I'm going to get a Hi-Flow CAT as soon as I can afford to, for a few reasons. Possibly a muffler sometime down the road. I have a new OEM muffler and all new pipe now from the CAT back, but it is NOT mandrel bent How 'important' is it to get mandrel bent if I throw on a Hi-flow CAT and muffler?

If I left the non-mandrel bent pipe on, would I retain some backpressure that I would have otherwise lost, by having pipe that is not hi-flow?

I'd hate to spend more money than I need to, especially since it'* new pipe. If I was trying to make a 12 second car I would change the pipe, but I'm just looking for people'* opinions on the matter. Thanks!

You will be ok without the mandrel bent on your exhaust. The most important thing is to get a downpipe mandrel bent. If your not going hardcore id say you will be ok.

I ran 12.3s (in a GP) with nothing mandrel bent, not even the D/P. Ran thru the stock muffs, as the stock muffs flow awesome! They just dont sound so good-lol

So if your goals are 12s, you will be fine.

You are fine, mandrel bent versus waffle bent isn't enough to change performance in your car. It'* simply a little prettier when laying underneath. Like mentioned...muffy flows plenty to leave it on there.

Thanks guys. I figured whatever difference it DID make wouldn't be too noticeable by me, or really that important to me. But I did wonder if it had much effect on back pressure. With Hi-flow components, and maybe PEMs somewhere in the future, I didn't want the piping to get in the way of the performance, or smoothness.