Cat-back vs. Cut-out
 

I know both a catback system and a cutout will give you a louder exhaust and more horsepower, but which is better? A cutout is what, like $30? Whereas a top end catback exhaust system is likely to run around $700 (Borla). Assuming both give a similar power increase, what is the advantage of the catback system???

a cutout will out perform a catback exhaust. The advantage is noise levels.

a nice catback system claims 20hp, so if a cutout outperforms the catback, then it would have to be greater than or equal to 20 hp. So are you saying a $30 mod can get me around 20hp??? If so, damn I'm gonna buy a cut-out tomorrow! :)

Kinda just depends on what you want. I would choose a catback because you have a nice quality tone all of the time as well as the performance gain. You may pick up a few more hp over the catback with a cutout. I only open my exhaust up at the track. It wouldn't do anything but get on my nerves to leave it open all of the time. I'm not a big fan of interior drone, and you can't hear yourself think with a cutout open. Some people say they never cap up their cutout, but I think it sounds like crap unless you are at WOT. Just my .02.

I currently have a flowmaster muffler, so i like the sound i currently have. If I get a cutout, are they easy to cap? I think I heard something about electronically controlled caps, is that right?

There are electronic and regular. I'm not sure on an exact price for the electronic ones, but I know they are quite a bit more than the regular ones.

Anyone got a link to where you can buy electronic cut outs? I'm having no luck searching for them!

DJ

I have a cutout on my camaro it sounds good, but at WOT nothing sounds like it maybe a LM. IMO i would get a cutout and save the rest of the money for other mods. Here are some links to some cutouts.:D

Oops forgot the links...

http://dmhperfproducts.homestead.com/borlaplate.html

http://www.quicktimeperformance.com/qtec.htm

http://www.mccordcg.com/mpp/mpp.htm

i have had mine for 6 months, and only capped it once. i went abotu a miel before i uncapped it. i get people askin what the hell i did to my motor, and when i tell them a $30 part, they tell me to get lost:) i have not heard anything good about the electric ones, so i would go with the regular. trust me you will love it. i love my cutout. but my license plate also says 'LOUDER' :D

where is a good place to put the cutout? For maximum hp should you put it before the cat?

my 95 z28 already has the flowmaster cat back system, im just wondering if its ok to stick a cut out on it, that way id have the option.

It would be fine to put it on your current catback. You'll probably not see that much of a gain unless you have quite a bit of modifications, but there's no reason to not get one if you are wanting one.

You'll get 10rwhp at best from either

Of course the manufacturers claim 20 hp, it makes their catback look the best. From what I've seen expect 10-15 rwhp for a cutout or a catback over the stock exhaust. As long as you have a catback with a free flowing muffler, there won't be much, if any difference between it and a cutout. For example, Magnaflow has been tested to be within 1 hp of a cutout.