Removal of U-Bend and Resonator
On 8/27/2003, I took the advise of a friend to go to Gehman's Exhaust Repair to get rid of my U-Bend. The U-Bend is very restrictive point in the exhaust because by design, it allows the Oxygen Sensor after the Cat Converter to be placed in the safest place and away from debris on the road. Most Grand Prix owners get rid of the U-Bend, and some get rid of the resonator (kinda like a 3rd muffler) removed as well. I only planned on getting the U-Bend removed, but it was easier for the shop to remove both. They replaced it with 3" Aluminized pipe. Tests online have shown an additional 6 HP and 3.5ft-lbs of torque by removing just the U-Bend, so by removing the resonator too allows a little more gains. As of right now, the sound is louder and the drone is kinda annoying me but I will see what is sounds like when I get the rest of the exhaust installed. Anyway, Gehman's only cost me $40 to remove my U-Bend and resonator and replace it with 3" piping.
Here are pictures of the parts of the exhaust I had removed.
