My cheap exhaust
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 88
From: MI
Car Info: 2002 WRX
My cheap exhaust
I've been asked by a few people so I want to post it and get it out of the way about how I had my exhaust done, and yes it is posted on some other forums:
OK, here's the deal. I bought a used (3 months old) Apex'i N1 catback off a 2G Eclipse. I had Cline Racing cut it up and use some mandrel SS bends welded together and made my own catback. The flanges are pretty standard and can be found almost anwhere. It is only a catback but I have no resonators and is straighter than hell...right next to my diff protector it's so close/straight. I am pairing it up with my HKS downpipe which will fit directly and is catless going from turbo back to catback (including midpipe all in one peice) All in all I got catback for: $40 for muffler portion + $20 for the shop guys plus a banner and vinyl logos (trade worth $200ish to them lol) and I coated it with hi-temp ceramic paint $6 = $66 cash plus banner and decals. Full turbo-back cost: $231 plus banner and decals worth $200 to them only cost me $60 so in reality it cost me approx:
$291 for a full turbo-back system which is mandrel bent and stainless!
Yes I am cheap lol but if you could do that you probably would too! Take care and good luck...oh yeah, I've had nothing but compliments by WRX guys, some others don't like the "coffee can look" but they don't know turbo cars very well either so ehh plus I love the boxer sound!
I got very lucky on the deal so don't think it happens all the time!
WRX34
Jeremy Briggs
OK, here's the deal. I bought a used (3 months old) Apex'i N1 catback off a 2G Eclipse. I had Cline Racing cut it up and use some mandrel SS bends welded together and made my own catback. The flanges are pretty standard and can be found almost anwhere. It is only a catback but I have no resonators and is straighter than hell...right next to my diff protector it's so close/straight. I am pairing it up with my HKS downpipe which will fit directly and is catless going from turbo back to catback (including midpipe all in one peice) All in all I got catback for: $40 for muffler portion + $20 for the shop guys plus a banner and vinyl logos (trade worth $200ish to them lol) and I coated it with hi-temp ceramic paint $6 = $66 cash plus banner and decals. Full turbo-back cost: $231 plus banner and decals worth $200 to them only cost me $60 so in reality it cost me approx:
$291 for a full turbo-back system which is mandrel bent and stainless!
Yes I am cheap lol but if you could do that you probably would too! Take care and good luck...oh yeah, I've had nothing but compliments by WRX guys, some others don't like the "coffee can look" but they don't know turbo cars very well either so ehh plus I love the boxer sound!
I got very lucky on the deal so don't think it happens all the time!
WRX34
Jeremy Briggs
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Nice, that beats my cheap turboback price of $519.
I bought an Stromung downpipe($199), had custom 2.5inch aluminized steel piping made from the downpipe back to the stock axle back (muffler) section($170). Then I bought an $100 good looking 2.25inch inner diameter muffler, mated up to 3inch piping to the rest of the exhuast($50). It has minimal bends, no cats. or resonators so it sounds mean as hell but doesn't drone badly inside at all.. I just an Perrin upipe installed yesterday and it really rocks, if you don't have an upipe yet i recommend it. I have tons more low end torque, and i think i gained 10-20hp peak. So now my exhuast system is done, my boost threshold is like 1,500rpms in most gears now hehe..Well it's pretty low now anyway, and peak boost pressure is coming earlier now as well so lag is reduced.
What would the HKS downpipe mate up with on an stock exhuast? the third cat.?
I bought an Stromung downpipe($199), had custom 2.5inch aluminized steel piping made from the downpipe back to the stock axle back (muffler) section($170). Then I bought an $100 good looking 2.25inch inner diameter muffler, mated up to 3inch piping to the rest of the exhuast($50). It has minimal bends, no cats. or resonators so it sounds mean as hell but doesn't drone badly inside at all.. I just an Perrin upipe installed yesterday and it really rocks, if you don't have an upipe yet i recommend it. I have tons more low end torque, and i think i gained 10-20hp peak. So now my exhuast system is done, my boost threshold is like 1,500rpms in most gears now hehe..Well it's pretty low now anyway, and peak boost pressure is coming earlier now as well so lag is reduced.
What would the HKS downpipe mate up with on an stock exhuast? the third cat.?
Last edited by PaulRex; Feb 11, 2003 at 12:32 PM.
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Originally posted by PaulRex
What would the HKS downpipe mate up with on an stock exhuast? the third cat.?
What would the HKS downpipe mate up with on an stock exhuast? the third cat.?
@Stoptech
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From: San Francisco, CA
Car Info: 2002 WRX Wagon
You'll get a pretty good amount of power with a DP that doesn't totally block off the wastegate gases, but you probably already knew that.
Congradulations on your cheap turbo back. I would ten times rather have your setup than a catless $1200 name brand *** ripping turbo back. I'll be posting my own personal solution to the low-buck turbo back once I get some bucks.
It will come out to the same price approximately, but it make as much as if not MORE power than the *** ripping name branders.
Congradulations on your cheap turbo back. I would ten times rather have your setup than a catless $1200 name brand *** ripping turbo back. I'll be posting my own personal solution to the low-buck turbo back once I get some bucks.
It will come out to the same price approximately, but it make as much as if not MORE power than the *** ripping name branders.
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Originally posted by BlueDemon
EEEEEEEHHHHH, Wrong. The HKS replaces the Downpipe AND Midpipe (which HAS the 3rd Cat).
Blue
EEEEEEEHHHHH, Wrong. The HKS replaces the Downpipe AND Midpipe (which HAS the 3rd Cat).
Blue
Thank you have a nice day.
Last edited by scoobiesnacks; Feb 12, 2003 at 12:53 PM.
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 88
From: MI
Car Info: 2002 WRX
Yeah, the HKS replaces the 2 cat's after the turbo..which I have come to know as the stock downpipe and midpipe. I'm not going to replace my uppipe yet as I am still in college aka low on $$ and don't want the local dealership hassle me about it if something goes wrong. I will do that eventually though (as soon as JenisonWRX gets his custom work done I can grab his...I got 1st dibs since I installed his turboback)
As for the namebrand thing...I figure the only difference is weight and possibly the rear section that people see, which I enjoy my N1 anyways. JensisonWRX has a $2000 turboback BUT I can hold the whole thing straight out with one arm! If you all know the Bozz Ti you know why
Hope to see others custom works and see how they like it!
WRX34
As for the namebrand thing...I figure the only difference is weight and possibly the rear section that people see, which I enjoy my N1 anyways. JensisonWRX has a $2000 turboback BUT I can hold the whole thing straight out with one arm! If you all know the Bozz Ti you know why
Hope to see others custom works and see how they like it!WRX34
tried to do something similar today. had my downpipe installed and went to a muffler shop after. I wanted to do a straight pipe connecting from my downpipe to the axle back. basically copying the Stromung 3rd cat eliminator. However, since i live in California, the muffler shop couldn't do it for me because it was illegal. That really SUCKED. So now instead of paying $60 I have to buy the Stromung and pay $150.
@Stoptech
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From: San Francisco, CA
Car Info: 2002 WRX Wagon
Originally posted by blackwagonrx
tried to do something similar today. had my downpipe installed and went to a muffler shop after. I wanted to do a straight pipe connecting from my downpipe to the axle back. basically copying the Stromung 3rd cat eliminator. However, since i live in California, the muffler shop couldn't do it for me because it was illegal. That really SUCKED. So now instead of paying $60 I have to buy the Stromung and pay $150.
tried to do something similar today. had my downpipe installed and went to a muffler shop after. I wanted to do a straight pipe connecting from my downpipe to the axle back. basically copying the Stromung 3rd cat eliminator. However, since i live in California, the muffler shop couldn't do it for me because it was illegal. That really SUCKED. So now instead of paying $60 I have to buy the Stromung and pay $150.
@Stoptech
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Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 2,416
From: San Francisco, CA
Car Info: 2002 WRX Wagon
haha, what a dumbass (the muffler shop guy). that's not even a cat. it's the resonator. you removed both the post turbo cats by installing the HKS downpipe. perhaps you can have the work done if you show him that it's not a cat. good luck. i don't know if you already mentioned this but do you have an aftermarket uppipe? if so you are running catless.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 88
From: MI
Car Info: 2002 WRX
Hahahaha...yup. 3rd chamber back is a resonator. LOL Let me know how your HKS DP feels...obviously it'll be better than stock but post or pm me if you have any complaints Thanks and good luck!
WRX34
Thanks and good luck!WRX34