Maybe something else to keep in mind as folks weigh the different Vishnu exhaust options is that the standard turbo-back comes with a flex joint, while the dump-back does not.

This difference might not mean a thing, I don't have experience with either, but the flex joint does seem like a good idea.

I'm just thinking out loud...trying to decide myself

It doesn't sound like you need spacers or anything that isn't included already with the exhaust to make it fit properly...

 

I dunno about Noize, but I had to use the spacers.

As far as the exhaust note with the hi-flo cat, its perfect. No droning at all just a slight bit more lopey and bassey at idel than stock, and nice and aggressive at WOT. During cruise conditions you would hardley notice you have an aftermarket exhaust.

 

I agree. I personally would be interested in a flex joint to help compensate for the engine torquing.

 

I believe on the sig series, the DP connects to the o2 housing just like the stock unit with the springs on the two bolts. Which is effectivly a flex joint. This is why the sig. series does not have a flex section and the complete standard series does.

 

Sig series also has the modular cat ("hot swappable" for test pipe).

 

sr20det91, thanks for clearing up the whole flex joint issue!

 

Used spacers too. No problem with them.

 

in my experience a "ball-socket" type flex joint is very noisey with metal rubbing against metal. is this the case?

 

You could look at my thread on this topic for more information.

I installed Karboy's hangers due to the fact that the cat was hitting the heat shield. Note that the stock cat is a different shape and this isn't a problem. The standard exhaust system's cat is wider, thus there is little room between the cat and the shield.

A notable fact is that if the cat is in contact with the heat shield the noise in the car is VERY loud. In fact after a hour of driving my hearing was numb! I wonder if this is why some people have stated that their exhaust (pick on) is louder than someone else? I consider the $40 I spent on the hangers as money well spent.

The stock system mounts with a ball-and-socket connection. To be honest the car is so loud you couldn't hear this connection in my opinion. On the other hand the joint has a gasket on the ball, so this really can't occur. That is unless it wears out.

I didn't like the performance of the suspension with the spacer blocks. Basically the front of the car felt like it was twisting will all of the new found torque. I picked up a RMR subframe brace. All of the twisting is gone. The RMR brace is well made, but hard to find in stock.

 

Twisting? I ran our 500+hp Stg 2 around for a week *without* the underbody brace installed and I'd be hard pressed to notice any such flex under anything less than ***** out driving. Adding blocks to the factory brace shouldn't induce *any* measurable or subjective chassis flex.

shiv

 

The sig series down pipe does have a flex joint...

 

Indeed it does

 

I think this thread started out with Noize's new standard dump-back exhaust...

I hijacked comparing it to the standard turbo-back

Along the way I think it got confused...and I probably added to it-sorry!

The standard turbo-back has a flex joint...the standard dump-back does not.

The signature turbo-back also has a flex joint...

Is this a good recap? I hope so

 

"***** out driving" - Yup that describes what I was up to....

I didn't mean it to say that the spacer blocks are a problem. I don't think that the stock braces are up to the job. Note that the RMR part forms a box.

Plus I'm sensitive to handling changes.