Hey everyone,

I've been a "lurker" on the site for a while, doing a LOT of reading before posting my questions... and they're probably going to be noob questions anyway. So I guess this is more of a "hello" than anything.

I'm in Kitchener, Ontario if there's any Canadians reading this that would be willing to help out and install some parts (eventually).

Anyway, my questions for the time being are...
1) For now, I'm just trying to improve the appearance of my '06 RA a bit. I'm considering either the Borla Boomer Series Thumper Muffler (I think it's got the smallest diameter of the Boomer series - correct me if I'm wrong - since I hate the big fart cannon look) or the Borla muffler tip - http://www.autoanything.com/exhausts...A2440A0A0.aspx
I'm not too sure on what my future mods will be (was considering an SRI and UD Pulley but due to the cold and frequently wet weather here in Canada i'm worried about hydrolocking or making my car shake ridiculously with the pulley. So it's basically that muffler or the tip).

2) There's been enough threads on painting brake calipers but after taking a look at how they're located on the car... is it possible to reach the entire caliper in order to properly coat it without having to move the car to reposition the rim? (I'm not planning on taking them off)

Sorry for the rambling - kinda a long hello for a first post

 

UD pulley is a must... Get SRI if worried about water in the intake... Otherwise do take off the calipers and paint them... I promise they'll look like crap if you dont take the time to tape up everything (which most people don't)

Cant help ya on exhaust though.... Kinda personal preference when it comes down to it...

 

If you just want an exhaust tip go to Auto Zone, or whatever auto parts shop and get a stainless tip. I picked up one from AutoZone for about $10. It is a three inch tip that looks identical to the borla one you had up. Borlas tips are way overpriced IMO.

 

It's really not possible to paint the calipers without removing the rim.

 

i pulled the rims off to paint the calipers, I'm glad I did. When you're putting 3 or 4 coats on in a short period of time (1 hour), it can get a little messy. It'll take you about 4 hours all in, with setup and cleanup, then 24 hours to dry.

 

Nice, what color?

 

Planning on painting the calipers black...

With regards to the UD Pulley... anyone operating it in cold weather? How's the shake in the car. One of my buddies had to take of a UD off his VW cuz it shook too much and was giving him trouble starting in cold weather..

 

Good choice on the color.

I run my UDP year-round. While Wisconsin may not be as cold as Fort McMurray, Kitchener is probably very similar. I have no problems from the UDP, even though I also have solid motor mounts. I guess if you drove my car, you'd notice a little more vibration, but after having it like this for over a year, I don't notice it anymore.

 

No shake here... We get a long run of days up here that run in the single digits... Wind chill is even worse in my town... Never had a problem in mine...

 

You don't like the shake stay away from the motor mounts, but the udp is great. And i definately would not suggest attempting to paint calipers without the wheels off.

 

picked up the Duplicolor Red kit. always wanted to do it, so for the cost of ordering dinner, the friends all helped. done in just under 4 hours, dry time = 24. i'll probably give them another few coats in the spring, just to brighten them up. you get a ton of paint with the kit. as in, there's 4 coats on them right now and i didn't even use a third of the paint.

 

I should have gone the duplicolor kit, i used caliper spray paint and it kinda sucked.

 

i work at advance auto and thats pretty much the best kit to get it runs for about 25-30 i think but im about to do red to my car and, but i think im going to wait to doit when i chnage the rotors and brakes its about time. but id go with that one. make sure u get the paint kit in the box not the caliper paint in the rattle can.

 

So, I just picked up the duplicolor kit today - black of course. Should look good with the thunder grey. I'm excited.

I'm also waiting on some cash to come in so I can order the UD Pulley since I've been hearin nothin but good things about it.

I'm seriously considering a CAI now as well... I've done a ridiculous amount of reading today (should have probably been reading my school textbooks instead) and I didn't actually realize that you'd have to submerge the filter to hydrolock the engine. The streets here are wet frequently, but no flooding or raised water - a bypass valve would take care of that anyway. I wanna get the Injen intake since instalation of the valve should be easier but according to their site it only fits 04-05 RA's What about the '06? Sry for the noob questions, but i've still got a lot to learn.

 

A) don't get a by-pass valve. Otter will back me up on this. They break and you lose some power with them.

B) I'm pretty happy with my RRM CAI. I'm actually very happy with it over the AEM and Injen designs. They designed it so it goes in a hidden splash guard compartment which gets a ton of airflow from the frontend. It also utilizes the rubber boot on the stock intake manifold, where as the competition does not. The way it mounts up allows it to flex with the engine. I've heard of Injen and AEM's breaking or coming loose because there is a lot of engine movement unless you have aftermarket engine mounts. Most importantly I love how the RRM CAI gets a hidden compartment. It's so killer. I cut a little on one of my splash guards to get the filter in. Just something you need to see to appreciate.