I have always wanted to install cutouts on the truck just for the sound. Any power increase would just be an added bounus. Im thinking about going with this system(see pic). Its $360 w/ free shipping. Includes evertyhing you see in the pic(2x flowtech cutouts, 2x "electric valves", and all wiring and hardware). 360 bucks is a lot for just cutouts but i would mainly be using them on the street so I would need to be able to quickly close them wihtout getting out of the truck(incase any cops are around). Otherwise I would go with just the flowtech cutouts for $25 a piece and just go under the truck to open them up. The only other option is the mechanical ones that have the lever but I can only find 2 1/4" piping. So I guess the whole point of this post is to find out if the sound of cutouts is worth $400(figure $40 for install)???

 

I think Cpeapea on here has cutouts and he said he was going to try to post some clips soon.

Although that looks like a pretty cool system, imo it's not worth 360 bucks. they will be loud but personally if you want sound and are willing to pay that much, i'd just go get a catback. unless of course you're looking for "*****-out" sound in which case i'd consider straight pipes or something cheaper than that electronic system.

however if you're worried about the po-po then i guess it'd be a good idea to get those....as it will be pretty loud with cutouts...

 

I already have mufflers installed which give the truck a nice low rumble at idle and a pretty damn loud WOT. But as always I want more. "*****-out" is exaclty what im looking for. It would be cool to scare the competition before they get smacked

EDIT:
something i forgot to add in my original post is that the whole system has a 3yr warranty

 

Straight pipe sound on a L does not sound good at all... When I was doing my headers I hated the sound of them without a bassani.....

I would get a good full exhaust.... You have a built motor and all, might as well do it right.....

 

Friend of mine got some "manual" ones on his impala SS for $60 bucks. I'm thinking about it too but i like the electronic convenience as well. My main reason to get them is to scare people LOL.

 

That would be allot of fun to have those!!

Its loud now with high flow cats and bassani, but imagine doing those on there. DAMN!

 

my straight pipes is an aftercat system and i looove the sound. however i dunno how ones that delete the cats would sound...

those electronic cutouts are kinda neat. after thinking about the possibilities i would do it. just think, you're at a lite next to a honda. you rev with cutouts open and scare him away, thus saving gas. now you pull up next to a c5. keep the sleeper truck look, no cutouts....

plus depending on where you're located it could save you some noise ordinance violation fees...

 

when you delete the cats it sounds funny at idle but at WOT it sounds like a damned top fuel dragster, i will post some clips as soon as it stops raining. it sounds awesome on the highway, no drone really, the manual cutouts suck though because they dont always close right and some brands (jc whitney) actually restrict the exhaust. but when i put my LT's on i plan on custom fitting some cutouts on it (its gonna be hard). my girlfriend and best friend both went in on and bought a pretty cool arc welder so im gonna be doin it myself. and btw it actually snowed in texas today, of course it didnt stick though but i was suprised it even happend.

 

ok well listen ive had str8 pipes and no cats or cats and no muffler or just muffler and the whole high flow cat and muffler......listen yes it will sound like it has ***** but it wont run right...they need back pressure...plus it wont sound to hot it will sound like crap...i know from experience go with high flow cats and muffler and if you get longtubes the louder and ballsier it will sound.....but the cut out aint the way to go on these L's there very picky on exaust.....i know ive done my exaust about 4 times now and i finally found the perfect combo .......alot of $$$ later....so thats my tip to you from my personal experience

 

any other opinions on this? are cutouts really that bad for performance?

 

This isn't a flame but I love it how everytime someone asks about having more *****-out sound LTs are brought up. Yes I'm sure they sound awesome but you have to remember, if someone is looking at cutouts and mufflers they probably aren't wanting to spend 2k on a full exhaust all of a sudden for a *great* sound. This may not be the case here but I remember when I was inquiring about straight pipes and wanted to spend about 100 bucks just to experiment, everybody was like, "if you want sound get LTs and full exhaust! It will sound like a beast!"

maybe next time i ask that question i'll set aside a donation plate when that suggestion comes up

(btw those kooks headers, hi flos, and bassani sound great imo)

 

i just found out that my buddy got the bassani catback for x-mas. im going to have to wait to see what that sounds like before i go this route and if i like it start saving my pennies

 

I have cutouts on my truck. I gain almost a full mph when I take them off at the track. I go to the track a lot and make runs with them off and on every time. The results are always the same, I gain with them off. This is compared to my full Bassani exhaust too. Some people always swear that the Lightning won't run as good without backpressure. All I can say to that is try it... you might be surprised.

As far as sound goes it is rowdy but not that bad. Nothing like a '72 Nova or whatever you would see running with open headers. It is a more deeper sound.

 

just make sure that the cut out part isnt pointing at anything that will melt or catch on fire. Youd be suprised how hot and how far that exhaust will blow.

 

yep, mine are pointed down, as for the performance, i gained as well