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 :driving:).

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! :tiphat:

And here's the video:

Nice to see Another satisfied customer :)

:tiphat: 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 :stirthepot:

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

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


:tup:

:iagree: Sounds AMAZING on Cwis' car!

Thanks bud. :tiphat:

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.