URD Y-pipe, first impressions

Ultimate cat protection mod. Been wanting to do this mod since i bought the TuRD many moons ago, more so after adding the blower. Life always seemed to get in the way, along with URD never having them in stock. Turns out the planets aligned and i got one second hand from an unfortunate individual that came down on orders to one of our police states. Any who... I primed and painted the pipe with raptor high heat paint. Wrapped it in fiberglass heat wrap and tossed it in. Old pipes came out with little fuss other than the metal band over the driver side cat (no idea what it was for, looks like a drive shaft loop).
Fit was precise, maybe to a fault. Required mounting it to the "cat back" first, then the manifolds. Once i figured this out, it was a breeze. The location of the driver side 02 sensor, requires installing the sensor after the flange is bolted down... up... in place. (Learned that the hard way also). Removal and installation took about 45min. With the help of a cheepo cordless impact. Requires 2 new flange gaskets and the rear "doughnut" gasket thing (i was able to reuse my old one).

No codes have been thrown according to the scangauge III. Truck is now light speed fast... or not, but it gets into the higher rpms faster (removing 3 restrictions will do that i guess). It is quicker, by how much is hard to say. It is a bit louder, but barely notice it. Louder the hotter the exhaust gases get. If that makes sense. Not obnoxious, barely there, but i have been on the wrong end of an RPG a time or two. Still can't hear it over the radio.
I think the acceleration stink is less, but still need the paint and wrap to finish "gassing" to be sure.
My .02, i'm happy with it for now and would recommend in over a cat back for 1st exhaust mod. Kinda want to do headers now, but can't stand the install process. Anyway hope this helps someone out there on the interwebz.








Stock URD picture

 

Looks serious. What gains you expect from this upgrade?

 

It's simple bolt on. I have no real way to measure any gains, it does get into the upper rpm range quicker and i barley need to use the go pedal on the highway. Granted that's with forced air and a BeatSonic throttle controller. I've always been a fan of letting a combustion engine breath (air in, air out) as efficient as possible. Great, now i'm thinking about headers again.

 

Any worries about trapped moisture on bottoms of wrap causing temp. driven cracks like you see on some motorcycle exhausts?

 

My understanding is the paint will provide protection from said moisture. The fiber glass was also treated in a silicone protectant to repel water. At least that's the rumor. Any moisture should be burnt off next time i start the truck. Worst case it rots out and i put the stock pipe back on, leason learned for next time.

 

Does your exhaust smell retro now?

 

Getting there. Need to pull two more cats and find some 104 octane.

 

Wow, you must be rich? Cause its about a $10,000. fine to remove a cat?

 

I ask because my boy pulled the cats off his car and the exhaust smell had me flashing back to the 70’s. It’s funny, back then we didn’t give it a second thought. It was the norm, clearly cats do make a difference to air pollution.

 

Nevermind, they let my neighbors burn trash and their used motor oil so I guess it does not matter anyway?lol

 

I haven't noticed any more exhaust gas smell, but still need to put it through some more heat cycles. I want to say the stench from high rpms is less. The 02 sensors are still in place behind the main cats. So emissions are still being monitored.

 

I had one installed for a year now. I like it. Sounds great with the trd pro exhaust. Also the exhaust doesn't smell so bad now.

Why did you paint and wrap it? It's stainless

 

Wanted to

Wanted to play with the heat wrap and everything i've read said paint would help with corrosion. Tracking the wrap won't last long enough for it to be an issue, either way. Where did you find one? I've been looking for a long time.

 

I bought mine directly from urd when they had a sale. I think I paid $500.

I really just wanted it to prevent cat thieves. Then I sold my oem pipes for $600 to a guy who had is stolen.

It probably really helps with a supercharger. Even more so with a ott tune.

 

I've had mine on since URD came out with it years ago.
you can kinda (?) feel it breath better. had a borla s-type catback and went back to stock - felt a decrease in throttle then.
I'm putting my stock cats back on since I have a smog check coming up. Ill report back if I feel any difference.

BTW - anyone in california pass smog with these still on? I really dont want to swap em out.

 

Calif will fail you for sure. Its prob running lean now and producing NOX.