Pypes HGC exhaust

Well I picked up a Pypes HGC exhaust for my 2013 JKU awhile back and finally got it installed today.
http://i1163.photobucket.com/albums/...psjg7muc3e.jpg

First, anytime you are working on anything make sure to have the right tools. I thought I had everything I needed and went to my Dad's barn. Better than working on it in my gravel driveway. Picked up a set of exhaust hanger tool, made getting the hangers loose really easy. I also got out the trusted WD 40 to lubricate everything. The rear muffler wasn't an issue, but the clamp on the mid pipe is pointed up and made it very difficult to get leverage on it. I ended up removing the transfer case skid to get a little more room.
http://i1163.photobucket.com/albums/...psqiw7g1uu.jpg

The instructions were pretty limited, but how much do you need to know in taking an exhaust off and installing a new one. More than you would think. If Pypes reads this in my opinion they need to lengthen their mid pipe by about 2 inches to give more adjust ability in the final fitment. It took about 30 minutes to get it just right to avoid exhaust leaks.
http://i1163.photobucket.com/albums/...psrgnuqh1r.jpg

Now for the initial impression. The sound is very throaty on start up and calms down a little after about a minute of idling. Acceleration is a lot louder than I would prefer with little throttle input. Once you get to a steady speed the sound is tolerable, a little more drone than expected. according to the decimeter on my phone the sound inside was 81DB at 60mph. Getting on the throttle is where it excels in sound, reminds me of going to Saturday night races.

Performance gains, I don't feel any seat of the pants increase in HP or power. After about 50 miles of 80% highway and 18% city and 2% idling, my fuel mileage appears to be improved to full on stock setting. Prior to tires and lift being installed I averaged 18MPG around here, and after the mods went down to 16.3MPG on average. After 50 miles I am showing 18.5MPG.

Sound Clips
Interior at highway speed. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KuKlfN91m_Q

Exterior heading out of the driveway, camera stopped working when I stopped, I will post a better video later. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gbib7clG6E

Overall impression not bad for the price I paid, just over $200. The best part is this clears up a lot of space under the rear of the jeep, future plan would be for an OBA with the AFE skid OBA bracket.

Another sound clip.
Pypes 0-65:

http://youtu.be/HVDeSmXRYIc

Some of your youtube links aren't working. One is an incomplete URL, and another isn't a hyperlink, and also refers to a video that is "private".

sorry i will fix it tomorrow.

All video clips should be available

I like it! I haven't been able to figure out anything on an exhaust yet. I can't even make up my mind on which is appropriate for the right sound, ease of installation, or integration with my turbo's slightly different exhaust. This seems pretty simple, inexpensive, and sounds nice.

Thanks, for the price I expected a very thin walled pipe, but is actually very stout.

So after a few days of driving I picked up a metal on metal vibration. Thought it was the muffler making contact with the cross member. So I emailed Pypes, and they have been working diligent with me to work out the issue. Took several photos of the install and they helped me diagnose the issue. Turned out I had the mid pipe out of adjustment and the end pipe wasn't at the right angle causing one of the hangers to impact the frame under load. I give a lot of props to Pypes for quick responses and great technical help. After making the adjustments the exhaust is nearly invisible from the outside of the jeep, it is neatly tucked up inside the frame allowing for a lot of clearance over the stock exhaust system. Sound seems to get better with each mile I drive. Only downside to the exhaust is I keep finding myself getting on it to much, bringing my full mileage down. But when you have more growl than a mustang sitting next to you, you can't help but hit the throttle. Going to see if I can get her up on a lift to get detail photos of the install position.

Finally got everything lined with no leaks or rattles. But then I found that one of the welds on the muffler is incomplete with a pin hole. I have notified pypes and we will see what they say.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ljvsnyder

Finally got everything lined with no leaks or rattles. But then I found that one of the welds on the muffler is incomplete with a pin hole. I have notified pypes and we will see what they say.

---

Sounds like they may not have the quality control of the big guys? Nevertheless - if they make up for it with customer service, the QC will follow in time.

This is the response I received from them today.

"This doesn't appear to be a leak. The mufflers are welded on a mechanical spinning jig. What you can't see inside the muffler is the weld on the inside. So while it may appear to be a hole on the outside at the weld there is a weld on the inside 360°"

Photos of the leak.

http://i1163.photobucket.com/albums/...pstxicg7yu.jpg
http://i1163.photobucket.com/albums/...psknqr6y1g.jpg

Wow a quick response back.

It is going to be pretty hard to show a leak. The only way I could see it is if black soot along with condensation was coming out and staining the muffler. This might take a while to happen.
You have the SJJ21R kit? Correct? ?
I will send you out a replacement muffler.
What is your "complete "full name, address and telephone number?

I offered to test it and they responded right back with the following.

That might work but I don't want you to go through all of that effort. If you say it is leaking there then I will replace it.

They are definitely a stand up company.

on another note not a long term test by no means but fuel report after a full week of normal driving and my average MPG is up by 1 MPG.

That makes sense - if you can't feel exhaust coming out there, then you're set. If its really bothering you - mix up some JB weld and carefully fill in the small hole with a tool like a q-tip or even a tooth pick. Smoothe it out and BAM - mental peace.

You can feel the exhaust. They have mailed the new muffler and i get to keep this one. May just braze the hole and leave it on and save the new one in case i have any issues down the road.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ljvsnyder

You can feel the exhaust. They have mailed the new muffler and i get to keep this one. May just braze the hole and leave it on and save the new one in case i have any issues down the road.

---

Is it plated or actual stainless steel? Stainless can be hard to braze.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ljvsnyder

You can feel the exhaust. They have mailed the new muffler and i get to keep this one. May just braze the hole and leave it on and save the new one in case i have any issues down the road.

---

put the new one on, if you braze it the bad one and leave it on, drive for years, and then sell, you would never have had the correct one installed. I say put the new one on, braze the other, and leave it in the basement, just in case. But go with the best components from the door especially since others will use your opinion posted here to decide weather or not to go with the pypes unit.

the braze would be a cool video also.....

It is actual stainless steel. I have brazed stainless before, I hope my dad still has some sticks to use. I don't want to buy a box of sticks for 1 pin hole. I will try to video it, but my plan was to do it while installed. A lot will depend on how easy it is to get the current muffler off if I change it out. It took me several times to get the pipe in the correct position to avoid leaks. In my opinion the mid pipe needs redesigned, to get the all pieces to install you actually have to put everything in a bind to get it to line up. The last bend needs to be further back or possibly removed.

http://i1163.photobucket.com/albums/...psug3mg8i0.jpg

Follow up after nearly a month of use. Getting right at 1mpg better fuel mileage. The drone at speeds from 50-65 mph on long drives is a little much. At 70mph and above the wind noise over takes the exhaust drone. Things I would change, the location of the muffler, I would move it further forward away from the evap system. I would use a less straight through muffler to reduce drone. Now that RIPP has an exhaust coming out that seems to do that I can't wait to see reviews on their exhaust.

drone is not good. It will make you crazy. Not that pypes exhaust is bad for having drone. Pretty much they all do.

you put an exhaust on, you get drone.

For me the drone isn't a killer, the kids love the sound, just the wife and the niece who live with me hate it. The neighbors aren't to fond of it either, but I try to be respectful and not give it a lot of throttle within the neighborhood. I am really curious to here the new RIPP exhaust, it looks like it has a more muffled sound.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ljvsnyder

This is the response I received from them today.

"This doesn't appear to be a leak. The mufflers are welded on a mechanical spinning jig. What you can't see inside the muffler is the weld on the inside. So while it may appear to be a hole on the outside at the weld there is a weld on the inside 360°"

Photos of the leak.

http://i1163.photobucket.com/albums/...pstxicg7yu.jpg
http://i1163.photobucket.com/albums/...psknqr6y1g.jpg

---

You should put something on it like soapy water start up the engine-- if it bubbles it leaks! Take a video of it bubbling and send it off to the company. There response will be humorous to say the least.

they made it good and sent me a new muffler.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ljvsnyder

they made it good and sent me a new muffler.

---

That wasn't really my point. I would just like to hear what they said when faced with evidence of a product defect.

To me they did admit that there was an issue when I pointed out the evidence that I could feel the exhaust from the hole, and within a period of 30 minutes agreed to send me a new muffler and let me keep the old. I will post pictures of the weld difference between the two mufflers. It is a night and day difference.

subscribed.

Also, RIPP Says they get 15 horses from their exhaust. That is a difficult number to swallow....JL are you going to put roll it on the dyno and make them put their money where their mouths are?

15 whp is a TON of power from an exhaust.

Is there an exhaust in the world that makes that much power?

Im sure ripp knows what they are doing, and I havent known their claims to be outlandish like some others with power numbers, but I dont know how freeing up the exiting air would gain that much power. even straight pipes.

It all depends on how much back pressure the engine had on it.

On instagram they said that the 15whp was with exhaust and intake system., which is why they say 10-15 in the information, maybe 10 by itself and 15 when combined. I will offer my jeep up as a test dummy.