers (2.5")

 

Do a full exhaust. Most autocross courses have a sound meter and they'll DQ you for being too loud. Here in SD, you get 3 passes above the meter even at different events, and you're out until you fix the problem and prove it to them. There's no excuse with todays exhaust systems to not run one. I've got 2.25 all the way back with a carsound cat, and I've never been hassled, it basically looks stock unless you measure the diameter of the pipe. It's on a NA 1.6 ZC too.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by .RJ &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The stock ITR exhaust is good as long as you remove the bottleneck in the b-pipe.

Also, the SMSP system is as quiet as stock and produces very nice numbers (2.5")</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yeah but the SMSP is like 700 compared to 200 for the ITR.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Skeletor &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Yeah but the SMSP is like 700 compared to 200 for the ITR.</TD></TR></TABLE>

You get what you pay for

 

tracks have sound limits. not to mention, as an instructor, if your car gives me a headache, Im not going to get back in it. Add that to the fact that an open exhaust has very limited performance increase (which is unimportant on the track anyway) and not legal in many autoX classes, its a no brainer. Just run the ITR exhaust regularly.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by .RJ &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

You get what you pay for</TD></TR></TABLE>

LOL... you've been spending too much time in the ITR forum RJ

 

Understandable. I have an ApexI World Sport now and I'm tired of it rattling on the gas tank. Plus I can sell the WS and buy the ITR cheaper and save a little money. Oh well, I may just keep the WS and fix the rattle.

 

i think all of the various organizations require that the exhause exit "behind" the driver. even using "open pipes", as i do on my Probe, I run a 36" extension with a 45 downturn on it. this lets the exhaust fumes (and sound waves) escape behind me.

a true "open" header would be just that; a header. no exhuast system behind it. you would be likely to get exhaust fumes in the car. plus, the extremely loud racket would be coming right from your foot-box area.

and i mean LOUD. i drove my H1 Civic about 3 minutes on the open header after doing the engine transplant. I couldn't stand to race it that way, even with ear plugs.

you should plan on getting the exhaust extended at least 3 to 4 feet so that you have both the sound and the fumes pointing away from you.

good luck.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Skeletor &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Is it OK to run an open header at a road course?</TD></TR></TABLE>
Yes.
Pending on the noise regulations.

I have seen it done... and it was wonderful.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Todd Reid &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i think all of the various organizations require that the exhause exit "behind" the driver. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Thank you. I was hoping someone would mention this.

 

open header = very loud
you'll be sorry after 10 minutes, let alone an hour at a track.
I also agree with everyone that it wouldn't be too nice to corner workers and others you're competing with.

I will say that I always thought the idea of having a cut out (didn't know there was such a thing as an electric one) was kind of a cool idea. You have a daily-driver, and you don't want to listen to some noisey fart-can exhaust every day, and you don't want to spend $700 on an exhaust that performs well at low decibels. So you open the exhaust up when you go to the track or the drag strip for a little extra "ummphh" without having to drop part of the exhaust before, and reattach later. I still wouldn't want the cut-out placed behind the header, but maybe after the first resonator. And I don't see a need at an autocross either.

anyone ever run a cutout behind a resonator instead of right behind the header?

 

http://www.accordinglydone.com/store/catalog/

These guy's exhausts got a good write up in the ITR forum, they are cheap, and come in sections you can either weld or clamp together. Sounds like it may be a good fit for your needs/desires. (applies to the custom mandrel setups they make) 3 tubing sizes available for Integras, and you add your own rear section. Prices seem very good. They also sell mufflers, resonators and highflow cats. Could not find the original thread, having a bad search day. Good thing I bookmark everything

 

How do you know that an open header will really be better, than a good flowing exhaust system anyway?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 57STS &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">How do you know that an open header will really be better, than a good flowing exhaust system anyway? </TD></TR></TABLE>

Who knows? I would really like to buy one of those high end exhausts but I just don't have 7-1200 dollars to put into one. I think I'm going to forget the cutout idea and go SMSP(or Comptech Race), 2.5" carsound, ApexI WS piping(I already have this), and an ITR muffler for the street and a straight pipe for the track. I really wish I could get a very nice exhaust but just the motor swap and peripherals are killing my budget.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Skeletor &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> I don't know I've never been in or heard a car with just the open header.</TD></TR></TABLE>

What?...What?... Did you say something? I run a spring loaded tear away exhaust on the racecars so in case the car somehow takes the driver off in the dirt or over curbs (not the driver's fault) and catched on the exhaust system, it will shuck the exhaust and not rip off or mangle my nice header. It has happened a few times and I have continued the race with an open header. In addition to having legal issues when it finishes (too loud, no exit behind driver) if someone wants to inspect it, it is unbelievably loud in the car to a level that is hard to imagine without being there.

My best lap time at Mid-Ohio was without the header and the car sure felt fast but it could have been the red mist and anger as I chased down that SOB that punted me from the lead on Lap 2. BTW, I pitted to have my dangling air dam and ducts removed then reentered in 14th place and worked myself back up to 2nd rapidly gaining on 1st at the checkered flag on Lap 12. Probably more aggression driving the performance than the open header though.

 

I ran open header for about 3 months last year just tooling around town, and I don't think my hearing has ever recovered.

It sounded SO damn good though...I second Will's comment about it being "wonderful."

I went through a tunnel in DC with a Diablo 6.0, and one could simply NOT hear the Lambo.