i know quite a bit about cars and love working on them all, but i decided on shopping for some parts for my sti and realized i know very little about turbo and the wrx. i guess all i know are mostly the basic stuff i need to know about how a car works.... anyways i wanted to get me a downpipe and some how make me a mid pipe. i also wanted to get me the s tech springs temporarily until i can save up for coil overs. i need help on where to get the good stuff at a good price.

here are some 05 questions

will an 04 downpipe fit an 05 with no issues?

i know i read somewhere here the 04 s techs will not fit an an 05, so where can i get the 05 springs?

general questions....

where can i get some 3inch pipe to fab up a mid pipe? flanges?

what is on the mid pipe, is it a resonator? should i leave it on to prevent a raspy exhuast sound?

how does the exhaust sound with a silencer running with a downpipe? quiet as stock?

can silencers do any bad to my car? turbo? i feel a huge difference in performance with it on.

gee i ended up asking more questions than i had planned.

thanks!!

 

don't know about the springs but the 04 downpipe should fit the 05 w/no probs but not sure. as for the midpipe i would just take it to an exhaust shop and have them make you one. under $100 and no labor for you. plus it fits right. the silencer isn't bad for your car, it just restricts the air comming out so it is quieter but that is also why it feels sluggish. won't be quiet as stock with the downpipe but not too loud. just leave it out unless you gotta drive through waikiki alot. hope that helps. L8R

 

i thought the 04 should fit my 05, but like you, i wasnt sure. id prefer to do the midpipe myself for some fun and the thought of no one else messing with my car, only me.

thanks

 

yea if you think it's fun go ahead but an exhaust shop will do it for like $80 or less and they get the proper flanges and bends in the pipe. but if you can do it then you should offer your sevices. lots of guys here want a custom midpipe and would rather pay you $50 then some shop $80, that is of course if you do good work.

 

i have an 05 sti also, so here's my input.

1. d/p will fit with no issues.
2. suspension not sure, but i'm also looking into it.
3. will you be fab'ing the mid pipe yourself or have it done by a shop? i'd advise having it done by a shop unless you have access to a mill to make the flange. plus its worth paying a shop for the hassle.
4. the mid pipe has the resonator. i'd leave it on unless you get a catback.
5. don't know about the dB with a silencer.
6. the silencer won't hurt your car, but the more free flowing your exhaust, the better the performance (since our cars are turbo).

 

if you go catless the whole way through you will expericenc something called boost creep where the turbo's wasategate cant handle all the free flowing exhaust check the 2.5 forum for more information on boostcreep.

 

My suggestion is to go 3" full turbo back. Use a PDE DP, which won't cause cell errors and run a silencer. It's still louder than stock w/ the silencer, but not rediculously loud. I pull my silencer for track use and run it on the street w/ no problems. I'm also running the Access port stage II. As for suspension, don't waste your time. Wait till you get the money to get what you really want. I suggest Cusco zero 2's w/ front & rear upper stress bar and 3 way adjustable rear sway bar. But then again, it depends on what you plan to use the car for.

LaR

 

silencers are awsome....helps much when driving through waikiki....also helps when driving on the freeway...not too much drone from the sound...hahahahaha...expecially with my set-up...

helix up/down pipes...blitz nur spec cat back...3" piping....no cat's...

 

thanks everyone, you guys made me think about finding the materials, it will be hard. i also remebered that our pipe bender cant bend 3 inch piping.

will the PDE DP need some heat shield cutting? does it touch the rubber A/C exit hose thingy in the engine bay, i dont want it to melt.
how much is it....

thanks again for all the help.

 

the pde doesn't touch the A/C hose, but you will have to trim the heat shield a little.

 

thanks!