Stock Catback Limitations with Upgraded Turbos + Fuel + E85 Race Tune?

[DangerBrave]

Hello,

Ask: How limiting is the stock catback exhaust with upgraded turbos (Whoosh Stage X), fuel (Nostrum Stage 3), all supporting mods, and ZFG E85 race tune? Or would that be a waste of the upgraded turbos and fuel build.

Situation: My '22 ST is my daily driver. I purchased/installed a 3" AWE system connected to SPD catted downpipes, and the drone/noise is more than I expected/want. If the SPD catted downpipes + factory exhaust will support 99% of the turbo/fuel/e85 tune's potential, I'll return to stock catback and sell the AWE system while it's a few weeks old.

What I've found in research before posting / my effort to not waste your time: closest I've found are references to performance before/below upgraded turbos and fuel (plus all supporting mods). I've found no builds or references (explorerst.org or on the internet) for this build setup with stock exhaust.

Build List:
*aFE intake (replacing with FenFab prior to final tune)
*CVF intercooler piping
*Whipple IC
*SPD catted DP's
*AWE 3"
*Whoosh X's arriving shortly
*Nostrum Stage 3 (w/Goliath pump) in production
*ZFG tunes (91 Performance Current; E85 race once turbos/fuel is in)
*Suncoast Stage 3 rebuild once the stock 10R60 breaks
*All the suspension mods/bracing except FSB

Thank you,

DB

 

[SugarMouth]

Removing restriction in the exhaust is more important upstream as gasses are hotter therefore requiring more volume so a high flow DP with a factory cat back might be decent.

 

[DangerBrave]

Removing restriction in the exhaust is more important upstream as gasses are hotter therefore requiring more volume so a high flow DP with a factory cat back might be decent.

Thank you

 

[2020FordRaptor]

Hello,

Ask: How limiting is the stock catback exhaust with upgraded turbos (Whoosh Stage X), fuel (Nostrum Stage 3), all supporting mods, and ZFG E85 race tune? Or would that be a waste of the upgraded turbos and fuel build.

Situation: My '22 ST is my daily driver. I purchased/installed a 3" AWE system connected to SPD catted downpipes, and the drone/noise is more than I expected/want. If the SPD catted downpipes + factory exhaust will support 99% of the turbo/fuel/e85 tune's potential, I'll return to stock catback and sell the AWE system while it's a few weeks old.

What I've found in research before posting / my effort to not waste your time: closest I've found are references to performance before/below upgraded turbos and fuel (plus all supporting mods). I've found no builds or references (explorerst.org or on the internet) for this build setup with stock exhaust.

Build List:
*aFE intake (replacing with FenFab prior to final tune)
*CVF intercooler piping
*Whipple IC
*SPD catted DP's
*AWE 3"
*Whoosh X's arriving shortly
*Nostrum Stage 3 (w/Goliath pump) in production
*ZFG tunes (91 Performance Current; E85 race once turbos/fuel is in)
*Suncoast Stage 3 rebuild once the stock 10R60 breaks
*All the suspension mods/bracing except FSB

Thank you,

DB

You’d be the first one to try I guess with your mods. I wouldn’t see a humongous detriment to performance (I’m just speculating), but the stock exhaust has proved to flow well all the way to 600 awhp, and after that I’m assuming it’s relatively minor gains from there.

 

[DangerBrave]

Thank you. If that continues to be the feedback then it may be a lab rat situation. Install the stock catback, and if after tuning Adam@ZFG thinks there’s significantly more power to be had, I’ll look for a milder 2.5” system. Otherwise, good to go

 

[BuckStrickland]

Hello,

Ask: How limiting is the stock catback exhaust with upgraded turbos (Whoosh Stage X), fuel (Nostrum Stage 3), all supporting mods, and ZFG E85 race tune? Or would that be a waste of the upgraded turbos and fuel build.

Situation: My '22 ST is my daily driver. I purchased/installed a 3" AWE system connected to SPD catted downpipes, and the drone/noise is more than I expected/want. If the SPD catted downpipes + factory exhaust will support 99% of the turbo/fuel/e85 tune's potential, I'll return to stock catback and sell the AWE system while it's a few weeks old.

DB

Veering slightly from the topic, people often confuse drone and volume. Did the exhaust combo boom inside the cabin (drone), or is it just louder than you thought it was going to be? I have an AWE sitting in my garage, but honestly think the stock mufflers LOOK awful, I don't necessarily want or need an incredibly loud daily driver.

Back to your topic of airflow, I think it will depend on your setup, and you're entering territory that not many others have. Do I think everything will certainly flow better? Absolutely, do I know if the gain will be 4WHP or 40WHP? No way to tell until you try.

Another consideration is going to be which cats you use. Once you're above a certain power level, GESI cats (KOOKS, Upgraded SPD, for example) flow better, vs 400cell generics that you find in Standard SPD/CVF/FenFab

 

[Beerman]

Another option is adding Vibrant Ultra Quiet resonators to your AWE system, they're a game-changer and I'm surprised more people that aren't happy with their 3" volume levels don't do this before selling them or trading for a 2.5". The stock system likely isn't restrictive enough to hamper much power. Plenty of 900 whp Coyotes are running 2.5" exhaust and the 3.0L will never be near that.

 

[DangerBrave]

Another option is adding Vibrant Ultra Quiet resonators to your AWE system, they're a game-changer and I'm surprised more people that aren't happy with their 3" volume levels don't do this before selling them or trading for a 2.5". The stock system likely isn't restrictive enough to hamper much power. Plenty of 900 whp Coyotes are running 2.5" exhaust and the 3.0L will never be near that.

Great feedback, thank you Beerman. I will look into those. The AWE is very high quality with excellent fit/finish. The Vibrants could be a great option if they help solve for resonance and volume.

 

[Beerman]

Great feedback, thank you Beerman. I will look into those. The AWE is very high quality with excellent fit/finish. The Vibrants could be a great option if they help solve for resonance and volume.

There are a lot of good videos on YT that show the difference they make. @UNBROKEN led the way here from what I know and I took his lead. I'm old now and didn't want my ST as loud as my Trackhawk was, so I added the Ultra Quiets to my Thermal 2.5" when I did the CVF downpipes and it sounded a tad quieter than before the DP's. They've burned in a little now and sound perfect - for me.