Winter Project

[kcmsp]

The cars been running like crap for a while now and this winter will be the perfect opp to get everything swapped out and fixed up. I'll more than likely be replacing the wga with a TPA, maybe the SMIC, both O2 sensors, and possibly the BPV. My main concern is the exhaust right now. When all is said and done on the front side of the drivetrain Ill be pushing almost 10lbs and I know the stock exhaust isnt going to be able to vent that kind of pressure.

From what I've read, the j-pipe seems to be the main bottleneck on the system, but does it need to be replaced or will a CB be enough? I really like the magnaflow CB, but I couldn't use it if I was to replace the S/J pipe and the cats because of its small diameter. If I had to replace the whole exhaust I'd probably just buy a high-flow cat(any suggestions on a brand?) and a HKS muffler and take it to a shop and have it custom made. In that case, would you trust a shop to fab up an S-pipe and/or J-pipe? What would I do about a flex-pipe?

 

[03.5MSP]

If you know a good local shop, I dont see the problem of them building you the exhaust you are looking for. They can just build you a 2.5" j-pipe back exhaust with a high flow cat and a flex pipe. As far as mufflers are concerned companies like HKS, Apexi, Magnaflow are all going to be pretty reliable.

IF you dont want a shop to build you one look at the vibrant exhaust, which starts at the j-pipe. I would presonally not bother with the Magnaflow cat-back and thats mostly because its a 2.25" and for a little more you can get a better system.

 

[kcmsp]

The vibrant sounds like a PIA to install, and too loud for my tastes. I like the magnaflow and HKS because of how tame they sound.

 

[haze20]

The Vibrant isn't a pain to install. It can be loud for some I guess but I like mine with the stealth muffler on it.

 

[03.5MSP]

The vibrant sounds like a PIA to install, and too loud for my tastes. I like the magnaflow and HKS because of how tame they sound.

Actually I know of a few people that went from a Perrin j-pipe back to the vibrant because the Perrin was too loud and the vibrant was quieter. The exhaust install procedure is going to about the same regardless of what system you get. The custom HKS and Magnaflow exhaust systems can be as loud if not louder than the vibrant, depending on how the shop builds it for you, eg: if they use a resonator and which one.


One option I didnt suggest was getting the Greddy SP2 catback and getting like a SLS midpipe/dp from protegegarage. It will yield nice gains and it will sound pretty quiet.

 

[kcmsp]

I've watched a few more vids of the Vibrant and compared it to some of the other options and I guess that it's not as loud as I had first thought. I think that that'll be the route I go down. Thanks for the input guys.

 

[Ricktalife]

do you guys know exactly how much hp gains can come from the vibrant vs the greddy sp2?

 

[haze20]

I had the SP2 on the car and didn't really notice any gains. Mind you everything else on the car was stock. I didn't have a mid pipe or cat delete. The vibrant even at stock boost opens up the top end like crazy. The car doesn't feel like it falls on it face at higher RPM. I had dyno results posted on here along time ago.