Vivid Racing : Capristo 512 & Testarossa Test Pipes - SALE SPECIAL! These lightweight Secondary Cat Delete Pipes fit in place of the heavy OEM catalytic converters. Using this test pipes removes the flow restriction a catalytic converter impose on an exhaust system and increases the horsepower. The silencing effect of the converters are also removed, enhancing the aggressive Ferrari V12 engine sound. Ideal for track days and race application. The Lambda or oxygen sensor bungs are ready installed and threaded. Made from T309 stainless steel to ensure the high quality associated with the CAPRISTO systems. List price is $890. Contact me via PM for special Ferrarichat member pricing!!! -James
Test pipes are fantastic but do you guys make test pipes for the pre cats. That my friends is when your cooking with bacon. Coverting all to test pipes is the way to go. Nice throttle response. A nice b*tchy snarl when letting the rpms wind down. They allow her to sing boys. R
Getting rid of the main cats without losing the pre-cats is a waste of resources. The pre-cats are the 'bottleneck' of the exhaust system.
Let me elaborate on my overly-brief previous post. I got my 1990 tr eight or ten years ago with all factory exhaust system. Sounded nice but very tame. Replaced main cats with test pipes (can't remember the brand) a year or two later and was disappointed with the minimal change in sound across the entire RPM range. Fast forward five years....had Newman transplant an M crate motor with Fuchs silencer into the car (still with pre-cats). It sounded a lot better but was missing something, especially at higher RPM. Next, the pre-cats were replaced with test pipes (again can't remember brand) and that has made all the difference. At lower RPM and driving in a civilized manner it attracts little attention while sounding really nice. But mash that throttle and holy crap! From about 4500 to 5000 RPM onward the sound is 'hair standing on end' phenomenal. I realize this is anecdotal and that an M motor is different than a tr motor but I'm betting the improvement isn't limited to just the M sound trac. Cheers.
Thank you for clearing that up as I'm seriously considering something to improve the sound. Forgive my ignorance on this but why are they called "test pipes"? It sounds like there is possibly three parts to the exhaust system: pre-cats, cats, and post-cats?? Or is it just two parts? I'm assuming nobody makes a cat replacement that would pass CA emissions? This would need to come on and off the car for "street use" and emission test? Is this labor intensive or pretty straight forward like an hour or two of labor? Thanks in advance
I beilieve you can delete the precats and still pass emissions. I know folks put on hyperflow cats and have no precats and still meet emissions. "Test pipes" is just a euphemism for "race pipes". It sounds more temporary. But generally its pretty easy switching out the cats or precats anyways. I have an X-ost exhaust and deleted precats and no main cats. And it sounds glorious!
Maybe something happened to one of the 02 sensors from when you had cats on.. No worries with test pipes.. Let her breathe.. Stay thirsty my friends. R
Still in stock and available! And, if someone is interested, if you purchase these test pipes and are then willing to ship us your primary cat pipes, we will create a pair of primary cat deletes and provide you with a free pair!!! -James
thanks! What does everyone think of going in stages? For example switching just the exhaust and precat initially to see what that's like. Sounds like the precat is more of bottleneck than main cat? Then if not good (loud) enough then going to third step of taking out the main cat?? I'm leaning toward Fuchs exhaust from what I've heard online but haven't heard X-ost yet.
Im doing cats first (cuts out the fire hazard), then evaluate the noise level. Im looking for a mid level bump in sound level, not full on F1. "And, if someone is interested, if you purchase these test pipes and are then willing to ship us your primary cat pipes, we will create a pair of primary cat deletes and provide you with a free pair!!!" Question, so.....would I get my original pre cat pipes back or do they get donated?
Just go full test pipes. Eliminating the pre cats will give better throttle response. The noise level is where it needs to be. She's a Ferrari. You want quiet go get a tesla. R
Mel: I replaced the cats with test pipes 40,000 miles ago. If you disconnect the thermocouple ECUs where they enter the main wiring harness (under each rear fender arch), then no CEL. Easy. I also took the pre-cats off, removed the external heat shield and insulation, put them in a vice, attached a 12" long 3/4" masonry drill bit onto my trusty Sears 1/2" electric drill and literally destroyed the ceramic wire matrix inside the pre-cats (wear glasses). The drill bit twists and breaks up the wire matrix and the stuff comes out in several large chunks. Not pretty, but effective. I then bead blasted the pre-cats, and painted them with Eastwoods stainless steel exhaust manifold coating. They still look good with no rust or staining. Approximate time for project besides removal and re-assembly: Removal of external shielding 20 minutes per pre-cat Removal of internal ceramics 20 min per pre-cat Bead blasting and external coating (painted on) 30 min per pre-cat So, with 4 pre-cats to do, about a 4.5 hour project. But, when you are done, oh my will it sound (and respond) better.
I just did mine. I bought Ferrari preowned precats that were in Germany. I think the pair cost me $600 delivered from Europe. That way I could keep my us precats intact. Nothing special about the main cats. Those were stainless ones I bought off eBay. I think they were $150 a piece. Make sure there are 2 bung holes...one for the cat ecu and one for the O2 sensor. No CEL generated. And if you are going this route, you may want to read my 512tr pin out thread to put your car in "euro mode"
Not so sure about this w the 512tr. If the CAT ecu is triggered, I think it signals the main ecu and changes the cars running parameters. (I'm not 100% on this, but I think I remember seeing the interaction while looking at the pinout) Not sure what the CAT ecu does on a regular TR. it probably just signals a dash light