|
|
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
09-08-2004, 10:46 PM | #1 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 66022
Join Date: Jul 2004
Chapter/Region:
NESIC
Location: Massachusetts
Vehicle:2005 Baja Turbo Black |
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.
* Registered users of the site do not see these ads.
|
09-08-2004, 10:47 PM | #2 |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 4835
Join Date: Mar 2001
Chapter/Region:
Tri-State
Location: Fl33tw00d, PA
Vehicle:2003 Baja 5MT Yellow w/ 220,000 miles |
Nice! Keep us posted!
|
09-09-2004, 12:21 AM | #3 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 69477
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Hamilton, NJ
Vehicle:2006 Evo IX Electric Blue |
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? |
09-09-2004, 01:21 AM | #4 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 36905
Join Date: May 2003
Chapter/Region:
BAIC
Location: Kirkland, WA
Vehicle:2014 Outback SAP leggtnut on lgt.com |
some pics of it would be great. I would like to see what it looks like installed.
|
09-09-2004, 07:25 AM | #5 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 66022
Join Date: Jul 2004
Chapter/Region:
NESIC
Location: Massachusetts
Vehicle:2005 Baja Turbo Black |
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. |
09-09-2004, 09:28 AM | #6 | |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 69477
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Hamilton, NJ
Vehicle:2006 Evo IX Electric Blue |
Quote:
"The OEM exhaust and muffler but it weighs a ton!" Nuff said! Thanks, How long did it take to get your CatBack exhaust system? |
|
09-09-2004, 11:57 AM | #7 | |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 66022
Join Date: Jul 2004
Chapter/Region:
NESIC
Location: Massachusetts
Vehicle:2005 Baja Turbo Black |
Quote:
|
|
09-09-2004, 11:54 PM | #8 | |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 56726
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Cantonment,FL
Vehicle:2004 Baja Turbo Regatta Red Pearl |
Quote:
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. |
|
09-10-2004, 07:20 AM | #9 | |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 66022
Join Date: Jul 2004
Chapter/Region:
NESIC
Location: Massachusetts
Vehicle:2005 Baja Turbo Black |
Quote:
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! |
|
09-10-2004, 10:29 PM | #10 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 69477
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Hamilton, NJ
Vehicle:2006 Evo IX Electric Blue |
What Size piping is that anyway? 2.5" or 3" Diameter?
|
09-11-2004, 09:45 AM | #11 | |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 66022
Join Date: Jul 2004
Chapter/Region:
NESIC
Location: Massachusetts
Vehicle:2005 Baja Turbo Black |
Quote:
Three inch, with a four inch tip More details here |
|
09-18-2004, 02:38 PM | #12 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 66022
Join Date: Jul 2004
Chapter/Region:
NESIC
Location: Massachusetts
Vehicle:2005 Baja Turbo Black |
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. |
09-18-2004, 05:59 PM | #13 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 5322
Join Date: Mar 2001
Chapter/Region:
NESIC
Location: Maine
Vehicle:07im +07Leg+00Forest Scooby wrench turner |
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. |
09-23-2004, 11:08 PM | #14 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 65597
Join Date: Jul 2004
Chapter/Region:
NESIC
Location: ct
Vehicle:04 sti |
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
|
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
ordered my spt intake and prodrive cat back today | wrb2006sti | General Community | 13 | 09-09-2006 08:46 PM |
Need help installing Tanabe Cat-Back! | fOoLiO37 | Engine Management & Tuning | 14 | 02-20-2003 06:08 AM |
Installing Borla Cat. Back. Any Suggestions? | Alpine Sube | Normally Aspirated Powertrain | 6 | 03-12-2001 07:57 PM |
anyone have any pictures of an exhaust install from cats back? | joostin420 | Technical Forum Archive | 12 | 08-30-2000 12:52 AM |