Found this post while looking for some exhaust mods and have never heard of this come up in the discussion group before. Here the link to the post http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI...tem=1419681075 . The following is the verbiage on the bid posting: "You are bidding on a cast iron exhaust cut-out. If this piece is welded on between your exhaust manifold and your catalytic converter, you have the option of changing your exhaust to have an alternative route, such as a (D.O.T. Approved) high flow catalytic converter, a larger pipe and a larger muffler.
Or, if one were so inclined, one could decide not to install the "special pipe and muffler" recommended by the installation instructions, thereby making one's exhaust set-up a straight pipe. A straight pipe completely eliminates all back pressure on your engine. An engine with a straight pipe can expel as much exhaust as it can produce. Depending on how large an engine is, one could add up to 40 horsepower. A 2.0L engine will gain at at least 20 horsepower from it.

The beauty of it is that a flex cable runs from the cut-out into the cab of the vehicle. A small pull-handle operates the flapper and changes the direction of airflow. You can activate the straight pipe set up only when racing. "

Looks like a really simple weld on install and the cable pull handle reads hood so it looks like a standard hood pop but it actually reroutes the exhaust on the fly for normal to race driving. What do you guys think, will this work? sounds like a real cheap way of getting an extra 20-40 hp. Let me know what you exhaust pro think.

 

I know of the piece you are talking about. One problem I see is that you need to get it into the exhaust system somewhere. The package says it can be welded in, but I have never heard of someone welding cast iron before. Also, you'd want to put it between the y-pipe and the main cat to get the most benefit, unless you bought two of them and put them in your y-pipe before the collector.

I really, really doubt you'll get 20-40hp by doing this. You'll probably only be bypassing the main cat and the cat-back system. The main cat might save you 5hp and our cat-backs aren't too restrictive from the factory, so I'm guessing that you'll get maybe 10-15hp if your're lucky.

BTW, JC Whitney sells this piece new for $22. See http://www.jcwhitney.com/product.jhtml?CATID=5199 for more info.

Another idea if you decide to do this is to check your local Pep Boys, Auto Zone, Chief, etc and see if they sell cutouts. I found steel ones at Pep Boys in various sizes. They were painted black and didn't include a flapper valve. Instead of the valve, they had three wing nuts holding on an end plate. It also came with a tool for removing the wing nuts, just in case you wanted to take it off when the car was hot.

Please let us know what you decide to do and the results you had. I'm always interested in new ideas.

 

In response to the Cut-out, let me know if you try it out. I'd like to know too. I've been checking it out but it seems to good to be true. Why aren't more people running the cut-out? Let me know! If anyone else has any input, it would be appreciated.