Has anyone noticed any difference from removing the factory crush zone on the JCW exhaust? Apparently this crush zone has been applied to all the factory JCW exhaust to accommodate a brace used on convertables. It appears to remove this crush zone you would need to have an exhaust shop weld in a bent piece of exhaust tubing. It just looks like this is a very restricted area in the exhaust but would like to here anyones opinion who have removed this, especially on a GP.
Thanks,Steve

 

I doubt it would make any difference. Sure the "shape" of the pipe changed to allow for the x-brace but it is still the same cross-section as the round pipe. It might induce some turbulence in the exhaust flow to the mufflers but it shouldn't be enough to make any difference since all the bends in the pipe start just behind that point.

When I removed my JCW resonator and replaced it with straight pipe I also considered removing the flattened area but convinced myself that it probably wouldn't make enough noticeable or measurable difference to justify the cost of replacing that section also.

 

Im positive taking the crush out makes a difference. I know of a JCW MINI racecar that showed a difference on the dyno by cuttting this piece out and replacing it with a non kinked piece. I will try and get direct dyno numbers...although it was only like 1 or 2 hp ( I think ) It made enough difference for them to do it again this year. I am about to do this on my GP as well!!

 

Jaridp
Thanks, I would appreciate it. I know that the circumfrance of the pipe stays the same even when it is crushed but boy they are really doing a number on it in that area. It's almost flat.
Steve

 

when I swapped out my JCW for a Milltek (header, cat, resonator, cat-back) I was shocked to see how restricted the exhaust was due to the pinched area. Circumferance aside, it IS restricted. The Milltek system is a great improvement over the JCW in performance and sound. However, if not replacing the system, I believe it would be worth the money to have a shop replace the pinched section with a piece that matches the rest of the tubing.

 

I believe GTT makes a replacement piece.

 

Gtt?

 

Its just a chunk of pipe..go to your local muffler shop and im sure for less than 40 bucks youre done.

 

Here's a picture of both the crushed area and how it looks after the modification. The replacement pipe needs to have a bend in it.

 

Removed both the crush and resonator this weekend off my GP and now I'm in love again! Love the new deeper and aggressive sound! Car also feels torquier for some reason. Gotta love how it pulls through the revs now!