what's a test pipe?

I hear this all the time but what is a test pipe? is it just str8 pipeing in ur exhaust w/no cats/resonators/mufflers, etc?

test pipe is usually referred to as the cat. its just another word for a straight pipe

Yeah its just a hollow pipe that takes the place of your Cat Converter. Usually for Racing or Off-Road stuff.

you guys are pretty good at contradicting yourselves

well one said it is a cat converter the other sais it takes its place...its the one that takes place of the the cat

it is a peice of straight pipe that replaces ur CAT.

I told you it was replacement pipe! :D

If you have a REX or a Hatch I would not recommend replacing your cat with a straight pipe... It actually does not add performance. The CATs in the 88-91 civics/crx's were designed to add the proper back pressure from the exhaust. As you can imagine without the back pressure your exhaust exportation performance will dramatically decrease, though your exhaust tone will be much deeper.