I did tonight, and wow was that fun. It had terrible torque on the low-end because of loss of backpressure, and it sounded like crap, but man could that baby gurgle!!!

 

I got plenty for all...if this goes like a NAM usual on this subject..

 

Can we just lock it or delete it right off? It will take longer to die without it.

Please?

- Matt

 

I'll post before some gets this locked.

I did it once just to see what it was like. The car sounds a lot better with the exhaust on.


OK now some tree hugger can post.

 

Haven't done it with the mini, probably won't, but I do wish I had done it with my old big block el camino, that would have sounded pretty cool.

 

o you dont know what you missed!

 

ran my car for like 2 weeks with only alta-mid pipe.
people thought taht my car was a suby sti from blocks away....
it was definitely loud but little drone right around 70mph, which is my cruising speed. it worked fine for me..

 

I did the same only with my Borla mid-pipe. Sounded insane and man was that **** loud as fuhh. I adapted my driving style for the exhaust as I was often around cops so needed to draw as little attention to me as possible. It was awesome watching people turn and look like WTF all that noise from the MINI!?!?!!

 

I have been running an open header for a few months now. Low end torque is really bad but higher up on the range it starts to pull. Loud as crap but I love it and everyone can hear me comin....

 

This sound would be great to experience. I will be running a custom exhaust in a bit...

 

No exhaust, eh? Why don't you just cut holes in the hood and make zoomies for it? (>_<) \(-_-

 

I just got my new header last night, and was wondering about doing a run without the cat/back (test run, that is...) But wouldn't it put undue stress on the head bolts, since there's nothing else holding the header on?

 

I wouldn't worry about a "Test" run. Clearly an experience - I ran an open header from one garage to another to get my catback installed. Loud as Sh*t and totally throws the cars performance off.

A dumb idea for the street.

 

Tree hugger checking in! To all non-tree huggers--how sad you must be.

 

Ha ha! I think the reason we haven't seen too many flags raised on this thread (and I've been known to raise a few myself) is that there's a big difference between running catless for a test run, or to get your new-headered car to the muffler shop and running without a cat as a normal daily event. I run a cat normally, and my new header came with a very nice 300-cell cat and v-band connection to the header (!), I just thought it would be cool to hear what the car sounded like with just the header. Just for kicks...

 

Ran with just the header before.. Sounded nice. Not legal.. *shrug*

 

How about the fact that these cars are designed to use post-cat O2 sensors (per OBDII; correct me if I am wrong please). It's little wonder performance sucks below high RPM's (moving into open-loop). Even in high RPM's, your gains are minimal to none.

- Matt

 

Me too and after about 3-4 blocks was enough for me!! had to drive 5 miles and was glad to get there. reminded me of an old tractor my grandfather had. Loud but not cool sounding at all.

 

I have to disagree with you partly there. Of course getting on it sounds like crap but the burble was more like gunshots. Haha you wouldn't believe the looks.

Oh and this was only to a muffler shop to finish the install

I will say one thing for it though, for those of you worried about an exhaust being too loud, well this is a good reference point. After I put mine on, it is almost too quiet.
It is an OBX axleback by the way. You can read my review about it

 

No doubt any exhaust system sounds mild after running an open header. I'll give ya the burble part but the overall sound was poor for my ears.

I am running the OBX header and OBX Axleback myself

 

Ya it was your review of it that convinced me to get it. Oh, by the way how well did your's fit in? My tips are a little off-center

 

My exhaust is so straight through I might as well have no exhaust in the first place.

 

We were messing around on the dyno and did a run with the exhaust on, then took it off at the header and ran it again, picked up 7 hp
That was with an invidia exhaust and stock header.

 

ran open header once, wow it sounded like a true race car. drove it on the freeway for 30 miles without a cop pulling me over though. good times good times

 

I wanna put a cutout pre cat but i dont think its possible....CORRECT ME IF IM WRONG....