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Old 09-08-2004, 10:46 PM   #1
mjalex007
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2005 Baja Turbo
Black

Default Installed a cat-back today

It took me way longer than I thought it would, but I installed a cat-back exhaust today. I bought it from Xcceleration, the only place I could find that sold one for the Baja. It's made by Random Tech, and I guess I could have gotten the same one elsewhere if I had looked.

It's a nicely made piece. It's hard to put into words, but the exhaust note in noticeably deeper but not loud at idle. When you get on the gas, it sounds great--again, not loud.

The car is definitely pulling harder; I notice it especially in third gear. Once I get some sort of fuel managment, I 'll put it on a Dyno.

Some observations about the RT: One, the supplied bolts that are supposed to go at the cat are too large for flange (OEM side). Two, the supplied gasket is too large. No amount of compression is going to make that one fit. Three, the bolts that go between the muffler and pipe are too small (or the flange holes are too big). They'll pull right through the flange holes without much effort.

I was able to use the stock bolts, with some washers, at the rear. I tried
to use the stock bolts at the cat but they are spring loaded and there's
no way that I can reuse them (can't compress the springs enough to thread the nuts). I stuck in some bolts that I had handy but I need to replace them
with something a bit longer. I reused the stock gasket--got a leak there
but I can fix that with the longer bolts.
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Old 09-08-2004, 10:47 PM   #2
Samirr76
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Nice! Keep us posted!
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Old 09-09-2004, 12:21 AM   #3
Kc2Buk
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Cool!
Thanks for the tips and feed back.
To spend $599.99 for a CatBack exhaust system for my Baja Turbo
and find out in the middle of the install that the nuts, bolts and gaskets that are included don't fit right would make me very unhappy.

How heavy was the stock pipes and Muffler?
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Old 09-09-2004, 01:21 AM   #4
BajaNut
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some pics of it would be great. I would like to see what it looks like installed.
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Old 09-09-2004, 07:25 AM   #5
mjalex007
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I'll take pictures in the next day or so, when it stops raining.

I didn't weigh the OEM exhaust and muffler but it weighs a ton! The muffler is huge! If I can manuever it onto the bathroon scale to weigh it correctly, I'll do that too.
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Old 09-09-2004, 09:28 AM   #6
Kc2Buk
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mjalex007
I'll take pictures in the next day or so, when it stops raining.

I didn't weigh the OEM exhaust and muffler but it weighs a ton! The muffler is huge! If I can manuever it onto the bathroon scale to weigh it correctly, I'll do that too.
HaHaha... LMFAO
"The OEM exhaust and muffler but it weighs a ton!"
Nuff said!
Thanks,
How long did it take to get your CatBack exhaust system?
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Old 09-09-2004, 11:57 AM   #7
mjalex007
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kc2Buk
How long did it take to get your CatBack exhaust system?
It took me about five hours! I spent a good part of the time fussing with the bolts and gaskets. I had to scrounge around for bolts/nuts that would work, and I kept screwing around trying to use the gasket RT supplied thinking that I must be doing something wrong. I wound up taking out the part of the OEM pipe with the cat, assembling the whole thing on the floor and then rolling it back under the Baja using my creeper. I also had to back track a couple of times because of errors on my part. One such error: The catted pipe I removed is held in place by a bracket, and if you don't remember to fit that in right before you tighten everything, you have to go back and loosen the bolts and jiggle it to get it onto the bracket.
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Old 09-09-2004, 11:54 PM   #8
ajabobrut
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mjalex007
It took me way longer than I thought it would, but I installed a cat-back exhaust today. I bought it from Xcceleration, the only place I could find that sold one for the Baja. It's made by Random Tech, and I guess I could have gotten the same one elsewhere if I had looked.

It's a nicely made piece. It's hard to put into words, but the exhaust note in noticeably deeper but not loud at idle. When you get on the gas, it sounds great--again, not loud.

The car is definitely pulling harder; I notice it especially in third gear. Once I get some sort of fuel managment, I 'll put it on a Dyno.

Some observations about the RT: One, the supplied bolts that are supposed to go at the cat are too large for flange (OEM side). Two, the supplied gasket is too large. No amount of compression is going to make that one fit. Three, the bolts that go between the muffler and pipe are too small (or the flange holes are too big). They'll pull right through the flange holes without much effort.

I was able to use the stock bolts, with some washers, at the rear. I tried
to use the stock bolts at the cat but they are spring loaded and there's
no way that I can reuse them (can't compress the springs enough to thread the nuts). I stuck in some bolts that I had handy but I need to replace them
with something a bit longer. I reused the stock gasket--got a leak there
but I can fix that with the longer bolts.


Did you have any problem with the center pipe being alittle long,mine is.I do like the sound,still quiet.I had the same problem with the bolts.I had to put my stock center pipe back on till i find out what to do,send it back or get it shorten.I'm going to try to find some heat shield tape and stick it under the bumper above the tail pipe tip,the bumper gets alittle warm.

Last edited by ajabobrut; 09-10-2004 at 12:08 AM.
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Old 09-10-2004, 07:20 AM   #9
mjalex007
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2005 Baja Turbo
Black

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Quote:
Originally Posted by ajabobrut
Did you have any problem with the center pipe being alittle long,mine is.I do like the sound,still quiet.I had the same problem with the bolts.I had to put my stock center pipe back on till i find out what to do,send it back or get it shorten.I'm going to try to find some heat shield tape and stick it under the bumper above the tail pipe tip,the bumper gets alittle warm.
It was a tight fit but I don't think it was too long. Yes, the tip is right up against the rear bumper. I ordered a set of Kartboy long hangers yesterday. They're an inch longer than stock so that should be enough to give me the clearance.

All this fidgeting, trial and error comes from having only one outfit making an exhaust. You just don't have the options or the feedback on which to base a buying decision... I wrote a letter to Xcceleration, but tell you the truth, I doubt that any of it will reach Random Technology who make the exhaust. Heck, I think I'll just send them this link!
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Old 09-10-2004, 10:29 PM   #10
Kc2Buk
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What Size piping is that anyway? 2.5" or 3" Diameter?
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Old 09-11-2004, 09:45 AM   #11
mjalex007
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kc2Buk
What Size piping is that anyway? 2.5" or 3" Diameter?

Three inch, with a four inch tip

More details here
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Old 09-18-2004, 02:38 PM   #12
mjalex007
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Just an update... The muffler tip was right up against the rear bumper so I decided to try the Kartboy long hangers. Those will do the trick with room to spare. The thing I don't like about the Kartboy hangers is the holes for the flanges are huge, I wouldn't be surprised if one or the other doesn't pop off... For peace of mind, I'm going to look around of alternatives.

I sent Random Tech some pictures of the fit, along with the parts that didn't fit (gasket and some bolts) but I never heard anything from them. Xcceleration, who sold me the pipe, has been very responsive. I wouldn't advise you to try to deal with RT direct--they don't seem to care much one way or the other.
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Old 09-18-2004, 05:59 PM   #13
Chris N
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Thanks for the update.
Those headers at Xccelleration are pretty horny lookin! I bet A Baja owner would see better HP gains than a STi WRX owner would.
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Old 09-23-2004, 11:08 PM   #14
jv01
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if its the same as forester if you just do cat back you need adapter flange because youre going from 2.5 to 3 inches
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