My Competed Exhaust (Helix - HKS)
My Competed Exhaust (Helix - HKS)
This is for those who are in the market for an exhaust setup, and don't want to spend time browsing through old posts and searches for exhaust opinions.
Well, I finished my exhaust system this past weekend. Like I said last week, I couldn't be happier with the HKS Carbon Ti exhaust. The same goes for the Helix Downpipe and Helix Test Pipe.
It took a total of about 2 1/2 hours spread between 2 different days to install everything. Everything lined up the way they should, and all pieces fit together perfectly with each other. If/when you install these parts, make sure you have someone or something there to hold up the cat-back once you take the catalytic converter off. If you don't, it will fall and damage the O2 sensor. I used a spare jack to hold it up. The DP and Test Pipe are very simple and straight forward. Anyone that knows how to use a socket set can do this install. Just refer to the Helix DP install someone else posted in the "How To" section. No, the Helix DP does NOT rattle against anything under the car, it clears the tie bars fine. Thanks, Cal! (Gruppe-S)
After I completed the exhaust setup, I was kinda worried that the car would sound "tinny" or be obnoxiously loud. It wasn't obnoxious at all. It sounds very mean. The idle is surprisingly low and mellow still. Once I get on it, it sounds like a different car. It sounds pretty sweet! WOT, it sounds very "motivated" until I hit 5th and settle down into cruising. Then, it goes back into a deep gurgle. You'll know it's there at all times though that's for sure. My wife's comment pretty much summed it up for me. She, like myself initially, was worried that it would sound as loud or louder and be as obnoxious or more so than my previous car, an '01 IS300 with Toyomoto Header/Toyomoto Straight pipe/GReddy Evo Exhaust. Once I got on it with her in the car, she grinned ear to ear and said, " I love it! It sounds raw!.....Rougher and tougher...." I loved hearing that come from her.
One wierd thing. Maybe I'm an idiot, but the O2 sensor wouldn't reach the "CEL Fix" bung on the Test Pipe. I didn't want to splice any wires, and I didn't feel like removing the passenger seat to access the O2 sensor from the inside of the car. Yes, it did trip the CEL as a result. So, I'm gonna do the "Mechanical O2" fix also found in the "How To" section today after work.
So, for those worrying about being too loud, it really isn't. Unless you've got the most sensitive ears in the world, or you live in geriatric park....AND....For those worrying about it not being loud enough. It really is loud enough. Unless you're a NASCAR driver, in which case, I'd be surprised you chose an Evo over a 'Vette or Cobra.
Well, I finished my exhaust system this past weekend. Like I said last week, I couldn't be happier with the HKS Carbon Ti exhaust. The same goes for the Helix Downpipe and Helix Test Pipe.
It took a total of about 2 1/2 hours spread between 2 different days to install everything. Everything lined up the way they should, and all pieces fit together perfectly with each other. If/when you install these parts, make sure you have someone or something there to hold up the cat-back once you take the catalytic converter off. If you don't, it will fall and damage the O2 sensor. I used a spare jack to hold it up. The DP and Test Pipe are very simple and straight forward. Anyone that knows how to use a socket set can do this install. Just refer to the Helix DP install someone else posted in the "How To" section. No, the Helix DP does NOT rattle against anything under the car, it clears the tie bars fine. Thanks, Cal! (Gruppe-S)
After I completed the exhaust setup, I was kinda worried that the car would sound "tinny" or be obnoxiously loud. It wasn't obnoxious at all. It sounds very mean. The idle is surprisingly low and mellow still. Once I get on it, it sounds like a different car. It sounds pretty sweet! WOT, it sounds very "motivated" until I hit 5th and settle down into cruising. Then, it goes back into a deep gurgle. You'll know it's there at all times though that's for sure. My wife's comment pretty much summed it up for me. She, like myself initially, was worried that it would sound as loud or louder and be as obnoxious or more so than my previous car, an '01 IS300 with Toyomoto Header/Toyomoto Straight pipe/GReddy Evo Exhaust. Once I got on it with her in the car, she grinned ear to ear and said, " I love it! It sounds raw!.....Rougher and tougher...." I loved hearing that come from her.
One wierd thing. Maybe I'm an idiot, but the O2 sensor wouldn't reach the "CEL Fix" bung on the Test Pipe. I didn't want to splice any wires, and I didn't feel like removing the passenger seat to access the O2 sensor from the inside of the car. Yes, it did trip the CEL as a result. So, I'm gonna do the "Mechanical O2" fix also found in the "How To" section today after work.
So, for those worrying about being too loud, it really isn't. Unless you've got the most sensitive ears in the world, or you live in geriatric park....AND....For those worrying about it not being loud enough. It really is loud enough. Unless you're a NASCAR driver, in which case, I'd be surprised you chose an Evo over a 'Vette or Cobra.
I also have the Helix Downpipe, I bought mine and they said it was version 2. But it somtimes vibrates under the car like its hitting something. Mine clears the two lower tie bars also with enough space so that it wont touch it.
The vibrating only happens when the idle goes down below 900rpm, I have HKS 264 and 272 Cams and when the idle sometime goes down to 800-850 you can feel a vibration under the car, its like the downpipe is hitting something.
No, vibrations when idle is at 900rpm and when crusing and going WOT.
Is this norman for the version 2?
Thanks for helping me out.
The vibrating only happens when the idle goes down below 900rpm, I have HKS 264 and 272 Cams and when the idle sometime goes down to 800-850 you can feel a vibration under the car, its like the downpipe is hitting something.
No, vibrations when idle is at 900rpm and when crusing and going WOT.
Is this norman for the version 2?
Thanks for helping me out.
Originally Posted by ArchieBabes
I also have the Helix Downpipe, I bought mine and they said it was version 2. But it somtimes vibrates under the car like its hitting something......
......No, vibrations when idle is at 900rpm and when crusing and going WOT....
......No, vibrations when idle is at 900rpm and when crusing and going WOT....
Like I said, mine doesn't rattle at all. So, hope you fix yours man.
My Helix 3" DP rattled and it was hitting the car's subframe. I went to Seco and bought some heatwraps, high temp silicon seal spray can, and some ring clamps. Wrapped the DP and treated it with the sealing spray. Now it's "resting" against the subframe and no longer rattle.
congrats....
glad u like the set-up...as for the cel fix..u have to re wire the o2 wires so that it reaches the new o2 bung...it should of came w. the test pipe..even then my cel still came on...i fixed it by doing the anti-foule spark plug way..
btw..i have the whole helix turbo back...but damn my car is loud as hell..
glad u like the set-up...as for the cel fix..u have to re wire the o2 wires so that it reaches the new o2 bung...it should of came w. the test pipe..even then my cel still came on...i fixed it by doing the anti-foule spark plug way..
btw..i have the whole helix turbo back...but damn my car is loud as hell..
I'm working on the sound clip. 
I couldn't get the microphone to work on my laptop. I also lost the cord that connects my video camera to my laptop, so I can't transfer data there right now either.....
Hopefully, I can get the microphone at least to work so I can post up some clips.....
I couldn't get the microphone to work on my laptop. I also lost the cord that connects my video camera to my laptop, so I can't transfer data there right now either.....Hopefully, I can get the microphone at least to work so I can post up some clips.....