(NEWBIE) Exhaust Question

Im looking in to upgrading my exhaust on my 08 Tacoma Sport. Ive been doing some research online about headers and CATS etc. Im wanting to get the best hp for my buck while keeping it as close to legal as I can so I can still pass emissions. Im not understanding the benefits of having a Y Pipe? Any response would be appreciated. Thank you.

 

The Y pipe is what brings the exhaust from the two manifolds together into a single exhaust pipe. There is no advantage, its just how its designed. Depending on where you live, a set of headers may fail you on inspection no matter what the sniffer test shows. You must have cats and O2 sensors to pass your emissions test. Reality is this is a truck, not a sports car. Other than a better flowing muffler, you arent going to change too much in a state with inspections. Some have tried doing two exhaust pipes with mixed results.

 

Depending on where you live and how extensive the emissions inspection.
Full inspection w/exhaust analysis, OE manifolds, OE cats, muffler of your liking.
OBD check with lax visual inspection and exhaust analysis, Doug Thorley short tube headers, OE (or equivalent approved cats), muffler of your liking.
OBD check with no visual inspection or exhaust analysis, Doug Thorley long tube headers, OE downstream cats, O2 sims, muffler of your liking.

Y-pipes like the Doug Thorley Pipe Bomb get rid of the downstream cats in exchange for resonators. Maybe gain a bit of flow, but only so much can be done with naturally aspirated v6 engines.

 

Ok so from my understanding the Tacoma has multiple cats right? I can't get headers and keep the rears?

 

JBA makes short tube headers that keep all the catalytic converters, however, we need to pause here.

How much money are you looking to spend for what kind of return?

 

Well, from doing research people have said that if your not going to buy a supercharger then a good exhaust with headers is your next best. I'm not looking to drop 1,000 on a exhaust.

 

My exhaust system consists is the JBA short headers and a MagnaFlow muffler Had to cut out the original exhaust manifolds and weld the JBAs in place. Doing this will keep you legal IN MOST STATES. My intake consists of a URD cold air intake (the one that comes to the front of the evaporator ) You will gain some...but very little horse power. You will gain some pep. And you will lose some gas mileage because you will be pressing the skinny pedal more to listen to that exhaust and intake. Unless you are adding a supercharger, you will not gain a substantial amount of horse power. But I guarantee that you will enjoy your truck. Cost per hp gain is huge with a supercharger. Hope this helps.

 

It cost me 1000 to buy and install my URD headers. URD also makes the ypipe for about 450 bucks and that's an easy install. Took me about 45 minutes. Butt dynoed, I can tell slight changes in horsepower. But you're not gonna get much noticeable increases from an exhaust change

 

See below.

 

There's no horse power gains of any real value to be had in the exhaust. You'll just move your power band and actually feel like you've lost torque.

The Y-pipe is where the two exhaust banks (left side/ride side of the motor) come together to the midpipe then out to the muffler and vented to the world. You can get Y-pipes of different designs to be "less restrictive" but it's usually just a great way to lighten vehicle load by throwing dollars out the window.

 

A ypipe removes rear cats, so it wont be legal... the urd ypip is smoother flowing than stock or the thorley.
short tube headers remain legal, but will need the cats welded to them.

Get a muffler u like the sound of and weld it to stock tubing, no reason to change size unless force fed.