I got my W2

[Sarra]

so therefore, I'm going to pay off about 1/4 of what I owe on my car, and then buy an EL header and high flow cat.

Are the OBX NA manifolds on ebay decent, or is there a better place to get an EL header for ~$400 shipped?

going to look at getting a stromung high flow cat, or is there a better alternative?

Does the stromung replace the two pre-cats and cat, or just the precats, or just the cat itself?

[Reason]

The OBX on eBay should be the least expensive place to get it. I don't think it will fit with the Stromung cat. And yes Stromung cat replaces both cats. Random technology has a high flow replacement, but it is pricey.

[Sarra]

I saw the Random dual cat the other day on Boxer4Racing I think.

I was planning on doing the EL header myself, but having an exhaust shop install the rest of the system. Also wanting to get a truck style muffler, and tuck the muffler and cat up under the car, so there would just be an exhaust pipe coming out the back of the car, with the muffler further forward. I don't think that'll happen though... I do know I don't want a 3" tip, I want a muffler with a 2 1/4" tip. :p Actually, I'd perfer a super super silent muffler that looks stock, or can be hidden.

When I get everything ready to install, I'll go down to a muffler shop and see what they have to offer...

[rougeben83]

OBX header uses the same design as the Cobb headers; it uses it's own midpipe that replaces the cats completely. It's resonated-only. (cobbs has the option of a hi-flo cat instead, or you can have a shop replace the resonator with one on the OBX setup).

Only EL headers that will work with the factory cat section are the TWE headers:

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2007/01/HPIM0523-1.jpg

[Sarra]

Hmm... Well, looks like I'll be running a header and cat only for a while. :p

I think I can get a local exhaust shop to weld in a high flow cat when I get it in the mail. Or I'll just put a cat in a different spot... Might need some wiring, but whatever.

I want to open up my 2.5 a little bit.

[rougeben83]

Hmm... Well, looks like I'll be running a header and cat only for a while. :p

I think I can get a local exhaust shop to weld in a high flow cat when I get it in the mail. Or I'll just put a cat in a different spot... Might need some wiring, but whatever.

I want to open up my 2.5 a little bit.

Plenty of RS owners have welded in a hiflo cat in place of the OBX resonator so it isn't that uncommon to do...especially if you take it to a dedicated muffler shop.

[Sarra]

Hmm... Well, looks like I'll be running a header and cat only for a while. :p

I think I can get a local exhaust shop to weld in a high flow cat when I get it in the mail. Or I'll just put a cat in a different spot... Might need some wiring, but whatever.

I want to open up my 2.5 a little bit.

Plenty of RS owners have welded in a hiflo cat in place of the OBX resonator so it isn't that uncommon to do...especially if you take it to a dedicated muffler shop.

That was my plan. :)

If I can find a good muffler I'd actually like, I could get the entire exhaust replaced from the block to the tip, but it looks like i'll be using the stock muffler. =\ Maybe i can get them to remove the tip and put a straight polished 2.25 or 2.5 inch tip on it instead...

Any suggestions for a super quiet muffler? My intake is freaking loud, I don't want a loud exhaust.

[rougeben83]

Hmm... Well, looks like I'll be running a header and cat only for a while. :p

I think I can get a local exhaust shop to weld in a high flow cat when I get it in the mail. Or I'll just put a cat in a different spot... Might need some wiring, but whatever.

I want to open up my 2.5 a little bit.

Plenty of RS owners have welded in a hiflo cat in place of the OBX resonator so it isn't that uncommon to do...especially if you take it to a dedicated muffler shop.

That was my plan. :)

If I can find a good muffler I'd actually like, I could get the entire exhaust replaced from the block to the tip, but it looks like i'll be using the stock muffler. =\ Maybe i can get them to remove the tip and put a straight polished 2.25 or 2.5 inch tip on it instead...

Any suggestions for a super quiet muffler? My intake is freaking loud, I don't want a loud exhaust.

Hmm, STi muffler maybe? Plenty of people have said it's pretty darn quiet (me included). Very nice blub-blub at idle and a growl to redline.

You could also try a baffled magnoflow or dynomax muffler. I've heard 50 series flowmasters are pretty quiet too (40's are louder though, makes everything sound like a V8 :lol: )

[Huffer]

You should pay off as much of the car as possible with the W2 - then save up for your mods.

By that time, what you want will actually be a little cheaper, or you can pick up slightly used items.

[rougeben83]

You should pay off as much of the car as possible with the W2 - then save up for your mods.

By that time, what you want will actually be a little cheaper, or you can pick up slightly used items.

Used parts FTW :twisted: :grin:

[scottzg]

Any suggestions for a super quiet muffler? My intake is freaking loud, I don't want a loud exhaust.

a loud intake is usually a power sapping intake on maf based cars.... power +quietness ftw!

[Wiscon_Mark]

Question: will just the headers bolt onto the rest of the exhaust system (it looks like it)?

[Wiscon_Mark]

a loud intake is usually a power sapping intake on maf based cars.... power +quietness ftw!

How do you figure? Airflow isn't fast enough because you can hear the engine noise through it?

[shazapple]

I thought you had to park your car cause you couldn't afford gas :-?

[Sarra]

I thought you had to park your car cause you couldn't afford gas :-?

Naw, just haven't been driving as much. 3,000 miles in 3 weeks is a little much. Also found out I need new tires seriously bad, but that's not a big deal.

As for paying the car off... I'm ahead on payments, so it's not a big deal.

I was actually looking at the 50 series mufflers, I was thinking about putting one up behind the cat and running a straight pipe all the way back to the bumper, with a resonator in there as well just to keep the popping to a minimum.

scottzg: It felt like it at first, when I had the air filter on without cleaning it... I put a rubber washer in the bolt that holds the MAF to the mounting bracket, and it's quieted down a little. I think I'm going to try to find some more flexible coupling to connect the intake to the MAF, and make a bracket that's a little more flexible to hold the end of the metal intake to the side of the car. It's also not that loud, just up at redline it gets a little wail...

shazapple: I can afford gas, my commute to work is all of 5 miles, but filling up every other day because I've been driving all over the state... I parked the car as far as recreation is concerned. ;)

Mark: It doesn't matter too much. If it doesn't just bolt up to the rext of the exhaust, I'll have the exhaust shop put some new pipe in there.

Huffer: My car payment is $120 a month. Even working 4 hours a day at $8/hr I can make the payment and save money up on the side. I have no health insurance, so I'm going to go to a temp agency tomorrow and get a part time job after work, with health insurance. If I find a good job with flexible hours like my current job, I'll switch, and keep the insurance, and get better pay. :)

I've got options. I'd like to mod my car before moving to Minneapolis this summer, probably in July or around there. I've got space to work on my own car here now, doubt I will when living in the city. :(

Priorities: make double payments on the car (in addition to the grand or so I'm gonna put on the car from my tax return)
Exhaust upgrade (header, cat, muffler)
Tires (current tires are warn, but if they absolutely need to come off, I have another set)
Suspension
Brakes
Heads to stage III
pistons, 11.2:1 CR
Tuning, bump up the redline to 8,000 (headwork), proper tuning for a higher CR and different cam profiles

[Reason]

I agree with what was said before, pay off your car. There's just so much more in life than modding a car. It's just a hobby, most people turn it into an obsession and just work to "hook up" their car. Pay it off then figure out what you want to do. I paid mine off before I did anything (all I did was mess with my speakers and radio). BUT it is your car, do what you want, I'm just trying to give advice. I think I had my car almost 5 years before I did my first "performance" mod.

[Sarra]

I'd pay the car off all at once, but I want to get an increse in my credit rating first, which means paying it off over at least the next 6 months. I want to buy a house within the next 2 years, and in order to get kick butt rates, I need a slightly higher credit scor (shooting for 750).

[Reason]

I'd pay the car off all at once, but I want to get an increse in my credit rating first, which means paying it off over at least the next 6 months. I want to buy a house within the next 2 years, and in order to get kick butt rates, I need a slightly higher credit scor (shooting for 750).

It takes a lot more than building your credit from a car in 2 years to buy a house. Debit is your worst enemy hands down. If your income to debit ratio is negative you won't get approved for anything. Didn't you say you only work part time? Or was it you are trying to get another part time job? You want to put a down payment on a house. A sky high mortgage isn't a fun thing. I can't see you putting a down payment and modding your car like you just listed. When it comes to buying a house, 2 years isn't long. I just did, and you need to fork over money left and right. Not just a down payment and the monthly mortgage. There's lawyer fees, house inspections, fire inspections, insurance, paper work drawn up, (I know I'm missing something) then you have basic utilities then you mortgage and so on. I'm not trying to kill anybodies dreams, but there's a lot more than you think. Modding a car like crazy (and I'm assuming this because of your post with the list of things you want done.) and saving in 2 years doesn't seem real. Also there's other ways to build your credit then paying crazy interest on a car. Pay the car off, get a credit card. Buy something and pay it off for the month. You pay before it's due no interest payments. Pay your car off, and extra $112 a month in you pocket is nice. It ain't much, but It doesn't hurt.

[Huffer]

As for paying the car off... I'm ahead on payments, so it's not a big deal.

Priorities: make double payments on the car (in addition to the grand or so I'm gonna put on the car from my tax return)
Exhaust upgrade (header, cat, muffler)
Tires (current tires are warn, but if they absolutely need to come off, I have another set)
Suspension
Brakes
Heads to stage III
pistons, 11.2:1 CR
Tuning, bump up the redline to 8,000 (headwork), proper tuning for a higher CR and different cam profiles

I'm ahead on payments too. I have none.
I just did suspension for $250. Bought some tires for $50.
Didn't hurt the wallet at all.

Your mod list doesn't include ECM - because you won't be able to run a "stage 3" engine without it. Plus, you'll lose all your low-end torque due to the race configuration. Your 5mile commute will be ridiculously annoying.

Pay off the car first - your FICO score is about your debt utilisation, and thus, you get rewarded if you are utilising 75% of your possible debt. How BACKWARDS is that?
That's why I have a manual underwriter lined for my mortgage. They don't base loans on your FICO score, but they actually look at your entire ball of wax, your debt to income ratio, your job stability, your current state of health and also your investments. ;)

[Wiscon_Mark]

debit? I think you mean debt.

Debit cards rock.