Fast Intentions w/18" Resonators Impressions + Video

Nixlimited · 03-19-2012, 10:41 PM

I installed my FI exhaust this weekend with 18" resonators. Here are my early impressions and a video.

Packaging: Came in one large box and everything was bubble wrapped and taped very securely. Even though I believe UPS could ruin anything, this packaging should survive all but the worst (think Jim Carrey in Ace Ventura) delivery man.

Quality: Everything looked awesome. As others have noted, the welds appear to be ground down on the inside of the pipes which should make for the smoothest flow possible. I didn't have any dings or scratches, and the bends looked great.

Install: Honestly, I spent an hour getting my old exhaust off due to several uncooperative bolts, and about 15 minutes getting the FI on. The install was very straight forward and due to the tight tolerances FI obviously keeps, everything went together smoothly. Highly recommend having an impact hammer with a variety of extensions including wobbly headed extensions. Should help get to tight OEM bolts and nuts. For the install part, I would suggest installing the hangers on the exhaust pieces before bolting everything up. Made it easier once everything was together. One thing to note regarding tip spacing at the rear. When I first installed my right tip was a bit higher than my left. Per the instructions, I shimmed it down with two washers, which made it perfect. Then I drove around a bit and when I came back, now the right slightly lower by about a mm. So, lesson learned, give it a quick spin and let everything settle before adjusting. The instructions probably say that, but I honestly didn't really read them.

Sound: I have the 18" resonators and the exhaust note is fantastic. It's very, very reasonable at both idle and kicking around town. You get a bit more cabin noise, as is to be expected, but I haven't noticed any obvious or unbearable drone. To be 100% honest, I am wondering if I should have gone with the 12" resonators since I have had past cars with fairly agressive exhausts and this is the most sedate. I'm not at all disappointed with what I have, but I wouldn't mind a little more of a good thing! I think the car sounds a bit like a BPU Supra now, sans the turbo noise (which i hope to remedy in the future

).

Constructive feedback: The only thing I would change about the kit is the hardware. I am, of course, very happy to support American made products, but it is a bit annoying to have to get out 2x the tools because all the OEM hardware is metric and all the hardware that comes with the FI is English. Very small suggestion. Likewise, I could have used a bit more heat wrap for the gas purge line. The bit I got barely fit around the line and even though I am sure there is nothing to worry about, I would have preferred to wrap more of it. With that said, the fact that heat wrap comes at all was impressive to me.

Thanks Tony and FI for a great product!

And here's the video:

Trips · 03-19-2012, 10:46 PM

Nice to see Another satisfied customer

jpritche · 03-19-2012, 10:47 PM

Hats off to F.I.

It is good to hear that you are satisfied. I have the 12" and I love it. I sometimes wonder if I want the non-resonated

Trips · 03-19-2012, 10:55 PM

Op, I had fixed it for you already, anyway its fixed

XwChriswX · 03-19-2012, 11:02 PM

It's not the 12" Resonators you need, it's the Long Tube Headers.

jpritche · 03-19-2012, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XwChriswX

It's not the 12" Resonators you need, it's the Long Tube Headers.

Sounds AMAZING on Cwis' car!

XwChriswX · 03-19-2012, 11:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpritche

Sounds AMAZING on Cwis' car!

Thanks bud.

jpritche · 03-19-2012, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XwChriswX

Thanks bud.

Anytime man. Tried to give you rep for badass headers...but it wouldn't let me hahah

Nixlimited · 03-20-2012, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XwChriswX

It's not the 12" Resonators you need, it's the Long Tube Headers.

Haha. As I plan to go with a SC kit sometime this year, the LTH are not the best option for me. Were I staying NA, that would be next.

Omikron · 03-20-2012, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XwChriswX

It's not the 12" Resonators you need, it's the Long Tube Headers.

I am pondering these myself since I have the 12" FI now. How bad is the smell with no Cat?

The Dimer · 03-20-2012, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XwChriswX

It's not the 12" Resonators you need, it's the Long Tube Headers.

That's why I settled on the 18" when I ordered mine.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Omikron

I am pondering these myself since I have the 12" FI now. How bad is the smell with no Cat?

There is a guy here in Chicago that has 18" resonators with long tube headers. I asked him about them on ChicagoZ and he said that it's not that bad, even while sitting at a stop light. I hope to be able to find him at a meet to decide for myself.

ZMan8 · 03-20-2012, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Dimer

That's why I settled on the 18" when I ordered mine.

There is a guy here in Chicago that has 18" resonators with long tube headers. I asked him about them on ChicagoZ and he said that it's not that bad, even while sitting at a stop light. I hope to be able to find him at a meet to decide for myself.

haha, Yeah I need to see his setup too before I go that route.

Omikron · 03-20-2012, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Dimer

That's why I settled on the 18" when I ordered mine.

There is a guy here in Chicago that has 18" resonators with long tube headers. I asked him about them on ChicagoZ and he said that it's not that bad, even while sitting at a stop light. I hope to be able to find him at a meet to decide for myself.

Ya, not bad to some people is horrid to me. One big wiff at a light and I am sneezing my arse off, not to mention I just don't want my clothes to smell like exhaust the rest of the day

Let me know what you think if you ever catch up to the guy. Thanks.

Speedy · 03-20-2012, 04:17 PM

Nice man. A 15 minute install, that's gotta be some kind of record. You do it on stands or a lift?

Makes me anxious to get mine. Should be here in about a month or so.

Nixlimited · 03-20-2012, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Speedy

Nice man. A 15 minute install, that's gotta be some kind of record. You do it on stands or a lift?

Makes me anxious to get mine. Should be here in about a month or so.

I did it on stands and I had a helping hand so that makes a difference. But really, the exhaust is made so well that you don't really have to adjust anything. Just install hardware and tighten.

03-19-2012, 10:41 PM	#1 (permalink)
Nixlimited A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: San Diego Posts: 1,235 Drives: 15 GT-R / 11 Prius Rep Power: 25	Fast Intentions w/18" Resonators Impressions + Video I installed my FI exhaust this weekend with 18" resonators. Here are my early impressions and a video. Packaging: Came in one large box and everything was bubble wrapped and taped very securely. Even though I believe UPS could ruin anything, this packaging should survive all but the worst (think Jim Carrey in Ace Ventura) delivery man. Quality: Everything looked awesome. As others have noted, the welds appear to be ground down on the inside of the pipes which should make for the smoothest flow possible. I didn't have any dings or scratches, and the bends looked great. Install: Honestly, I spent an hour getting my old exhaust off due to several uncooperative bolts, and about 15 minutes getting the FI on. The install was very straight forward and due to the tight tolerances FI obviously keeps, everything went together smoothly. Highly recommend having an impact hammer with a variety of extensions including wobbly headed extensions. Should help get to tight OEM bolts and nuts. For the install part, I would suggest installing the hangers on the exhaust pieces before bolting everything up. Made it easier once everything was together. One thing to note regarding tip spacing at the rear. When I first installed my right tip was a bit higher than my left. Per the instructions, I shimmed it down with two washers, which made it perfect. Then I drove around a bit and when I came back, now the right slightly lower by about a mm. So, lesson learned, give it a quick spin and let everything settle before adjusting. The instructions probably say that, but I honestly didn't really read them. Sound: I have the 18" resonators and the exhaust note is fantastic. It's very, very reasonable at both idle and kicking around town. You get a bit more cabin noise, as is to be expected, but I haven't noticed any obvious or unbearable drone. To be 100% honest, I am wondering if I should have gone with the 12" resonators since I have had past cars with fairly agressive exhausts and this is the most sedate. I'm not at all disappointed with what I have, but I wouldn't mind a little more of a good thing! I think the car sounds a bit like a BPU Supra now, sans the turbo noise (which i hope to remedy in the future ). Constructive feedback: The only thing I would change about the kit is the hardware. I am, of course, very happy to support American made products, but it is a bit annoying to have to get out 2x the tools because all the OEM hardware is metric and all the hardware that comes with the FI is English. Very small suggestion. Likewise, I could have used a bit more heat wrap for the gas purge line. The bit I got barely fit around the line and even though I am sure there is nothing to worry about, I would have preferred to wrap more of it. With that said, the fact that heat wrap comes at all was impressive to me. Thanks Tony and FI for a great product! And here's the video: __________________ Car Sold! Pleasure being a part of the Z community. New ride: 2015 GT-R - 647 WHP / 641 WTQ (e85) & 543 WHP / 519 WTQ (91) Last edited by Nixlimited; 03-20-2012 at 05:21 PM.

03-19-2012, 10:46 PM	#2 (permalink)
Trips Administrator Join Date: May 2009 Location: Disneyland, Ca Posts: 8,728 Drives: 🔰 Rep Power: 10	Nice to see Another satisfied customer __________________

03-19-2012, 10:55 PM	#4 (permalink)
Trips Administrator Join Date: May 2009 Location: Disneyland, Ca Posts: 8,728 Drives: 🔰 Rep Power: 10	Op, I had fixed it for you already, anyway its fixed __________________

03-19-2012, 11:02 PM	#5 (permalink)
XwChriswX WFLYIDNNE Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: In The Fastlane Posts: 50,648 Drives: 02 GDB WRX Rep Power: 451	It's not the 12" Resonators you need, it's the Long Tube Headers. __________________ Bonnie - Stage 2, Audio build coming this fall! R.I.P. Abby 3/29/10 - 3/30/14

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03-19-2012, 10:47 PM	#3 (permalink)
jpritche A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Cartersville, Ga Age: 32 Posts: 2,571 Drives: '15 RR, '14 IS250 Rep Power: 30	Hats off to F.I. It is good to hear that you are satisfied. I have the 12" and I love it. I sometimes wonder if I want the non-resonated

03-20-2012, 04:17 PM	#14 (permalink)
Speedy Enthusiast Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: TN Posts: 390 Drives: check my signature Rep Power: 13	Nice man. A 15 minute install, that's gotta be some kind of record. You do it on stands or a lift? Makes me anxious to get mine. Should be here in about a month or so.