[Brian]

i know i was supposed to get this done over the holidays, but....

i worked this weekend and got pete's full exhaust installed. header, cat, pipe, muffler, tip. it took me about two hours on three evenings (with a lift, it would take half as long). i also took an hour or so to clean out my starter. highly recommend this for anyone who hasn't already. see bruce's how-to posted under greimann's name.

the hardest part of the install was breaking the old exhaust nuts and bolts. let's just say that my shoulders are sore today and i'm a strong guy.

however, i didn't need any special tools other than some creative wrench usage. there were lots of tight spaces where you couldn't even fit a socket.



i used some copper sealer like he recommended, so i only drove it for about five minutes last night. 0-70 a couple of times and then back to the garage. probably shouldn't even have done that, but i couldn't resist.



i know everyone wants to know about sound... at idle, it's low, deep. not obnoxious, but you definitely notice a difference. and just from behind the tail pipe. during accel, it's pretty loud. good loud. a very deep growl. definitely puts you in touch with the engine. at cruising, you don't even hear it.



the performance... well, i don't have any test equipment, so this is just sotp. it's definitely faster. i mean, there's no hesitation anywhere during accel. you drive and all the sudden you can feel the gear shifter vibrate a tad and you're at 7k. i didn't notice any pauses or torque drops. not saying there isn't something, but i didn't feel it. the accel is very smooth and very fast. feels like you removed a parachute or something.



i know there's also a pretty sig weight loss with the new system. that must factor into the better accel. i think it was more than that. the engine just runs better.



i know the purists will want to argue about what's perfect. i'm just a novice who wanted a christmas treat, so keep that in mind. it was very expensive and probably most won't want to pay for it. in hindsight, might not be worth all the $$$. but i'm not one to look back. i'm very impressed with the improvement and can't wait to take it out tonight and really drive it hard.



another bonus is that pet's new tip looks really cool. more stout that the orig.

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[Harvey]

Wind it out to about 5k rpm in low gear and back off and listen for the popping and crackling. How is it?



Harvey

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[kgain968]

Yes that is the litmus test ^

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[Brian]

okay, i'm not that bright.

what does the rev test accomplish? <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/smile.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

i'll give 'er a shot tonight.

got stuck with 'domestic duty' last night.

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[kgain968]

Just that most don't like the reverb, bakfire sounds you get right off throttle, like the honda's do <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/wink.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

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[Brian]

i'm picturing uncle buck. did you ever see that movie?

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[RS Barn]

There isn't any backfiring, poping,rice effects on decel. Actually it sounds great on decel. Kind of BMW like

Pete

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[Brian]

yeah, i was joking about uncle buck.

i haven't heard any popping or strange noises of any kind.



just the rumble down below. sounds and feels more muscular.



i took my brother for a ride at lunch and he really liked it.

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[Richard]

Brian,



Uncle Buck is a very funny movie; John Candy at his finest.



I like this quote from Uncle Buck when he meets his niece Moley's teacher who has a huge mole on her face:



"I'm Buck Melanoma. Moley Russell's wart. Not her wart. Not her wart! I'm... I'm the wart. She's my tumor. My... my growth. My... uh, my pimple. I'm Uncle Wart. Just old Buck "Wart" Russell. That's what they call me, or Melanoma Head. They'll call me that. "Melanoma Head's coming." I'm s... uncle! Maisy Russell's uncle!"



Anyway, thanks for the info about your new exhaust system.

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[Brian]

richard - that was a great scene.

john candy is sorely missed by many movie fans, that's for sure. it's too bad so many talented funny people take such poor care of themselves. i really miss chris farley, too. he made me laugh!



just for kicks, i did rev up the engine and let off the gas. no popping or crackling or anything. just smooth lovely exhuast tones.



and like pete was telling me, the sound gets sweeter as the car warms up. it's a tad raspy with a cold engine, but once everything is warm, whooooo. nice.



now that the sealant has cured, i can't complain about a single thing.

sounds like a muscle car.

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[Mark]

I look forward to meeting Pete Monday when I drop the car off for a going over. If the damage to the wallet isn't too bad then the exhaust and possibly a few other RSBarn goodies will go on.

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[kgain968]

Pete mentions that with the full system header to muffler) can be made louder if one desires, I wonder if this is something that can be done(if needed) to the cat back systemitself? Apparently his catback is less audible than the B&B, without having heard either in person I have no idea which is preferable.

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[Cloud9...68]

[quote name='Brian' date='Jan 9 2006, 10:38 AM']i also took an hour or so to clean out my starter. [/quote]



Thanks for the description of the exhaust, but what I am even more in awe of is that you did the starter clean-up in an hour. It took me an hour just to remove the dern split ring! Congrats on the exhaust!

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[Mark]

Pete mentions that with the full system header to muffler) can be made louder if one desires, I wonder if this is something that can be done(if needed) to the cat back systemitself? Apparently his catback is less audible than the B&B, without having heard either in person I have no idea which is preferable.

[right][post="14479"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right]

I'll try and remember to ask him Monday



edit quoted wrong post. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/smile.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

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[BruceWard]

With all the posts about B&B and Flash exhausts I wonder why there is not more interest in the RS Barn Exhaust?



Pete I understand that your mechanic worked on the design for a year or more. Could you tell us more about the development and results?



Thanks

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[Mark]

Pete was destined to work on Porsche 968s. His shop is on German Ave and his phone number is 215-968-2599. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/biggrin.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

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[RS Barn]

    Bruce,

My exhaust project took a long time for two reasons. I originally worked with Jerry

Stahl and Michael Mount on the Header. I asked Jerry to reccomend an exhaust system for the car. He was in favor of a complete slip fit system and he liked my idea for ceramic coated pipes. The first thing he told me was to use a "Reverse Flow Muffler as long as possible. He has done much testing with his headers and drag cars. I sorta took his advice and tried not only a RFM but many others. Well guess what his original reccomdation worked best. BUT!!! I really didn't like the slip fit system he built for me. We had all sorts of weird brackets and it was difficult to seal.

Plan B

I went to the guy who does all the prototypes for Fabspeed and had him make a protype in stainless that would be a direct bolt up. To do this and use the muffler we wanted we had to make up an intricate rear mounting bracket. Once we had that we had to wait for Plazma cutting to make a bunch and then make a jig for welding. The stainless long pipes are mandrell bent and jig welded. Then finding the right tip and making a jig for that.

It just takes time.

I'm very happy with the system.

I wanted the system to be a performance and appearence upgrade as a stand alone or with my Header. You can bolt up the cat back and feel a difference. I've only done testing of the cat back with the Header with great results. I've emailed dyno sheets to many people.

Since I have excellent gains with header/exhaust combo I don't need to pursue any changes in my exhaust. The exhaust is limited by the Header and without it you are leaving power on the table.

Pete

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[Brian]

i didn't want to mention the dyno report unless pete brought it up.

since he has, he emailed a copy to me that was very impressive. that's what sold me the system.

i couldn't justify spending tons of cash for a sound enhancer. i have too many other things to work on with the car right now. the stock system is very quiet, and i understand wanting more volume. just not my taste.

i know that there are those who disagree, but the car is faster. i wish the weather here had permitted some before and after 0-60 tests. not that it's too scientific, but would have helped.



i don't know how the cat-back system affects sound, but i will tell you that the full boat is plenty loud. i can't imagine wanting it any louder. it disappears at cruising speeds, but as soon as you push the gas, you'll hear it. i wouldn't suggest any more volume, personally.

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[BruceWard]

Pete, that all sounds good. How are the new dyno tests coming along? I have the exhaust + chip + header results and am impressed.

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[RS Barn]

Bruce,

New cams are in car and just waiting for final spec on timing. Then off to Cyntex.

could be real soon,

Pete

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