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.

good to hear! I'm putting mine on this weekend with the help of a buddy and his lift. That means after removing the stock, everything should be done in 5 mins right? :tup:

Cool, I'll be doing mine on stands as well. Some body said it took them 5 hours or something and I was like :eek: Maybe there's something I don't know about this exhaust LOL

Haha, well, let me make sure I am being clear with everyone. It took me about 30 minutes to get the car up on stands. Then it took about 1-1.5 hours to remove the OEM exhaust due to having several uncooperative bolts/nuts. Then it took about 15-20 minutes to put on the FI exhaust. It's SUPER easy once the OEM is off.

5 haha. I would say 2 at most for someone new to it

That's what I was thinking, but someone stated in a CBE how to question thread a while back that it takes longer and were surprised I did the one on my Challenger in about an hour.....well an hour to install..then lots of tweaking to get the tips level but I'm OCD LOL

Took me 4 hrs. But I used all hand tools.

Thinking of this thread maybe?
http://www.the370z.com/diy-section-d...haust-diy.html

For me, it took just under 3 hours... I usually don't rush things though. Took me almost 2 days (~12-16hours) to do my timing belt on my Z32 ;)

Hand tools, what are those?

LOL

Hahaha I was watching this video earlier when I found it randomly on YouTube and was like that grey with the 40th brakes looks familiar. Now I know its yours lol. The F.I. sounds much better and deeper.

Why would these not be better for an SC? :ugh2:

More Flow = More Power.


You don't really smell it at all, even standing behind it at idle. During any driving you won't notice it. When you pull up to a stop, if you have the windows down you get a nice waft of it, just a hint to remind you, you're not stock. :stirthepot: But not so obnoxious that you can't breathe. :tup: I like it.

Well you do have a gas mask on though...

Just kidding, thanks.

Great exhaust i love mine:)

Nice! As of 2013, my car will not longer be distinguishable ... damn it.

I agree that more flow = more power. I should have been more clear. Three things are keeping me away from LTHs: (1) the possibility that I may go turbo instead; (2) the fact that I am in CA and going catless here is asking for trouble; and (3) as has been discussed on here, the GTM SC kit and LTHs have not been shown to work great together.

Sounds great man, congrats! I ordered the FI non res'd CBE/LTH combo myself. I don't really mind it being loud, as long as its not 1250hp mustang loud lol. I don't get mine till mid June though :(

So the LTH's don't work out for a turbo setup?


Sent from my iPizzle using magic and new fangled science stuff.

No they don't work on a turbo setup because the turbos are mounted right off a short exhaust manifold to spool them as efficiently as possible. There is nothing mechanically preventing them from working with the SC setup; however, the results thus far haven't been very good.

Took us about 3 hours at Mike's due to having to cut one of the demon bolts out. Once the demon was exercised, it took all of 15 mins (with time for beer).

That's just to protect your eyes from my ugly mug. :tup: :rofl2:


1. This is my current debate, I have the headers, and would prefer to go turbo one day myself. As soon as FI's kit goes full production. :tup:

2. I can agree with you there, but you could get a Catted Y-Pipe made if you wanted, I think Motordyne does it if I'm not mistaken. But I can understand your discomfort with Cali's over-anal car laws. :shakes head:

3. They did work together, just the problem was the SC couldn't move enough air to keep the system produing power through the powerband. It's not a problem of SC+Header. The SC just needs to be bigger to allow for the increased flow with the freer flowing exhaust. As for the Stage II decable, there has still not been any definiative proof posted as they don't work. Don't let anyone fool you. No one has ordered both and tested to see if yes or no they haven't.

:iagree:

The SC/LTH setup just needs more tuning with a more powerful SC. But in theory, you could have the LTH's and a turbo if you wanted to try the STS kit. :tup: Or any other Single Turbo setup. :icon08: Hmmm...

Is there information anywhere about FI turbo setup?

Nothing really yet! But I can tell you that its going to be sick and raise the bar for TT kits!! All the parts have been in and they are working on it! Stay tuned for a teaser thread very soon I would guess. I cant wait to get my car back!! :excited:

Sorry for the dumb question, but i got my FI catback used and i didn't get the heat wrap. How much would i need to get, where is the gas line that it goes on and does anyone have a pic of the line it goes on. :tiphat:

If you still have the instructions, it will show you the line. It's basically the line closest to the passenger side muffler. If not, buzz Tony and I am sure he will send you a copy of the instructions.

Cool deal man thanks.

That's went for!...Hurry up June, I'm ready for my install apt! ;)

Do you know if it's top mount or ?

I have no idea, but if it's going to be a good kit, and not a show kit, I would HIGHLY doubt it. No sense in all that extra piping in addition to the performance loss from moving the turbos away from their power source.