Vibrant exhaust finally installed...pics

[scooter3]

Thanks Ken at ProtgGarage.

Finally received my new Vibrant Streetpower exhaust. 3" stainless steel tubing with a 4" exhaust tip. This is a DP back kit so it came with a high-low cat, 2 Streetpower oval mufflers with straight thru internals. Too bad I have to hide all that stainless under the car.

Had my mechanic do the install since I really don't have the tools to do this kind of stuff. Took him about an hour and all I can say is wow! Love the sound and the throttle response is so much better. Has a nice low tone during freeway runs, but really comes alive when I stab it. Here are some pics of the exhaust and install. Let me know what you think

 

[uncletime]

ound clip?

 

[BoostedSpd6]

looks pretty nice a buddy of mine is going to be having one made custom by the same shop that did my one off exhaust... sound clips would be nice.

 

[scooter3]

No sound clip yet. I plan on doing that tomorrow I hope!

 

[Captain KRM P5]

looks awesome, thanks for the purchase!

 

[blacksheepms3]

A couple of questions...1) did he have to cut off your stock exhaust to get them off? 2) I cant tell from the last pic, but is the tip of the exhaust centered in the exit hole on the bumper? Thanks in advance

 

[scooter3]

A couple of questions...1) did he have to cut off your stock exhaust to get them off? 2) I cant tell from the last pic, but is the tip of the exhaust centered in the exit hole on the bumper? Thanks in advance

Yes the stock exhaust had to be cut out. You can remove it in one piece if you want to spend the time taking the rear assembly down. And yes the exhaust tip is centered. I took the pic at a weird angle. Overall I am very happy with the system. I did have to mess around with some of the heat shield only because it was hitting some parts of the tubbing and making it rattle, but it is all good now.

 

[blacksheepms3]

Yes the stock exhaust had to be cut out. You can remove it in one piece if you want to spend the time taking the rear assembly down. And yes the exhaust tip is centered. I took the pic at a weird angle. Overall I am very happy with the system. I did have to mess around with some of the heat shield only because it was hitting some parts of the tubbing and making it rattle, but it is all good now.

thanks for the quick reply. I think I'm gonna try to take the exhaust out without cutting so i can put it back for emission or warranty work. OR...I can sell it to who ever wants it someday. thanks again.

 

[numbnuts22715]

thanks for the quick reply. I think I'm gonna try to take the exhaust out without cutting so i can put it back for emission or warranty work. OR...I can sell it to who ever wants it someday. thanks again.

it really doesn't look like it would be that much fun to drop the whole rear suspension to do that..... Has anybody done it before?

I'm in the same boat as you... I'd really prefer to be able to keep it all one piece, so if someone could chime in and let us know how much more difficult that way is, it would be great.

 

[mazdaspeed32007]

i love the amount of heat shield on these things. its ******* ridiculous. lol

 

[Captain KRM P5]

it really doesn't look like it would be that much fun to drop the whole rear suspension to do that..... Has anybody done it before?

I'm in the same boat as you... I'd really prefer to be able to keep it all one piece, so if someone could chime in and let us know how much more difficult that way is, it would be great.

we have installed a bunch of exhausts on the speed3 and even with a lift i'd refrain from pulling the subframe off.

 

[SHAGwagn]

Just cut it and have ur local muffler shop weld on flanges on both sides of the cut so you can clamp it back together when ur ready with 2 sets of stainless steel bolts. easy.

 

[blacksheepms3]

One more question...I see that the test pipe part of this exhaust have a catalytic converter. Would it crack from thrashing and heat since it's not a flex pipe? (or is it a flex pipe underneath?) I'd appreciate a reply on this.

 

[scooter3]

One more question...I see that the test pipe part of this exhaust have a catalytic converter. Would it crack from thrashing and heat since it's not a flex pipe? (or is it a flex pipe underneath?) I'd appreciate a reply on this.

No, that cat is is not going anywhere. It is TIG welded to the pipe and has a heat shield on it.

 

[blacksheepms3]

oh I see, I called the manufacturer and they said not to worry cause the stock comes with spring bolts and donut that u can reuse and that will allow some movement when the engine is thrashing. I installed an aftermaket rear engine mount anyway, so the movement is not as much as before. So does the stock really have spring bolt that i can reuse when installing this exhaust? It's hard to see in the pics.

 

[numbnuts22715]

No sound clip yet. I plan on doing that tomorrow I hope!

any chance youve been able to get the sound clip?

thanks man.

 

[scooter3]

oh I see, I called the manufacturer and they said not to worry cause the stock comes with spring bolts and donut that u can reuse and that will allow some movement when the engine is thrashing. I installed an aftermaket rear engine mount anyway, so the movement is not as much as before. So does the stock really have spring bolt that i can reuse when installing this exhaust? It's hard to see in the pics.

Yep the stock spring bolts were reused along wit the gasket.

 

[blacksheepms3]

thanks, mine gets here thursday, probably by next weekend it'll be installed. vids and sounds to follow.

 

[palerider]

thanks, mine gets here thursday, probably by next weekend it'll be installed. vids and sounds to follow.

Ditto here. Mine hopefully shipped today with the TRZ motor mount. Rays Mazdaspeed wheels follow later in the week, so Im told. All from our friends at ProtegeGarage(rockon)

 

[scooter3]

thanks, mine gets here thursday, probably by next weekend it'll be installed. vids and sounds to follow.

I hope you do better with the clips then I did. I ended up crashing my main hard drive so no clips. (pissed) Now I am using a back up computer!

Good luck on the install.