Good day all, I would like to do a stage 1 on my 2013 FXDF. however, I really like the way my exhaust pipes & shield look, stock. If I were to go the stage 1 route and keep my stock head pipes, would that decrease or otherwise effect the performance enhancements native to a stage 1 configuration with new free flowing pipes? Ideally I would keep my stock head pipes and my SE street performance slip on's.

Thanks for your input.

 

SE pipes are fine for stage-1. Most of the restriction on the stock pipes is in the mufflers, not the headers.

 

It's a 2013 so the catalytic converter is the first thing to go and that is in the stock header pipe. They used to place those in the 2/1 collector which was hard enough to remove but i believe they are now housed somewhere in the pipe up near the O2 sensors.
PITA to gut that out!
So if you really like that look I suggest you try to find an older stock header pipe that someone (like me) is no longer using! The '08s had no cat converter! I even have a set of rush 1.75" baffles on a shelf that are slightly scratched.
Get in touch with me if that is interesting to you I will make you an incredible deal!
However honesly, and in my opinion, when you find out you can squeeze more power out of a full after market pipe that stock header will end up on a shelf
but you may be in luck as that is exactly what happened to me and i now also have a bub 7 exhaust sitting beside my stocker pipes! What can i say the bub was very nice and loud but the popo didn't like them and making them quiet did not help performance with that pipe so i bought a supertrapp. I have the quiet baffle for it and will throw that in the deal.
PM me if interested.

 

o2 sensor ports are different.

 

yes but they sell screw on adaptors that are just a few bucks!

 

...and those adapters move the sensors out of the flow of gasses and give incorrect readings.

 

I've heard they work fine. It will be tough as hell getting those cats outta there! You practically have to cut the pipe open gut it and weld the patch back in place.