this is what mine will look like. Should blend even more since my car is dark gray

 

^^^^i originally commented on this in my previous reply & edited it out cuz i didn't want to go off-topic from the the original stealth exhaust topic. but since ucbsti posted just posted that pic........

having "performance-oriented" plate frames tip cops off to cars having mods as well. i've always thought this was common sense knowledge, but i thought most people were cognizant that flashy exhaust tips & mufflers were bad ideas too, so i'm gonna mention this.

if you want to up your stealthiness factor, don't use plate frames from peformance parts manufacturers & tuners, or, at the very least, don't use ones from real well known companies &/or ones that have conspicuous names like, "Race Tune", "Road/Race", "NOS Nitrous Oxide", "Speed Image", "Powered by HKS," etc.

This might sound real paranoid & like overkill, but, trust me, cops tune into these type of things. You don't want to equip your ride w/any other things to peak their curiosities or suspicions because, when that happens, it almost always = bad new$.

 

not paranoid at all, in fact tuner lic plate frames were specifically mentioned in the training info that whent out to the CHP. Along with boost guages which really bugged me since they can pop my hood just for seeing my stick Subaru boost gauge, WTF!

 

That's why I have this frame;





I do plan on painting the shiny mufflers black, once Bosal can send me a driver's side muffler that doesn't leak.

-Mike-

 

thx, i know similar bulletins & training info are circulated throughout PD's as well. i was just trying to be a little diplomatic to the insiders and everyone here too. i don't want to get caught blabbling too much. it might cost me an extra dozen doughnuts...maybe 2, depending on who might see me yapping! LOL



and that's a real nice plate frame, Creo. i think i'll have to "liberate" it next time I'm in your area!


j/k but a couple of my friends live right around the corner from where you took that pic.

 

The frame is only $5 from here ("merchandise" under "membership");

http://www.calsheriffs.org/



-Mike-

 

lol..well luckily thats not my car =)

My license plate frame is the berkeley engineering one shown above. Nothing about my car will really look non-stock. No intake, all headshields, painting/wrapping the DP in black, all cat shields, complete axel back painted blac (gonna try to modify the hangers too so it tucks under the bumper more) etc

Stock looking but 300whp

 

thx for the tip, but i was j/k Creo.

that is quite a steal for that plate frame tho. the 9-11 Foundation frames are the real expensive ones.



and i knew that wasn't your MR, ucbsti. i just took the opportunity to comment since you posted the pic of that ride w/the "Road/Race Motosport" plate frame.

 

when you guys paint the exhaust do you guys sand it down first?

 

always sand things you paint


and the catback is hardly the source of restriction so who cares about the taper on the RSR. the downpipe is the important part.. what does a cat back do for power like 2hp unless you are pushing huge numbers?

 

whered you get that frame? I know the CHP foundation ones are a lot

edit: I see you already answered that question

 

I know I should sand it first, but is it fine to paint it with out sanding (without damaging the exhaust)? so that if I don't like how it comes out, I can use paint remover to remove the paint?

 

prep sanding definitely can't hurt (unless you have a bionic arm &/or use a belt sander) but helped a several of my friends paint their exhaust pipes & mufflers waaay back in the day. we never really did much prep, and, as i recall, all of the jobs held up really well. (i think the one that didn't started flaking because our paint job got damaged when he had the tip cut off afterwards & another one rewelded on...the flaking was only around the tip)

most of the exhausts we painted were made out of aluminized steel, which paints pretty easily.

if you have stainless, especially polished, it'd probably be a good idea to take some scotch brite or medium grit sandpaper to the parts. better safe than sorry, and it'll save you the trouble of having to repaint later on if you get flaking.



actually, i just realized another thing......most of the exhausts we painted were in new or next to new condition. (cops weren't really cracking down back then, but we were trying to be stealth for other rea$on$. stealth exhausts = old street racing trick....domestic guys have done it forever) anyways, if you're painting an exhaust that's been on your car for a while, make sure it's clean and free of grit & grime or else you'll get uneven spots & flaking too.

 

painted mine yesterdat with 1200 degree flat black oven paint. I will post pics l8r

 

meh, it does make a difference. Guys with the quiet/slightly more restrictive catbacks are putting down 280-290whp. About 10 more whp can be had with a fully open design (this is regarding evo IXs with a TBE, filter, MBC, and tune)

If its on a wrx, no biggie. If its a pro-tuned sti, there is some difference