So I'm only one uppipe away from a TBE and I don't have an AP yet. I won't be able to get one till one of my friends hooks me up with his with the next few weeks. So I have two questions really: 1. How bad/safe is it to run a TBE without an AP? It'll be AP-less for only a few weeks. 2. How safe/reliable is a gutted stock UP?

 

An up pipe isn't part of a TBE.

Just wait until you have the AP to install your TBE.

A gutted stock up pipe is perfectly safe/realiable, provided that ALL of the catalyst material is removed when it is gutted. Advantages of gutted stock UP are perfect fit, stock look. However some will argue that the bulbous section where the cat used to be is very disruptive to the exhaust gas flow.

 

yup

you can run it with out the AP just watch for boost spikes

 

i think its a waste to gut the stock. If you ever bring your car back to stock for whatever reason, you have to buy a stock UP. (idk off the top of my head what cost more, a cattless UP or a stock )

 

He's talking about a gutted stock UP pipe

 

fixd thats what i was thinking it just didnt type out that way

 

But really though, you would never need to touch it once you had it installed. Even if you were putting your car back to stock, there would be no need to swap in a stock catted UP. No one would be able to tell there wasn't a cat in the gutted stocker and you can still pass smog with it.

 

just in my personaly opinion i wouldnt want to ruin a stock peice that i couldnt "fix".. but i guess all that would work out.

 

Well I'm actually buying someone else's gutted stock UP. I'm still keeping my stock one for good measure.

Are boost spikes bad for the engine?

I mean, I won't be running a AP-less TBE for a long time, at most, 2-3 weeks. Will that still cause engine damage?

 

boost spikes are bad. When you have the TBE just dont romp on it untill you get the AP installed. I would go for a pro-tune too, unless your planning on more mods within the near future.

 

Boost spikes caused by major mods w/o EM are bad in the worst way. Think engine goes 'kablooey' bad.

Here's the thing; even without the re-flash you are going to get a noticeable power gain. You won't be able to resist going WOT a few times getting on the freeway and whatnot. Just wait. Impatience is the only reason you would install your TBE 2-3 weeks before you have EM. You have lived your whole life up to this point with out a stage 2 rex, you can wait another 2-3 weeks.

 

Very true. *sigh* the question now is... Whether to wait to get that good deal on the AP or just get one from a shop for full MSRP.

 

if you get one thru Paul@Dbtuned he will knock off some money for a pro-tune.

 

No need to wait for a good deal to come along, there are like 5 for sale on nasioc every day. Just offer them all $475, one will counter for $500, take it.

 

Turbo back means after the turbo, the up pipe is before the turbo silly guy lol