Best Exhaust setup that's Cali friendly
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From: Wherever Sucks the Most
Car Info: 2003 WRX, 2008 Camry
Best Exhaust setup that's Cali friendly
Okay i am being a bit picky but my car is my investment not yours
I talked to Scott from S^2, Andy (BADWRX) and of course BAB SUVS at the Mt.hammy meet
I am looking to do a upipe,downpipe, cat-back install any suggestions on which setup that's:
1)smog friendly (even if it means no downpipe)
2) CHP friendly
3) Decent gains
4) Nice throaty sound at idle that's not TOO LOUD to attract unwanted attention
5) And nice sporty look (no coffee cans because it's not my taste)
SOMEONE! ANYONE! THROW TOGETHER THESE PARTS TO MAKE A SYSTEM FOR ME!
thanks eric
*I would have posted this in another forum but figured it would apply better here because of smog and CHP.
I talked to Scott from S^2, Andy (BADWRX) and of course BAB SUVS at the Mt.hammy meet
I am looking to do a upipe,downpipe, cat-back install any suggestions on which setup that's:
1)smog friendly (even if it means no downpipe)
2) CHP friendly
3) Decent gains
4) Nice throaty sound at idle that's not TOO LOUD to attract unwanted attention
5) And nice sporty look (no coffee cans because it's not my taste)
SOMEONE! ANYONE! THROW TOGETHER THESE PARTS TO MAKE A SYSTEM FOR ME!
thanks eric
*I would have posted this in another forum but figured it would apply better here because of smog and CHP.
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Only cat-back exhausts will pass the visual- nothing else will. As for the sniffer, you need either all of your stock cats (usually) or a single high-flow will do the trick (but again, it will fail the visual). S-Squared has some very nice uppipes available, they all make similar gains, but not with heat shields and sensor bungs for $250. As for downpipes, the gains depend on the flange design more than anything, and almost all are better than stock, but I can't tell you which one makes the most power. It will also depend on your ECU tune, which you will need if you replace the complete piping. Also, uppipes are pretty easy to get away with, but downpipes are noticable if they check.
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Smog friendly pretty much = no downpipe
This is under the presumption that they'll look during the smog check, but I think that's a safe bet.
Unless you want to change exhaus just for smog day, your pretty limited to uppipe + catback or axleback.
From your requirements I'd say look into Prodrive, Stromung, APS or Brullen for not too loud choices. Or just buy a magnaflow of your choice and a resonated tip and have someone weld you up an axleback for cheap (after all, we live in CA, and don't really need stainless exhausts) magnaflow lists models at their site, we need 14" body length by 5x8 oval (or 6" round if you want the can look, but sounds like that's not what you're after) TurboXS uses the Magnaflow 2.5 offset/center in their exhaust, and it sounds pretty nice. Dual tips are a little quieter than the single.
Go to local meets to listen to exhausts. There's usually someone with at least a Prodrive exhaust.
With that + engine managment you'll be around + 35 - 40 HP (conservatively) Just the uppipe and engine management totally changes the car with more torque everywhere. The muffler only really helps in the upper RPMs, like 5500+
Edit:
Random Tech makes a downpipe and midpipe that each have metallic substrate cats in them. These should be able to pass smog as a cat replacement if you can justify the replacement. Being metallic substrate and only one block each instead of two in the stock cats, they will certainly breathe better than stock:
http://www.randomtechnology.com/subaru.html (needs IE to display the pictures for some reason. Other browsers refuse to display pictures for me on random's site.)
Supposedly www.ninosautoaccessories.com is getting some of these, but I heard that info second hand.
www.xcceleration.com sells them as their house brand, but they charge out the yang for stuff. I wouldn't be surprised if when nino's gets them they sell them for a bill or two less.
This is under the presumption that they'll look during the smog check, but I think that's a safe bet.
Unless you want to change exhaus just for smog day, your pretty limited to uppipe + catback or axleback.
From your requirements I'd say look into Prodrive, Stromung, APS or Brullen for not too loud choices. Or just buy a magnaflow of your choice and a resonated tip and have someone weld you up an axleback for cheap (after all, we live in CA, and don't really need stainless exhausts) magnaflow lists models at their site, we need 14" body length by 5x8 oval (or 6" round if you want the can look, but sounds like that's not what you're after) TurboXS uses the Magnaflow 2.5 offset/center in their exhaust, and it sounds pretty nice. Dual tips are a little quieter than the single.
Go to local meets to listen to exhausts. There's usually someone with at least a Prodrive exhaust.
With that + engine managment you'll be around + 35 - 40 HP (conservatively) Just the uppipe and engine management totally changes the car with more torque everywhere. The muffler only really helps in the upper RPMs, like 5500+
Edit:
Random Tech makes a downpipe and midpipe that each have metallic substrate cats in them. These should be able to pass smog as a cat replacement if you can justify the replacement. Being metallic substrate and only one block each instead of two in the stock cats, they will certainly breathe better than stock:
http://www.randomtechnology.com/subaru.html (needs IE to display the pictures for some reason. Other browsers refuse to display pictures for me on random's site.)
Supposedly www.ninosautoaccessories.com is getting some of these, but I heard that info second hand.
www.xcceleration.com sells them as their house brand, but they charge out the yang for stuff. I wouldn't be surprised if when nino's gets them they sell them for a bill or two less.
Last edited by Concillian; Jul 15, 2003 at 12:09 AM.
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From: Wherever Sucks the Most
Car Info: 2003 WRX, 2008 Camry
Originally posted by BAN SUVS
Only cat-back exhausts will pass the visual- nothing else will. As for the sniffer, you need either all of your stock cats (usually) or a single high-flow will do the trick (but again, it will fail the visual). S-Squared has some very nice uppipes available, they all make similar gains, but not with heat shields and sensor bungs for $250. As for downpipes, the gains depend on the flange design more than anything, and almost all are better than stock, but I can't tell you which one makes the most power. It will also depend on your ECU tune, which you will need if you replace the complete piping. Also, uppipes are pretty easy to get away with, but downpipes are noticable if they check.
Only cat-back exhausts will pass the visual- nothing else will. As for the sniffer, you need either all of your stock cats (usually) or a single high-flow will do the trick (but again, it will fail the visual). S-Squared has some very nice uppipes available, they all make similar gains, but not with heat shields and sensor bungs for $250. As for downpipes, the gains depend on the flange design more than anything, and almost all are better than stock, but I can't tell you which one makes the most power. It will also depend on your ECU tune, which you will need if you replace the complete piping. Also, uppipes are pretty easy to get away with, but downpipes are noticable if they check.
Cool. so now i've been reduced to an Up-pipe and Cat-back which is fine because i want to pass a visual inspection. So what's the best Up-pipe and catback in everyone's opinion. KEEP THE INPUT ROLLING PEOPLE
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From: Longing for my ol' white '02 WRX :(
Car Info: 2016 Acura RDX ... meh. Um, nice subwoofer?
I have a Perrin w/ HKS catback. Not too loud. Under 3k its actually pretty quite preasnt growl. No fitment issues, no leaks, no clanking, nice power additions, esp the uppipe.
I've had cops right behind me maybe 5 times and never a peep... but then I'm old and white ... but then, yer a cop aren't you?
jason
I've had cops right behind me maybe 5 times and never a peep... but then I'm old and white
... but then, yer a cop aren't you?jason
keep the stock muffler assembly and have a welder friend weld some pieces to the uppie, downie and middie that looks like a cat.
of course to be safe, install a big *** cat somewhere in the downie or even the middie to pass the sniffer test.
visually, they will see a cat.
audio-wise, the stock muffler assembly will be seen by CHP as stock...
now unless they lift your car and start really inspecting, you are screwed.
FWIW, i had a custom uppie, downie (with a big *** cat) and a middie made. i just kept the stock muff assembly and never got any hassle.
of course to be safe, install a big *** cat somewhere in the downie or even the middie to pass the sniffer test.
visually, they will see a cat.
audio-wise, the stock muffler assembly will be seen by CHP as stock...
now unless they lift your car and start really inspecting, you are screwed.
FWIW, i had a custom uppie, downie (with a big *** cat) and a middie made. i just kept the stock muff assembly and never got any hassle.
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From: Wherever Sucks the Most
Car Info: 2003 WRX, 2008 Camry
Originally posted by mmboost
I have a Perrin w/ HKS catback. Not too loud. Under 3k its actually pretty quite preasnt growl. No fitment issues, no leaks, no clanking, nice power additions, esp the uppipe.
I've had cops right behind me maybe 5 times and never a peep... but then I'm old and white ... but then, yer a cop aren't you?
jason
I have a Perrin w/ HKS catback. Not too loud. Under 3k its actually pretty quite preasnt growl. No fitment issues, no leaks, no clanking, nice power additions, esp the uppipe.
I've had cops right behind me maybe 5 times and never a peep... but then I'm old and white
... but then, yer a cop aren't you?jason
Thanks for the input Concillian.
Also, if i was i cop i'd have turbo back but i'm not (thank god)
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From: Wherever Sucks the Most
Car Info: 2003 WRX, 2008 Camry
Hmmm. this 699.99 upipe w/cat and downpipe w/cat combo from Random Tech is tempting. anyone know if this is a good system?
http://www.xcceleration.com/itemdetails.cfm83.htm
KEEP'EM COMING PEOPLE...DADDY NEEDS A NEW PAIR OF SHOES
i just knew i'd want a new exhaust after seeing all those pretty cars at Mt.Hamilton
Also, Is the CATTED TurboXS turbo back system good for my needs!?
http://www.xcceleration.com/itemdetails.cfm83.htm
KEEP'EM COMING PEOPLE...DADDY NEEDS A NEW PAIR OF SHOES
i just knew i'd want a new exhaust after seeing all those pretty cars at Mt.Hamilton
Also, Is the CATTED TurboXS turbo back system good for my needs!?
Last edited by Salty; Jul 15, 2003 at 12:35 AM.
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Car Info: Black 03 WRX, White 04 E46 M3
dont buy a catted uppipe, the whole point of replacing that piece is to get rid of it so it wont break up into your turbo. Also by removing that cat you notice a big gain. If you want something cheap and not to loud go with a gruppe-s uppipe, helix downpipe, and greddy evo catback. Someone posted a video of this same setup awhile back and at idle you couldn't even hear the car really. A little rev to 3k and its just a little louder than stock with a nice low rumble. Defiantly the way to go for performance and not loud and obnoxious.
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Originally posted by Sisqocqk
Hmmm. this 699.99 upipe w/cat and downpipe w/cat combo from Random Tech is tempting. anyone know if this is a good system?
Hmmm. this 699.99 upipe w/cat and downpipe w/cat combo from Random Tech is tempting. anyone know if this is a good system?
I agree that uppipe cat isn't really necessary.