Edubs
October 8th, 2007, 2:36pm
Updated w/ Videos on bottom!!! (Thanks to Rollover360!)
Finally got a chance to make it out to RD Fabs this weekend. We spent all day Saturday there while Ryan fabbed up the exhaust out of T-304 Stainless piping. This is all custom, TIG welded and specific to my application. It also completes my whole exhaust fabrication at RD Fabs. A while back, he had fabbed up my header and downpipe for me. All together, the system is pretty damn sweet.
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w86/howark/RDFabsLSJHeader.jpg
Custom, long-tube 4-1 header down to 3" where it meets the catalytic converter.
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w86/howark/RDFabsLSJDownpipe.jpg
After the cat is where we had to put the flex-pipe because the header was so long, we didn't have room for my 02 bung and the flex-pipe. Cat is a magnaflow 3".
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w86/howark/2006CobaltSSCatback9.jpg
Flex-pipe is triple walled stainless, way better than the typical flex-pipe used in aftermarket applications.
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w86/howark/2006CobaltSSCatback5.jpg
After the flex pipe is the first of two 3" resonators. The resonators are made by the Exhaust Dr. on E-bay. All stainless construction and T-304 just like everything else.
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w86/howark/2006CobaltSSCatback4.jpg
Then it's 3" all the way back to the second resonator where the stock muffler was. We only spot welded that muffler so we could change it out in the future if wanted. We used SS band clamps over the slip and spot weld to keep any exhaust leaks from ever happening. We also used turbo-clamps and custom gaskets at all other connections in the exhaust for easy removal and service. And yes, we cut and ground down the stock tip to weld back on. Looks nice while the car is on the ground.
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w86/howark/2006CobaltSSCatback6.jpg
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w86/howark/2006CobaltSSCatback8.jpg
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w86/howark/2006CobaltSSCatback2.jpg
All in all, I'm really happy with the way it turned out. As you would guess, it is loud as hell. It is also the cleanest and most crisp sounding exhaust I've heard on an LSJ. Still, really loud, lol, but sounds freakin' mean. The only thing I can compare it to; honestly, is a busa'. My car sounds like a big freakin' crotch-rocket...and I'm cool w/ that... Power-wise, the car definately feels faster up-top and didn't seem to lose any down-low. Unfortunately, I also have cams and boost-bleeding off below 4K in first and second because I like my transmission and driveshafts how they are. I'm heading down to Tune Time on 10/20 to have Matt fine tune for the full exhaust, I can update on power then. At this point it's all speculation.
I'd like to thank Ryan and Chris at RD Fabs for all the help they've given me. They're great guys and certainly know what they're doing when it comes to stainless fabrication. Definately worth taking a trip to their shop if you're within range. This whole exhaust system is Ryan's (the owner) work. This guy can do everything from intakes and exhausts to custom turbo setups and conversions. He actually did a rear-end swap from, I think, a 300ZX TT into his grand prix. That thing is going to be a beast when he's done w/ it.
Start up/ light rev(under 3K)- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qcOc02bGd0
Taking off getting ready for the flybys- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htCGv3Tf6NY
1st Flyby around ~120mph- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYbclzZFbrY
2nd Flyby around ~110mph- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2mnq2cQSWc
Finally got a chance to make it out to RD Fabs this weekend. We spent all day Saturday there while Ryan fabbed up the exhaust out of T-304 Stainless piping. This is all custom, TIG welded and specific to my application. It also completes my whole exhaust fabrication at RD Fabs. A while back, he had fabbed up my header and downpipe for me. All together, the system is pretty damn sweet.
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w86/howark/RDFabsLSJHeader.jpg
Custom, long-tube 4-1 header down to 3" where it meets the catalytic converter.
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w86/howark/RDFabsLSJDownpipe.jpg
After the cat is where we had to put the flex-pipe because the header was so long, we didn't have room for my 02 bung and the flex-pipe. Cat is a magnaflow 3".
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w86/howark/2006CobaltSSCatback9.jpg
Flex-pipe is triple walled stainless, way better than the typical flex-pipe used in aftermarket applications.
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w86/howark/2006CobaltSSCatback5.jpg
After the flex pipe is the first of two 3" resonators. The resonators are made by the Exhaust Dr. on E-bay. All stainless construction and T-304 just like everything else.
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w86/howark/2006CobaltSSCatback4.jpg
Then it's 3" all the way back to the second resonator where the stock muffler was. We only spot welded that muffler so we could change it out in the future if wanted. We used SS band clamps over the slip and spot weld to keep any exhaust leaks from ever happening. We also used turbo-clamps and custom gaskets at all other connections in the exhaust for easy removal and service. And yes, we cut and ground down the stock tip to weld back on. Looks nice while the car is on the ground.
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w86/howark/2006CobaltSSCatback6.jpg
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w86/howark/2006CobaltSSCatback8.jpg
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w86/howark/2006CobaltSSCatback2.jpg
All in all, I'm really happy with the way it turned out. As you would guess, it is loud as hell. It is also the cleanest and most crisp sounding exhaust I've heard on an LSJ. Still, really loud, lol, but sounds freakin' mean. The only thing I can compare it to; honestly, is a busa'. My car sounds like a big freakin' crotch-rocket...and I'm cool w/ that... Power-wise, the car definately feels faster up-top and didn't seem to lose any down-low. Unfortunately, I also have cams and boost-bleeding off below 4K in first and second because I like my transmission and driveshafts how they are. I'm heading down to Tune Time on 10/20 to have Matt fine tune for the full exhaust, I can update on power then. At this point it's all speculation.
I'd like to thank Ryan and Chris at RD Fabs for all the help they've given me. They're great guys and certainly know what they're doing when it comes to stainless fabrication. Definately worth taking a trip to their shop if you're within range. This whole exhaust system is Ryan's (the owner) work. This guy can do everything from intakes and exhausts to custom turbo setups and conversions. He actually did a rear-end swap from, I think, a 300ZX TT into his grand prix. That thing is going to be a beast when he's done w/ it.
Start up/ light rev(under 3K)- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qcOc02bGd0
Taking off getting ready for the flybys- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htCGv3Tf6NY
1st Flyby around ~120mph- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYbclzZFbrY
2nd Flyby around ~110mph- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2mnq2cQSWc