Exhaust for my 1997 Legacy GT?

[anwieczo]

Huh, so you say wrap will make it quieter?

From what I've read over at RS25, yes.

Some ceramic header wrap should do the trick. I believe some of the knockoffs made the "sewing machine" sound, real Borlas do not.

I know mine for a fact, it does not have a leak and you can definitely hear the valvetrain through those thin ass collectors.

Will warping the header cause it to crack? I have heard of this happening to some Honda owners before... I am not sure if the stainless steel will not crack because its steel...

[2.5GT]

Depending on where you live. Over time, water, salt and other crap will trap into the header and causing it to rust out or crack. That's from what I've read and it seems pretty plausible.

You can spray a light coat of ceramic high temp. paint on the header and let it sit to cure, wrap the whole thing, then spray another coat on the wrap.

I might be thinking of doing this when i get the time. I'm tired of that stupid noise

[kevbot]

you guys know where to get the proper gaskets and o2 sensor/spacers? I'm replacing both cats and axleback/muffler.

[jey]

you guys know where to get the proper gaskets and o2 sensor/spacers? I'm replacing both cats and axleback/muffler.

Dealership - O2 sensors will plug and play. If you don't mind splicing you can save a few bucks and buy generic O2 sensors at any auto parts store.

[anwieczo]

Well I just had my exhaust custom made and honestly those headers we bought are not bad at all. The header went on relatively easily other than my stock studs being rusted on(a lot of drilling!) I honestly don't hear the valvetrain noise everyone is talking about. I am not sure if this is because my car is catless or if its the muffler I am using but I don't seem to hear it . The car sounds really good with a deep aggressive tone. I will post some pics later when I get done installing a few other parts.

[chuckthefuk]

Valve train noise? I have the same setup with a hi-flow cat and I cant hear my lifters unless I am at 5500+ rpm.

you guys know where to get the proper gaskets and o2 sensor/spacers? I'm replacing both cats and axleback/muffler.

Dealership - O2 sensors will plug and play. If you don't mind splicing you can save a few bucks and buy generic O2 sensors at any auto parts store.

Don't splice! For every splice can causes more resistance which potentially leads you to irregular readings. Even the O2 extenders can cause this. You can get the universal O2 spacers from ebay for less then $30 after shipping.

-Chuck

[anothernord]

For the spacer, you can use "help" brand spark plug non foulers, then drill them out so the sensor fits. Check my DIY called "cel p0420 fix.

[1-3-2-4]

My headers are leaking it's bad enough to sound like a lifter.. so I have a reason to change and get it over with I had planned to do it but it was not something major.

[Navi271]

i have to stupid sewing sound too, haven't been really annoyed about it so i haven't thought about doing anything to fix it.
I have the P0420 CEL also, just got all exhaust leaks fixed and its still throwing it out, funny thing is my gas mileage is always lower, like to around 20-21mpg (keep in mind im driving a '95 legacy L 2.2L) I used to get like 24mpg city and 28 highway. So now I want to get a "high" flow cat and do anothernord's P0420 fix so hopefully the CEL will go away for good! and it'll upgrade the exhaust too.

Thinking about wrapping the headers too now that i'm reading this thread.. If i do any of this i'll let you all know

[1-3-2-4]

hmm I wonder if I will have the same issues..

[anothernord]

You will most likely get the P0420 with the headers. I used the 2 spacers for the rear O2 and I haven't had it reoccur since.

[green97gt]

ok...so maybe this is stupid....

but on my dodge truck, i swapped a 318 v8 and headers etc. i got a o2/cat code i dont remember which, but i just removed the rear o2 and plugged the hole. let the sensor dangle, i actually zip tied it to the frame rail.

isnt adding spacers essentially removing the rear o2 from the exhaust stream? and if so why not just take it out and plug the hole in the exhaust?

please someone enlightern me.

[anothernord]

ok...so maybe this is stupid....

but on my dodge truck, i swapped a 318 v8 and headers etc. i got a o2/cat code i dont remember which, but i just removed the rear o2 and plugged the hole. let the sensor dangle, i actually zip tied it to the frame rail.

isnt adding spacers essentially removing the rear o2 from the exhaust stream? and if so why not just take it out and plug the hole in the exhaust?

please someone enlightern me.

If you remove it too much it will throw a code because it isn't seeing enough signal.

[1-3-2-4]

You will most likely get the P0420 with the headers. I used the 2 spacers for the rear O2 and I haven't had it reoccur since.

Don't know if you said but how long did it take for the code to pop up with the headers?

[anothernord]

You will most likely get the P0420 with the headers. I used the 2 spacers for the rear O2 and I haven't had it reoccur since.

Don't know if you said but how long did it take for the code to pop up with the headers?

It didn't come up for a while actually, it just came while I was cruising at 55 down a county road. Others on RS2.5 seem to confirm that it is more likely to pop up under highway cruising.

[Navi271]

hmm.. highway cruising you say?? so did mine, and now that i think about it, every time i cleared the CEL it would come back on when i was on the highway...

[anothernord]

hmm.. highway cruising you say?? so did mine, and now that i think about it, every time i cleared the CEL it would come back on when i was on the highway...

Yep, something about how a constant high volume of exhaust causes the CEL.

[seattlelegacy2.2]

[1-3-2-4]

Is the Oxygen Spacer only a Ebay thing? Going to order the headers early tomorrow morning and anyone here use the gaskets that came with them?

[anothernord]

Is the Oxygen Spacer only a Ebay thing? Going to order the headers early tomorrow morning and anyone here use the gaskets that came with them?

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/viewtopic.php?f=39&t=14675

[1-3-2-4]

Hmm.. and I take it the ebay spacers need to be drilled too? (I don't have a drill press) Nor do I have a vice.

[anothernord]

Hmm.. and I take it the ebay spacers need to be drilled too? (I don't have a drill press) Nor do I have a vice.

Yep. All you need is something to keep it from spinning. You could even use a crescent wrench and sort of ghetto-hold it while you drill. I just used a plain old power drill.

Edit: They are spacers from Checker's I don't know anything about finding them on ebay.

[1-3-2-4]

lol I burned out the power plug on my cordless but I know where I can use a sweet power drill So I should have everything worked out.

[jey]

Yeah I used my cordless drill and did it in my sink (it gets really hot so running cold water on it while drilling helps.) Used a pipe wrench to hold it and just drilled away.

[1-3-2-4]

Yeah I used my cordless drill and did it in my sink (it gets really hot so running cold water on it while drilling helps.) Used a pipe wrench to hold it and just drilled away.

yeah I thought about my pipe wrench I have and I can use that.. I forgot I had to use it for something else I had to drill.

picked up the plugs but can't find my drill bits lmao...

a 1/2" bit wow not cheap... I better look harder :walk:

[1-3-2-4]

Man this Speedyracer.. I don't know if I should of picked another vendor.. the number I called on the site seems to be a fax so I emailed them to see what's up.

[anothernord]

I found a number for their office and I was helped almost immediately. Don't know where the number went but it is findable.

[HeresMyMind]

alright guys let me give you my take on exhausts since i've had a few. I will always go with stromung/cobb in future cars because of how well they have served me, they look, sound and work amazing.

Headers,
-I HAD borla headers and the ticking with them was loud and annoying. the welds were crummy, and they were welded on the inside section of the flanges. NOT the outside. bought them with a small crack, i welded it up, and they cracked again at the flange for the cat pipe. Put new welds all the way around every flange and sold em for 50$.
-I put on replica headers about 2 weeks ago, the welds were better quality IMO, the ticking is still there, but NOT as loud. found out with an oil change that these headers only work with the Bosche filter or Mobile 1 filter. the fram tough gaurds are too big. the bosch filter barely fits and you have to loosen the headers slightly to get it to come off. the mobile 1 is smaller than the rest and doesn't require any fabrication to install/remove

cat pipe,
-Installed a stromung HFC about a year back, I installed the rear o2 sensor spacer (anti-fouler spark plug thing). and have never thrown a code and I did pass emissions here in CT. Also was nice to use this pipe to install my wideband 02 sensor for my AEM wideband kit

Mid Pipe,
-Stromung mid pipe (non-resonated). Install was simple, its a simple part. IF you use a High Flow Cat, and you have a louder axleback i HIGHLY recommend getting a resonator welded into the midpipe to cut down on rasp, I had a HKS axleback for less than 30 minutes because of how obnoxious it was.

Axle Back,
-SPT was my first one, and although it looked much nicer than stock, and it was slightly louder. once i put on headers and the rest of the exhaust the SPT sounded thin and "tin like". Also noted: the SPT axleback retains stock piping diameter 2"
-Stromung Catback single tip. By far best exhaust for our cars in my opinion, nice and rumbly in town, little to no drone on highways. Also since it looks somewhat stock, I have never been pulled over for exhaust noise or illegal exhaust mods like the Impreza guys do here in CT

-B

[Navi271]

YOU ARE TOTALLY RIGHT!! i have the SPT exhaust and the knockoff headers and i'm sick of the sound!
So pretty much stromung is the way to go? Is this the same stuff off of boxer4racing.com? I've wondered how well it fit on a wagon...

[1-3-2-4]

I was going to get a maganflow muffler with new piping for it