Picked up my '97 SE with 94K mi, finding mods here and there (hacked airbox, shaved trunk, FSTB, rewired fogs), wondering if the Y has been done. Does anyone have a underside pic of a 97-99 with a stock Y?

Thanks in advance...

 

The stock y-pipe has two pre-cats between the manifold and the catalytic convertor. If they're still there, then no you don't have an aftermarket y-pipe. Who did you buy the car from? If it was an individual, ask them.

If someone has gone el cheapo with a hacked air box rather than a CAI, popcharger or even a K&N panel filter, I highly doubt you have an aftermarket y-pipe.

Buy a stainless steel Budget y-pipe and you won't go wrong.

 

Aftermarket is just piping, stock is much larger and you cant even see the actual piping.

 

I have a picture of the stock y pipe on my cardomain web page. It was a picture of the entire pipe after installing the aftermarket pipe. Hope that helps. I cant find the link for my page, but the username is Zeus97Max. It should be the last picture on the second page.

 

Here are pics of both the stock and aftermarket y-pipes http://www.motorvate.ca/mvp.php/519

 

Good job posting the motorvate.ca pics! Budget stopped painting the stainless steel y-pipe black some time ago. Mine was silver when I got it last June.

 

Thanks for the info, looks like I have a stocker. Thought there was a chance because my high-end response is pretty good and at WOT and I am putting out some interior DB's; probably just the crappy airbox hack. Have a Ebay CAI in my garage, just need to pick up the Y and some illuminas/teins and I will be good for a while. Thanks again...

 

One more question, what Y has the best fit out of the box?

 

I think warpspeed and budget have the best reputation for quality at a great price. Budget pipes are stainless and relatively cheap for being stainless, but I have heard from some that they are getting a "bees in a can" sound from the flex. The warpspeed you can get in aluminized steel or stainless(much more expensive) and they have pretty much eliminated the bees in a can sound by lining the flex section and now selling a "superflow" flex. I have the warpspeed aluminized steel with classic flex($160 shipped) and I am very happy with it.

 

Check my cardomain page.

 

I had no fitment issue with the stainless steel Budget y-pipe when it was installed last June. And there is absolutely no bees in the can sound with it. I don't know where that came from. This topic is discussed every week or two. Personally, I would avoid an aluminized y-pipe if I planned on keeping the car for awhile.

 

I hear that it can be a little rainy out there in Oregon, i would suggest that you get the stainless also. just pay a little extra now and you'll be happy. I have a Budget that installed flawlessly and i LOVE IT!!! Sounds great and feels great, according to the butt dyno! i thought budget had eliminated the bees-in-the-can sound. mine doesn't have it!