2004 Sportback Ralliart w/Basic Tein Coilovers, lowered ~1.7"

 

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Aww yeah!! Vroom vroom
Yeah i feel you haha should take your mother out for a spin when you get it on

 

I was finally able to make the video after i installed my OBX header.

OBX header
2.5" piping header back
Magnaflow "glass pack" used as a Resonator 2.25"
Magnaflow side in center out Muffler 2.25"

I used 2.5" piping because its not mandrel bent, so at the bends its still at least 2.25"

I didn't realize how bad phones are for taking videos, at the higher RPMs sounds like trash, but I have 2 videos here. Does sound better in person but hopefully you all can get an idea. Personally, I don't like them, gives no justice.

: First Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqvH...ature=youtu.be : Second Video

 

Damn dude. still doesn't sound bad besides them higher rpms but the vidoes never do the actual soimd any justice.

 

Woww that actually sounds real good, other than the higher raspy rpm's but thats probably from the video quality. But damn it almost even has the noise of the boxer engines on the subies at lower rpms. Love it dude. Yeah 2.5 inch piping is usually a good size. So, since you have the obx header on now, you have 1 cat, a resonator and a muffler? Cause i want mine loud but not raspy but i still want to be able to pass inspection. Since one cat is built into the stock manifold, itll still pass inspection since there is another one, right?

 

Thanks guys.

Unfortunately, it wont pass inspection in California. (I'm not sure about other states)

A) In order to install the OBX header, you need to unbolt both cats. Now with that said, as mentioned earlier, I had to have my header extended by about 4". So I don't know if it was made 4" too short or 8" too long which would mean intentionally have the second cat still installed.

But based on the flange angle, that tells me it was just 4" too short. Meaning both cats are supposed to be bypassed.

B) Its not a 50 state approved header (Doesn't come with a sticker, nor is it in the system as an approved header). This means even if you were to have the Bank 2 cat installed (or an approved aftermarket). It would still be a no go.

I've taken this thing on 'n off a couple times now, doesn't take me more than an hour. So come time for smog I have the old parts, ill go buy another set of gaskets. Swap it for smog/inspection.

Edit (forgot to answer your other question): If you were to keep the bank 2 cat on you would more than likely get the sound you're looking for, but it still wont pass inspection because it's not a 50 state approved header. I don't know if there are any for our cars. I don't have experience with any of the off brand headers off eBay so I don't know if they also bypass both cats or just the first one, but if it does bypass both you would have to hack some of it off and weld the appropriate flange on so the bank 2 cat can be bolted back on. It would probably cost about $50 at an exhaust shop.

 

Yeah im in pa, probably wouldnt pass here either. Alright that makes sense. So since you had yours extended, both of your cats come off and so then you still have your resonator and your muffler. Wow thats gotta be loud. Thinking about getting this when i get an exhaust. But idk cause if i get a blast pipe, itll get rid of my muffler and then itll be too loud without the cats as well. Yanno?

Alright yeah i could do that, i figured id have to do that anyways if im getting a blast pipe. So, you ordered yours from ebay you said?

 

so if i were to keep the bank 2 cat on, i would just order the obx header and not get it extended if it comes the same way yours did and figure it out from there?

 

Yea you might not come across the same problem as me, I was told it has't happened before.

Either way if you want to keep your bank 2 cat you will have to take the header to a shop, have them hack a piece off and re weld the flange. To save you some money I would have the header bolted right up (removing both you cats) and drive to the shop because it will cost a lot more if your rolled up with all the stock stuff bolted on.

The down side to this is if you do come across the same problem as me, you will be driving around with just a header. I held my header together to the rest of my piping with a wire hanger and used pliers to twist it tight until I got to the shop, Its very loud and embarrassing to be honest. But it still will save you a lot of money at the shop.

Give yourself a lot of time to do it too, start in the morning. Don't make plans the rest of the day, if you can have a buddy be there in case you need a ride to the parts store because stuff happens, I didn't have anyone around, I live on my own and it sucked lol.

And yea i bought my OBX header from eBay, I got the ceramic coated one but some people say don't get it. I also wrapped mine with that head wrap. Anyways If you have header, 1 cat and blast pipe I would at least get some type of resonator, magnaflow glass packs are great because they're straight through an well insulated. And cheap ($30). Just remember, the less insulation (mufflers) you have the more raspy its going to be, keeping the cat will help a lot but I still think the look you're going for and the sound you want don't go together, unless you were to have a set up similar to mine (except with a cat) but have the muffler tucked in more, or even before the rear cross member, and then have your blast pipe come out the rear. But our stock resonator isn't very well insulated, its too short.

With or without the header, 1 or 2 cats I still don't think the blast pipe will be that loud, I'm guessing with 1 cat it will be about half as loud as mine and mine really isn't that bad in my opinion. As long as u get a good resonator or even a center in/center out magnaflow muffler under the car as a resonator i think it will sound pretty good. Also be aware of this, new mufflers will be fairly quiet. takes a good 100-500 miles to break them in (depending on how hard you drive). Basically its breaking down the insulation a little bit blowing out the loose stuff.

 

I've got eleven months till I have to pass inspection, wherewhich I've done something similar...

I have Ultimate Racing's 2.5 catback/with the 3" rolled tip, on a T3/T04b turbo/2-2.5" down/flex/staight pipe set-up, without a cat, because it just crispifies any cat I put on it! So, I had flanges welded onto each end of the 10-12" section of straight pipe, as well as onto the ends of a bank 2 cat. Come inspection time, I'll switch out the two a couple days before, drive gently and insure any CEL's are cleared, then have it inspected. Post inspection, return the straight pipe and continue boosting! We'll see if that works come November.

 

Well in that case then ill just put it on removing both cats and see how it sounds and goes for a few days and then see what i wanna do from there. I guess i hope i dont run into the same issue though. Damnn dude thats ghetto rig style for you

Why would people say not to get that one? Hmm then yeah maybe ill get the magnaflow glasspacks or some sort of muffler or resonator earlier in the piping so i can still run a blast pipe and not sound raspy. But i really do like the sound of yours man. Is your idle loud too? And ill keep that in mind thanks man

I got the help with all this which is nice thanks for the heads up bro

 

insted of removig all your cats remove one and put a high flow cat in the front, get rid of resinators and magnaflow sounds AWESOME!... look a neuspeed.....
for my EVO i have CNT racing check them out!

 

Idle is pretty quiet, cruising speed is quiet too. just acceleration is loud, backfires are awesome, get little flames now and again.

People say don't get ceramic coated one because is supposedly causes the welds to crack or something because the heat and then cooling down too fast. I can see it happening to a cheaper header but I don't see it happening with an OBX header. Not unless you're somewhere is gets really cold and you drive hard when its cold. I woke up it was 9 degrees today, went to work, seems fine. Plus mine is wrapped. people say the same thing happens when you wrap a header.

Well mine's ceramic coated AND wrapped so we will see. lol

And no problem I'm always happy to help. I just hope you are happy with whatever you end up with, I've had a total of 5 exhaust set ups so far. Finally got were I'm at now, I wanna add another glass pack or a high flow cat to my header downtube, but I haven't decided yet.

 

WAIT WHAT REALLY!? THATS ****ING AWESOME. Ahhh i cant wait till i start working on the exhaust. My whole exhaust is still stock though cause ive been working on suspension and wheels. Not exactly sure when im gonna finally get to the exhaust cause i have many plans before i do that but i really cant wait for it.

Ahhh okay that makes sense. And yeah well im in PA but again, im not gonna be doing any of that till it gets warm. yeah same here my brothers been working with how his car sounds and hes been switching alot of **** and its like wow it could be awhile until i get the right sound. Yeahh originally i was thinking of getting a high flow cat but man theyre expensive!