[Mark]

I just drove a couple of hundred miles after installing the header and RSBarn chip designed for the header mod. Wow!, amazing difference in power and how quickly the engine spins up. I was impressed with the air box, exhaust and chip mod before, this adds on just as much of a difference, if not more. Flash as quickly as the engines spools now I can't imagine what yours does with the light flywheel.



I also upgraded the suspension with M030 sways (already had them in the other 968), Chassis Stiffener, and KW Variant 3. We all know the cabs benefit immediately from the M030 sways, the Chassis stiffener made an incredible difference and the KW3 is obviously a hell of an upgrade over the stock 13 year old suspension. I do need to play with the settings on the KW some more but so far so good.



I'm glad I had already paid for all of this before the dog got some bad news from the vet and now my vet bills will be going through the roof and suck up the rest of my discretionary funds plus some. On the plus side for the dog the car is now low enough for him to step right into. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/smile.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />



Only downside would be the changed exhaust note with the header, for now I'll just be cranking the stereo up.

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[Darth Vadar]

Great job well done, Mark!



I finally got mine up in the air, and am tearing (well, maybe not exactly) into the various projects... first the Clutch hydraulics; new master, hose and slave. No problem so far (if you are a midget and can fit between the seat and the steering wheel, upside down!!!). Then the M030 Bars and Coilovers...Yee Ha! Get ready to ride!

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[rhudeboye]

[quote name='Mark' post='35658' date='May 19 2007, 04:52 AM']Only downside would be the changed exhaust note with the header, for now I'll just be cranking the stereo up.[/quote]



How would you describe the change in note?

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[Mark]

I'll let one of our resident audiophiles describe it-- Flash I think you've heard this combo before.

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[flash]

lol - ok - "blues riff in b - follow my lead, and watch for the changes"



once it's warm, it sounds good, especially from inside the cabin - there is a slight ratty thing if you rap it up quickly, which is exacerbated by a light flywheel - cold, the ratty part is pretty ricey



i currently have a different cat-back in there, which does resolve some of it, but i have not yet tested it to see how it performs compared to the rs barn cat-back - i think i put too large a resonator in there, and will be trying a shorter one very soon



it's the nature of a 4 to 1 to transmit more noise - i think thicker tubing would resolve most of it, and probably scavange better, but i don't know if it could be bent in these shapes, and from talking to pete, it will be pretty tough to get it done



it's on my list of things to do, even if i have to bend it up myself, but for the next few weeks, i am crammed getting the braces done - the header will ahve to wait until winter - besides, between now and then, i'm starting movement on the supercharger project

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[Mark]

Having only heard it cold that is probably the case, I'll hvae to turn the stereo down after things warm up. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/smile.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

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[flash]

yeah - as i've always said though - not nearly bad enough to give up the power it provides

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[Mark]

Whole heartedly agree, looking forward to





and we'll see what that makes it sound like. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/ohmy.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

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[Etnier]

[quote name='Mark' post='35658' date='May 19 2007, 07:52 AM']Only downside would be the changed exhaust note with the header...[/quote]



I've had this setup in place for a year now: and have enjoyed having it on the car. I would add one further downside, at least for owners of light-colored cars. The modified exhaust dumps soot onto the rear of the car like crazy. I don't know if it's from the freer flow or the change in tip/position, but it's a real pain. Have been to some local exhaust shops for help and they all just shrug.



This stuff does not wipe off: it has to be compounded off, which makes it impossible to wax that area and of course will mean eventual repainting.

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[Mark]

Hmm-- Looking at the back of my two cars it seems they are both at the same angle/position - fortunately it's the midnight blue one that has the header if this becomes a problem. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/smile.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

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[Cloud9...68]

[quote name='Etnier' post='35681' date='May 20 2007, 06:40 AM']I've had this setup in place for a year now: and have enjoyed having it on the car. I would add one further downside, at least for owners of light-colored cars. The modified exhaust dumps soot onto the rear of the car like crazy. I don't know if it's from the freer flow or the change in tip/position, but it's a real pain. Have been to some local exhaust shops for help and they all just shrug.



This stuff does not wipe off: it has to be compounded off, which makes it impossible to wax that area and of course will mean eventual repainting.[/quote]



First of all, it sounds like you've gotten the issues you were struggling with resolved - glad to hear it. About the soot: I don't know if you installed the full exhaust all at once, or if you first did the cat back, then added the header, but do you know if the soot happens with just the cat back, or only with the full header + high flow cat + cat back? For those with just the cat back, do you get the soot? Thanks.

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[Mark]

I don't have a problem with the cat back on either of mine before the header and I don't have the problem with the cat back after the header, at least so far.





As for the sound, I drove around today top down with the stereo off and decided it wasn't that bad even when cold. It's just different.

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[PorscheDude]

[quote name='Cloud9...68' post='35683' date='May 20 2007, 08:49 AM']First of all, it sounds like you've gotten the issues you were struggling with resolved - glad to hear it. About the soot: I don't know if you installed the full exhaust all at once, or if you first did the cat back, then added the header, but do you know if the soot happens with just the cat back, or only with the full header + high flow cat + cat back? For those with just the cat back, do you get the soot? Thanks.[/quote]



I have a polar silver car with B&B cat back. I do get a little soot, but not much and it cleans off pretty easy.

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[Cloud9...68]

Interesting how different people are having different experiences with the soot. To add one other variable into the soot equation, anybody out there with just the free flow cat + cat back?

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[banditsc]

[quote name='flash' post='35671' date='May 19 2007, 05:04 PM']it's the nature of a 4 to 1 to transmit more noise - i think thicker tubing would resolve most of it, and probably scavange better, but i don't know if it could be bent in these shapes, and from talking to pete, it will be pretty tough to get it done[/quote]



I wonder if wrapping the headers might cut down on that noise?



[quote name='Cloud9...68' post='35690' date='May 20 2007, 11:06 AM']Interesting how different people are having different experiences with the soot. To add one other variable into the soot equation, anybody out there with just the free flow cat + cat back?[/quote]



You need to factor in the brand of gas and the additives that are in it. Depending on where we are in the country we all get different additives.



Then there is the oil differences that need to be factored in, but let's not go there.

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[rustech]

[quote name='Etnier' post='35681' date='May 20 2007, 04:40 AM']This stuff does not wipe off: it has to be compounded off, which makes it impossible to wax that area and of course will mean eventual repainting.[/quote]



To make cleaning easier, try to get a layer of wax UNDER the soot to protect the paint. I get a bit of soot with my custom flowmaster cat-back, but it wipes off very easy.

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[flash]

wrapping is on the immediate list of things to try



no soot issues on back of car, but i also have my tip sticking out just a touch - that being said, i was running a touch rich and leaving some soot in the tip, so i backed off the fuel pressure regulator a bit and resolved that - i had installed it to bump the pressure up a bit, but i went just a touch too far - corrected now



if the engine is tired, or the O2 sensor is old, or the cat is not big enough or not getting hot enough, it ends up running rich and leaving soot - i would have the mixture checked

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[Etnier]

To the various points raised here:



• I had so much wax under the soot it was ridiculous. Probably 6-8 layers of Regex. Didn't help at all.



• I started with the catback and moved up to the full system, which is when trouble started.



• The troubles alluded to by a poster here are not cleared up. I have replaced and/or cleaned many suspect components trying to figure out why cold starting is poor and the dyno pull I ran came out looking worse than stock. I ran out of energy after a few months, and my local dyno shop went out of business.



• Flash makes a good point about mixture, although the causes he mentions have been examined in the past. I'll look at that again.

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[Peter Empson]

I've found the P21S Total Auto Wash spray is very good at removing soot and exhaust stain from my car, it's citrus based and supposed to be completely safe to use on paintwork. I'd say it's definately worth a try and much kinder on the paint in the long run. It also doubles as a rather effecitve wheel cleaner too.

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[flash]

any chance you did a leakdown test along the way? while it is very common to try to make a direct connection to an item when changes are being made, it may not be actually connected



i would start with the basics - verify compression at over 180, verify leakdown at below 10%, verify function of variocam - verify function of O2 sensor (new or not) - then check mixture - it sounds like you are running very rich



have the injectors been checked or serviced? do you smell fuel anywhere at any time?

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