Gutted Header Cats and Headers
Thread Starter
Driver
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 78
Likes: 7
From: Arizona
Gutted Header Cats and Headers
I'm looking for opinions from people that have done either. My ISF is currently my daily driver and love it but would like it to sound a little more aggressive and have more power. But I also don't want to give up the driveability of the current setup on the car. I currently have a Lightweight (16.5 lb) 3” Laivins mandrel-bent single axle-back exhaust with stainless Magnaflow. It sounds great under throttle and cruising. Very little to no drown. My main question is how much did the exhaust and engine note change after the install or gutting. What was the main thing that changed with the new setup? Was it a massive change? Pretty much looking for opinions on the setup and your thoughts on the outcome. Appreciate all the opinions.
Thread Starter
Driver
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 78
Likes: 7
From: Arizona
So gutting the cats is going to be more raspy than headers? Is this due to the cats having rough edges causing the rasp?
I recently gutted my stock cats on the OEM header and other than a slightly louder cold start, I thought there was not much change in tone under low to moderate acceleration. Under WOT, the car is definitely louder. With this being my daily driver, I was very nervous that it was going to be "too" loud but honestly I can barely tell the difference under normal driving conditions. The rest of my exhaust consists of an ISS Forged QES (louder than the DES) with an E55 AMG muffler welded in.
Financially, It didn't make any sense to buy headers, go through the hassle of getting them installed for a marginal gain in power over gutted stock headers. My only regret is the smell after gutting the stock cats. It's almost unbearable when standing behind the vehicle or in stop and go traffic with the fumes are going back into the car with the windows down.
Financially, It didn't make any sense to buy headers, go through the hassle of getting them installed for a marginal gain in power over gutted stock headers. My only regret is the smell after gutting the stock cats. It's almost unbearable when standing behind the vehicle or in stop and go traffic with the fumes are going back into the car with the windows down.
Pole Position
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 272
Likes: 8
From: KS
I recently gutted my stock cats on the OEM header and other than a slightly louder cold start, I thought there was not much change in tone under low to moderate acceleration. Under WOT, the car is definitely louder. With this being my daily driver, I was very nervous that it was going to be "too" loud but honestly I can barely tell the difference under normal driving conditions. The rest of my exhaust consists of an ISS Forged QES (louder than the DES) with an E55 AMG muffler welded in.
Financially, It didn't make any sense to buy headers, go through the hassle of getting them installed for a marginal gain in power over gutted stock headers. My only regret is the smell after gutting the stock cats. It's almost unbearable when standing behind the vehicle or in stop and go traffic with the fumes are going back into the car with the windows down.
Financially, It didn't make any sense to buy headers, go through the hassle of getting them installed for a marginal gain in power over gutted stock headers. My only regret is the smell after gutting the stock cats. It's almost unbearable when standing behind the vehicle or in stop and go traffic with the fumes are going back into the car with the windows down.
Trending Topics
ClubLexus Stories
Celebrating Lexus & Toyota from Around the Globe
Top 10 Most Confusing Things Lexus Has Ever Done!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Lexus ES Review: Lexus Re-Embraces Founding Principles
Michael S. Palmer
10 Lexus Bargains That are Cheaper Than a New Toyota RAV4
Joe Kucinski
8 Weirdest Things Lexus Has Ever Built
Verdad Gallardo
10 Lexus Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
8 Tips for Improving Your Hybrid or Plug-in Hybrid's Efficiency!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Best Lexus Models No One Remembers
Joe Kucinski
TRD Off-Road Premium: Best 2026 4Runner, Except This One Thing
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Lexus & Toyotas to Drive Before You Die!
Joe Kucinski
Lexus Champion
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,841
Likes: 74
From: FL
Thread Starter
Driver
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 78
Likes: 7
From: Arizona
I recently gutted my stock cats on the OEM header and other than a slightly louder cold start, I thought there was not much change in tone under low to moderate acceleration. Under WOT, the car is definitely louder. With this being my daily driver, I was very nervous that it was going to be "too" loud but honestly I can barely tell the difference under normal driving conditions. The rest of my exhaust consists of an ISS Forged QES (louder than the DES) with an E55 AMG muffler welded in.
Financially, It didn't make any sense to buy headers, go through the hassle of getting them installed for a marginal gain in power over gutted stock headers. My only regret is the smell after gutting the stock cats. It's almost unbearable when standing behind the vehicle or in stop and go traffic with the fumes are going back into the car with the windows down.
Financially, It didn't make any sense to buy headers, go through the hassle of getting them installed for a marginal gain in power over gutted stock headers. My only regret is the smell after gutting the stock cats. It's almost unbearable when standing behind the vehicle or in stop and go traffic with the fumes are going back into the car with the windows down.
High flow cats do not make you lose much hp...imo it is not worth the small gains in power to run no cats on a street/daily car. You live and you learn i guess. I just got a pair of high flows welded in today and cant say i miss the smell at all. Sound is similar but deeper and less raspy