Most people think about the visuals when planning their custom vehicle, but there are those out there concerned with audio too. And we’re not talking about your sound system, there are obviously plenty of people interested in upgrading those. We’re talking about the sound made by your vehicle itself. By installing custom exhaust cutouts, your vehicle will be capable of switching from a near-silent stealth mode to the full-throttle roar of your engine with the push of a button. If sound control on demand is something you’re interested in, that’s exactly what we’ll be discussing in today’s blog.
What Are Exhaust Cutouts?
The aftermarket upgrade we’re focusing on today is called an exhaust cutout, which is a valve that can be installed directly into your vehicle’s exhaust system, granting you the agility to bypass the muffler. When the valve is closed, exhaust gases flow through the standard route, which keeps things quiet — and undeniably street-legal. When opened, however, the cutouts redirect the exhaust flow straight out, creating a completely unfiltered, unrestricted and unmistakably loud sound.
A lot of modern systems will utilize electric cutouts, which include a switch or some sort of remote control that can then be toggled right front inside the cabin. This is what gives you that incredible sound control on demand, enabling you to change your vehicle’s volume with the literal push of a button.
Why Install Custom Cutouts?
Obviously the number one reason to install custom exhaust cutouts is if you like the unfiltered sound of your vehicle’s engine, but that’s not the only benefit that making this upgrade presents. Here are a couple other great side effects that make this a smart mod to add:
- Bypassing the muffler reduces backpressure, which can in turn improve both horsepower and throttle response, thus giving you a slight performance boost.
- Unlike opting for a full exhaust swap, custom cutouts give you flexibility without completely sacrificing your stock setup — there’s no permanent commitment.
Whatever kind of custom vehicle you’re building – be it a muscle car, a tuner or even a lifted pickup truck – exhaust cutouts add a layer of auditory customization that’s hard to beat.
How to Install Custom Exhaust Cutouts
If you’re considering adding custom exhaust cutouts to your rig, we certainly recommend bringing your vehicle to a professional like our expert technicians here at Glover Customs. The installation process requires a lot of precision and planning to ensure that everything is installed properly without affecting any other parts of your vehicle. We’ll give you an overview of the installation process so you know what goes into it:
- Naturally, the first step is to choose your cutout, which starts by deciding whether you want electric cutouts – which are the more popular option, giving you that literal “push of a button” on demand ability – or manual cutouts — which are certainly more budget-friendly, but will require you to physically open or close them in your exhaust system.
- The next step is to locate your installation point, which is typically after the catalytic converter but before the muffler. Installing at this point will ensure emissions compliance while still maximizing the sound and flow of your exhaust.
- Step three is to either weld or clamp your cutouts in. Welding is a more permanent installation process, but it delivers superior durability and leak prevention. Clamping is, obviously, temporary and can be easily removed if and when you’d like.
- If you opted for an electric system, this is the time when you’ll have to wire it to your switch or remote receiver. We typically choose to route wires cleanly through the cabin, without affecting the visuals of your interior.
- The last thing you have to do is simply test – watching for leaks and checking valve operation – and tune the system to ensure optimal performance and sound.
Install Exhaust Cutouts at Glover Customs
As you can see, it’s not exactly a simple process. If you’d like to work with us to bring your custom rig’s audio profile up to snuff, reach out to us here at Glover Customs to schedule an appointment and we can discuss what you’re looking for. We look forward to hearing your vehicle!