To run cutouts or not run cutouts, that is the question.

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Mopar to ya

Mopar to ya

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I am seriously considering running cutouts this year. I am thinking of the possible better power, and also the really cool sound I will get. I've researched a lot of brands and found most of them have bad reviews. I don't want to be replacing them all the time. I run a 408 stroker, around 500hp. I have TTi 1 3/4 step headers to 3" rolled tubing with H pipe to Flowmaster 40's. Will it help my power and possibly get me better 1/4 mile times? Are there some good brands at a decent price? Do I:

A. Go with electric cutouts.

B. Go with manual cutouts.

C. Do nothing and be happy with what I have.
 
I vote C. I don't believe you will see much performance gain. more noise. yes, if that's what you want.
 
D. You will be tempted to open them, and get yourself into trouble
 
I vote not just no but hell no.
 
C...I have a 419 with 3 inch exhaust X pipe and super 44 flowmasters to rear tips..and it is loud. (At idle).couldn't keep fillings in my mouth if I needed them.I drive around with headphones on,which are plugged in:finga:to the bung on my muffler.No one has that.
 
I like D myself!!! The Boys in BLUE AFTER YOU!! TRACK OR NO TRACK!
 
I always use them and the electric ones are so much fun I really like them when I'm stopped next to some kid that's got their stereo blasting with who knows what I open the cutouts and look at them with a smile and that's what they do MILES OF SMILES
 
I put a set on mine when I made the exhaust, I think I have used them twice in the 3 years they have been on. If I did it again, I would not install them.
 
Install them, then SHOW EM YOUR PIPES! :burnout::burnout::burnout:

Nothing funner than pulling up next to a prius and turning up the volume.......:glasses7:
 
I don't like them at all. To me, they sound more like a huge exhaust leak than that open header sound we all like.....
 
I've been running 3" QTP electric cutouts for a few years now with no issues. They seal up nicely and it's fun to open them up at stop lights. I've driven past cops with the cutouts open and haven't had an issue, but I didn't have my foot to the floor either.

Cutouts are a lot of fun, especially when there's a Honda with a fart can next to you at a stop light.
 
I put cut-outs right up there with standing on the roof in a clown suit, waving your arms, and screaming "LOOK AT ME, LOOK AT ME.... ! !! !

jmo
 
There seems to be the opinion that I would run them open all the time. If I was going to do that I would run open headers and be done with it. I would use them at the track and the occasional street race. And don't give me crap about street racing. We build these cars for a reason. Otherwise I would run them closed the majority of the time.
 
inertia said:
I put cut-outs right up there with standing on the roof in a clown suit, waving your arms, and screaming "LOOK AT ME, LOOK AT ME.... ! !! !

jmo
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just build an exhaust system that isn`t too obnoxious, and doesn`t restrict the engine , then you won`t need the extra weight, much less wasting the $ on it ! "them"
 
I like mine.... they are fun out in the back roads and my kids & wife get a kick out of it. Do what you like. "A"
 
I'll go against the grain - hell yea! awww.. was that too LOUD for you!? tough titties miss kitty! ever get right up near a top fuel car during warm up - now THAT is loud - and figgin' awesome! one of my favorite sounds in the world is a killer V8 with open headers! ..if it were me, I would go with the mechanical ones.. less **** to break down.. you know, a few seconds under the car and BOOM - - you're making noise - performance gains are debatable - but who cares!! LOL
Mopar to ya said:
There seems to be the opinion that I would run them open all the time. If I was going to do that I would run open headers and be done with it. I would use them at the track and the occasional street race. And don't give me crap about street racing. We build these cars for a reason. Otherwise I would run them closed the majority of the time.
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I bought a set of cheap electric ones from Summit. I cut out the cigarette lighter in the dash and built a tiny mounting bracket to mount the switch there instead. Electric is very convenient when you want to open it up any time you want instead of crawling around to unbolt. I'll drive around on occasion with them open and if I see any cops I can close them off instantly like everything is normal. It's very fun to see peoples reactions wide open throttle on the highway with them open.

Check out my video >> [ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69eg2KY2Z1Y"]Electric cutouts on Dodge Dart - YouTube[/ame]
 
I think they sound like crap if they are not mounted on the header collector. If there is any pipe at all between the cut outs and the collector, they sound awful.
 
I think you need to go with what you like. There is a performance increase with cutouts, you're eliminating any choke down you get from the exhaust when you open the cutouts. I use mine for shows and parades. Kids love the loud pipes, and I can quiet it down when I just drive around with the family. I run iron manifolds into 2.5" stainless into 2 chamber flowmasters with turn outs in front of the rear tires. The cutouts are electric 2.5" and they're fun to mess with.
 

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Such haters on the exhaust cutouts. If you think that open cutouts on a built motor sounds like an exhaust leak and you think the police are going to come get you for loud exhaust, YOU ARE F.o.S. Yeah if you put them on a stock motor, of course it's going to sound like crap. Regardless, do you think they are any louder than a Harley with straight pipes? Give me a break people! Those Harleys are WAY louder and do they get in trouble? No, they don't. I open my electric cutouts nearly every time I drive my car. I've yet to have a cop pull me over for having a loud exhaust. My buddy drove his car for a full month, 600+ miles with open headers on a 505" motor (no exhaust whatsoever). Guess how many tickets he got? ZERO.

To the OP, if you're going to do it, I would go electric. I love the fact that you can open or close them in 3 seconds while you're driving. Manuals, well you know what a pain that would be. Are you going to see performance gains? Maybe some, depending on how you set it up. For straight up noise, I'd put them right after the header collectors. For performance, I'd put them after your H or X to take advantage of exhaust scavenging. Not fact, just my opinion. That's what I did, but it does cut the sound down. The cutouts after the X are much tamer than the open headers (although people don't believe me when I tell them that open headers are way louder than what they just heard). But it's fun as hell to open them up and give her the throttle. Even my wife prefers to ride with open cutouts to mufflers. I have the Summit brand cutouts. I do not recommend these personally. I had the switch go out after a couple uses and one of the cutouts leaks a little bit now, but hardly even noticeable as far as sound goes. But you can feel some air getting past. Probably fixable. I would spend a little more money next time and get some good ones. Would I put cutouts on another build? If the motor is built, you bet I would! If people are putting electric cutouts on their cars and using them once a year, wow is all I'm gonna say about that.
 
Straight pipes sound like DOG MESS. I don't care about the too loud part. The sound quality SUCKS.
 
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