Alot of people say that when they add bolt-ons. Headers and exhaust help flatten out your power curve and thats what you want for a steet car. Headers take away some low-end torque and spread it out the rpm, and basiclly so do exhausts. You feel that happening with the more mods you do

 

When I put my Edelbrock cat back on, I new instantly it added power from the time I put it in drive from park. Man, I thought it was the most valuable mod I`d done.

 

yeah you may feel a little loss of low end with an exhaust system. i think the power is up a little higher in the rpm range. since you all seem to be discussing a little loss down low i just gained noticable torque by doing some basic clean up. i cleaned my throttle body out, iac, egr, and i sprayed carb and choke cleaner in the intake a bit. not only did it idle smoother, throttle response was a lot better and the gas pedal was smoother. i am pleased with the results.

 

I noticed the same thing on a different application. My bike. Hondas are known for reliability and daily drivability. Their exhaust system is extremely restrictive. So I made my own exhaust, free flowing, and noticed I lost ALOT of power below 6K. But when that engine hit 7K and up, J*C* !! I thought I was gonna fall off the back! I seriously had to hold on to those handle bars. And I'm no stranger to liter bikes. Like others have said, the TQ is moved, and high end HP is gained! I'm expecting this when I throw on some Hooker's and my ghetto fabulous exhaust design.

 

I thaught that for a while to . I have a 95 with FULL intake. and catback. i feel like i can't get a 2 gear smear anymore. but i noticed that my A4 is not hitting 2nd till 50 anyway. i figure just a little roast is okay. I lay about 5-7 feet on second. The power defenitly hits in the higher RPM range. I love it. if you throw in a 3200 stall. it makes it great. . i have beefed the tranny a bit but the exhaust and intake help you . with the little pidly mods i have now. that are listed below i can hang with a ls1 ws6 till about 95 then they pull

so to answer your Q like everyone else. you did not loos power it is just hiding a little higher in the rpm range. just go find it. That is the fun part

 

you can hang with ls1s with just intake and exhaust? I always get smoked so bad. I cant even see them anymore by the time I hit 95

 

YEAH !!!! , i honestly can't understand it either. i was driving down the highway and a 99-00-01 whatever. ws6 reved up to me. i was going about 55-60 hunting for some prey in the slow lane. i looked at him at kinda shook my head no. he did it again and laughed and pulled about 2 lenghts in front of me and got in my lane. he started reving and tapping his brakes. he pissed me off so i dropped it in 3rd pulled upnext to him and started the three count. i dropped it in second and i thaught i was going to get wooped . but i actually heldwith him till about 90-95 then he pulled on me hard. i feelt VERY good that day I still can't figure it out though i am kinda amazed still. . I caught back up with the guy about a 1/4 mile up and rolled down my window and he asked "what do you have on the thing .. i said " Bone stock buddy " then he tore a** . LOL