Hogan Downpipe

I have good news and bad news.

The good news is, my Hogan 3" downpipe is installed.

The bad news is, no write-up. The 4-bolt flange was so rusted, that they weren't even bolts anymore. I had to take it to a shop. They had to heat up the top nuts to get them off as well - I couldn't have done this with my home setup. Some of you may be luckier, though - this car has probably seen every Winter since '98, hench the locked up flange. If you live in a southern state, you might be able to tackle this job yourself.

I'm putting my Park Ave. chromes on today, and I'll take pics of the new DP while I'm down there and post 'em up later.

Oh, and performance has VERY much increased. I'm sure I was getting 1-2* of KR or more with my 3.5" pulley - this DP seems to have really woke the car up and got rid of any KR. It feels as though I've gained 20 HP, which is entirely possible because it freed up lost horses on the extra boost I'm getting.

Everyone should buy this downpipe if it fits your year Riv. Great supporting mod to the smaller pulley.

That's a bummer you had to take it to a shop to install. But at least it's done, eh? Post up an installed pic or 2 when you have a chance. I had hoped to work on mine this afternoon, but things didn't go real well on my 68's exhaust project. I now have to take it to a local shop to hang the exhaust system I bought. Thought I would be able to do it at home, but it really turned into a PITA without a lift, and questionable fitment. But I got my headers on, and did a short TEST drive with open headers... hehehe. Saturday a.m. I drive it a couple miles to the muffler shop to finish the job. Hope I don't wake anyone up at 9am!

1998 Riv wrote:

That's a bummer you had to take it to a shop to install. But at least it's done, eh? Post up an installed pic or 2 when you have a chance. I had hoped to work on mine this afternoon, but things didn't go real well on my 68's exhaust project. I now have to take it to a local shop to hang the exhaust system I bought. Thought I would be able to do it at home, but it really turned into a PITA without a lift, and questionable fitment. But I got my headers on, and did a short TEST drive with open headers... hehehe. Saturday a.m. I drive it a couple miles to the muffler shop to finish the job. Hope I don't wake anyone up at 9am!

What kind of headers did you pick up?

Hey Buapo, you said you're getting extra boost now. Have you actually seen this on a gauge or scan tool? I ask because typically opening the exhaust will give less boost. More flow, but less boost.

SpaceBar wrote:

What kind of headers did you pick up?

Sorry if that was confusing, I was refering to headers for my 68 GS350. I'm not likely to put headers on the Riv.

1998 Riv wrote:

SpaceBar wrote:

What kind of headers did you pick up?

Sorry if that was confusing, I was refering to headers for my 68 GS350. I'm not likely to put headers on the Riv.

Oh sorry. I was confused cause I thought I read you had pems for the car.

Yeah, I have a front PEM and the DP ready to install.

AA wrote:

Hey Buapo, you said you're getting extra boost now. Have you actually seen this on a gauge or scan tool? I ask because typically opening the exhaust will give less boost. More flow, but less boost.

Looking back on my post, I see I wasn't that clear:

Buapo wrote:

which is entirely possible because it freed up lost horses on the extra boost I'm getting.

I was referring to the extra boost from the 3.5" SC pulley. I am most likely seeing less boost, as you say - I was just commenting on how I'm actually able to UTILIZE my extra boost now, because of the better flowing exhuast.

Oh, and here's a crappy pic:



As you can see, he put new studs in. Had I known I was going to go through all this at the shop, I would have just bought the high-flow cat to go with it. The labor would have been the same.

Okay, that makes sense. Wasn't doubting you have more power, a downpipe is surely a huge improvement. The better exhaust flow lowers boost, which should lower KR. But you get more hp because you're moving more air overall. Bet you could run a 3.4" safely in cooler weather.

Now the main thing holding you back is air flow through the engine. A set of high ratio rockers would give you a similar gain to what you just experienced, mainly above 4k RPM. If you want a real kick in the pants, look into rockers or a cam as your next mod. I like rockers, they feel like VTEC kicking in!

I'd love to go rockers next. Damn modbug....

So Aaron... you wanna help me install? I'll bring the beer....

Buapo wrote:

I'd love to go rockers next. Damn modbug....

So Aaron... you wanna help me install? I'll bring the beer....

Just make sure you start drinking towards the end.

Sure, you bring the beer, I'll do the write-up! Yeah, If you really need help, I could lend a hand.

ZZP is out of their modified rockers. Then I realized I don't even know which set to go with. Any ideas?

I recommend these. The 1.9s require you change out the valve springs:

http://www.intense-racing.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=3800-YTRR-yyy&Category_Code=HCV&Product_Count=2

Good lord, $500? Sounds like a springtime mod.

Buapo wrote:

Good lord, $500? Sounds like a springtime mod.

You gotta pay to play.

I already spent all my money.

"Betta luck next time, kid..."

I need to play more poker... damn, I can't wait until college starts up again. So many stupid freshman poker players...

Buapo wrote:

I already spent all my money.

"Betta luck next time, kid..."

I need to play more poker... damn, I can't wait until college starts up again. So many stupid freshman poker players...

Don't pick on the poor little freshman!

I have the Indians out here picking on me with their casinos. I have 7 casinos around me here in Palm Springs. They keep stealing my money.

Could go with 1.8:1 ratio for $100 less. But those are a deal compared to mine, which were about the same price with push rods sold separately ($100).

SpaceBar wrote:

I have the Indians out here picking on me with their casinos. I have 7 casinos around me here in Palm Springs. They keep stealing my money.

I'm not a big fan of casinos. Just tournament play poker - it's my best game. Casino tourneys are awful, though - you have to go all in within the first 10 mins of the game if you're going to stay alive. And trust me... the freshman deserve it. I had AJ offsuit, and raised preflop - got one caller. Flop came AAJ, full house for me. I checked, and this freshman pushes all in. Really, really stupid in his position. I called, of course, but given that I raised preflop should have told him there was a good chance of there being at least an ace in my hand.

His hand was a total bluff. Took all his money on that hand.. heck, paid for a tank of gas (well, part of a tank anyway).

AA wrote:

Could go with 1.8:1 ratio for $100 less.

What would the performance difference be? If it's only 5 less HP, then I'd go that route - however, if it's 10 or more, screw it - I'll just save up and have that as my next big mod. But would I need a FWI to go with the rockers or would my gutted K&N be sufficient?

I ran rockers + 3.4" with a gutted box for awhile; saw a big difference after adding the FWI. My engine was starving for air.

The difference between 1.8s and 1.9s could be 3 hp or it could be 15 hp, it depends on how modded you are. With just a couple bolt ons, I don't think the difference is noticeable (but gains aren't as big either). Later on, when the engine is breathing more, I'd rather have 1.9s because you can't go much higher that that. You'd know you're letting as much air through the valves as possible without going to a cam.

once my paychecks start rolling in, the hogan 3 in. DP along with a hogan hi flow cat.. i'm pretty sure my cat is bad, I have a service engine light now, and the guy at the muffler shop said it was so.. I want to try to scan it first and see what the code is, the only thing is, I don't have a scanner :< and I don't want to bring it somewhere to have it done because they'll just be like OH IT'S YOUR ENGINE.. YOU NEED A NEW ONE.. 3 GRAND PLEASE.. so :/ but yeah lol, knowing for sure the hogan dp fits is nice to know now

RhinoFLA wrote:

once my paychecks start rolling in, the hogan 3 in. DP along with a hogan hi flow cat.. i'm pretty sure my cat is bad, I have a service engine light now, and the guy at the muffler shop said it was so.. I want to try to scan it first and see what the code is, the only thing is, I don't have a scanner :< and I don't want to bring it somewhere to have it done because they'll just be like OH IT'S YOUR ENGINE.. YOU NEED A NEW ONE.. 3 GRAND PLEASE.. so :/ but yeah lol, knowing for sure the hogan dp fits is nice to know now

Almost any autoparts chain (advance or autozone) maybe even sears will scan your car for free and tell you what the code(s) are. Just go in and ask them to scan for you.

AA wrote:

Could go with 1.8:1 ratio for $100 less. But those are a deal compared to mine, which were about the same price with push rods sold separately ($100).

$100 less yes, but with the 1.9 (or really the springs they require) means you can bump your shiftpoints when he gets a tuner. That extra few hundred rpms makes a noticeable difference IMHO.

Yep, that extra confidence at 6000 RPM is a good thing.