I used the original 2.25 section from the hrc kit and welded a flange to it. Then I mated that to a 2.5 inch 90 degree and 2.5 inch flex section into a 3 inch s pipe into a 3 inch cat into my Apexi N1 cat back.
I drove it last night and OH MY GOD does it make a difference. My blitz power meter showed a 18HP increase, i'm sure it is more, i haven't pushed it yet. With the original HRC setup my power would fall off at the higher RPM's but not no mo!

i'll take pics and post laters!

Lates
James

do you like the blitz power meter? i was thinking about getting one.

James

i like the powermeter. it needs the exact weight of your car to be accurate though.

Lates
James

thats not a big deal i guess.. just have to go to a truck stop.. hehe

James

Oh hell yeah it does. Just taking off that POS cat makes a world of difference. After you put a turbo on your car the next step should always be opening up the exhaust. I was always like "yeah right, it can't be that great" well I was wrong! Car sounds better, feels better and spools oh so much quicker. Good job kid, now all you need to do is get a larger intake manifold and you will be smiling for weeks.

Later
Brian

I have an appointment early next week to have a similar setup. The shop is going to chop the HRC downpip right after the bend, and mate a 2.5inch 90 degree and 2.5inch flex secton, eliminate the cat, and run 25inch all the way back. I can't wait to feel the difference, I've had stock exhaust and turbo for about a year now... :-D

How much is something like that costing you? There's only 1 true exhaust shop in my city that will do work like that and I'd like to have a ballpark figure when I go in there.

run4cvr might be getting a mass produced solution for you guys here in a little bit ;-)

>run4cvr might be getting a mass produced solution for you
>guys here in a little bit ;-)

We'll see if they call me back...

Is a flex section really needed? I know on the star kits there isnt one. I have solid motor mounts installed, so i dont have much engine movement. The difference in the price for a downpipe with flanges and a flex section vs no flex section is only about $50.

I built it myself, I spent 329 and that was including the cat so it is in line with the going price for downpipes. The main difference that i have seen is that I used a 3 inch pipe after the flex section. I would almost say that a flex section is a necessity. Without it you are going to have fatigue fractures at the welds eventually.

Lates
James

Lets see some picture of it :thumbsup I might just have to build one myself.

>run4cvr might be getting a mass produced solution for you
>guys here in a little bit ;-)

run4cvr.... whats goin on? u getting something mass produced possibly? got any pics? what size is it?



14.7 @ 93mph / 7psi 185hp/180tq

I'm going to fab up my own 2.5" DP, from turbo to gutted cat. I got 1 180 degree U bend, and 3 90 degree bends all from JC whitney, for about 50 bucks. I got the turbo flange from HRC for 9 bucks, and i can get the o2 bung, and the other flanges and flex section, from a muffler shop accross the street from my shop, for pretty cheap. I will cut it up, and fit it, then tack weld it together, then have a welding shop do it up really nice. Total i estimate to spend is around 150 bucks. It wont be coated or anything, but who really cares how it looks. I just want it to work.

>run4cvr.... whats goin on? u getting something mass produced
>possibly? got any pics? what size is it?

Well nothing to really talk about now. I called a large exhaust component manufacturer that is local to me the other day with the idea of getting downpipes made. They want me to get one made first, then let them check it out to see if they would be interested in improving the design and maybe make a huge batch. No real details were exchanged, but i did mention 2.5" & 3" downpipes from the turbo down to the cat. I think the real deal maker would be how many people would be intersted in getting one. When i hear back from them i will make a post about it with all of the details.

there is a high demand for some 2.5 or 3 inch downpipes... just about everyone with an HRC kit wants one...

ditto. i used to have pretty much the same setup as ryan, however my stock/HRC downpipe was dented at the bend because of the previous tard owner running over a stop sign. i think my cat was clogger too because it smelled funny sometimes.

today i get my car back from the shop with a brand new 2.5" system. they flanged a high flow cat for me and even made me my own test pipe so i can bolt that up when i get home... }(

pics i wanna see pics

i got my car back from Lou's Custom Exhaust in Waltham, MA yesterday and noticed a significant improvement in turbo spool-up time and top end power. i have a similar setup as jamesman - the shop welded a 2.5" pipe to the end of the HRC pipe, put in a flanged high-flow cat (and also made me a flanged test pipe), and made me a 2.5" cat-back including a magnaflow muffler. the whole system is significantally louder than before, and the magnaflow muffler definately sounds a little too ricey for me, but i don't give a shit. after getting home and putting the test pipe in i realized that the 4500+ RPM's power improvement was insane. my car makes the cool popping noizes when i downshift too }(

EGT's are significantally lower now too. i'm talking a 100-150 degree difference. 1600 degrees seems so much further away now.

now the only thing that's holding me back is my clutch. the stock clutch definately doesn't enjoy 15 psi. still waiting on motofool's non-modular clutch with a fidanza to come in the mail...

>there is a high demand for some 2.5 or 3 inch downpipes...
>just about everyone with an HRC kit wants one...

'they' want a garunteed 100 orders.

heh, i wish i had one of these. i have a header on my car, so i cant get the hrc kit cause the downpipe from the header is too low. i wanted the hrc kit, but star is the option now :(

so yeah. i finally took some pictures.





it's a really nice unit. the power on the top end improved like nobody's buisness - especially after i put in the test pipe.

Here is what i did today. Used 2 90 degree 2.5" mandrel bends from JC whitney, and got a 2.5" flex section, and 3 flanges, and o2 sensor weld on bung. I cut and tack welded all the pieces and flanges, and will get sent to a welding shop for a professional weld job. Not too bad i must say :) I tried to copy the stock piping shape also, its an exact fit/shape to it. I made it a 2 piece DP too, for easier install. I tried to make the turbo outlet J pipe, but the 180 bend i got was just too large of radius to fit right. It would have worked fine if the A/C pump wasnt there..Oh well, this will be just fine. I got the hookup for the flex section, o2 bung, and flanges for 20 bucks! Total cost on parts, without welding, is around 45-50 bucks. Welding should cost no more than 50 bucks. So for 100 bucks, i got me a mandrel bent 2.5" HRC pipe back DP

Care to hook up others? :P Looks good. Get some more pics after you get it welded up.

>Care to hook up others? :P Looks good. Get some more pics
>after you get it welded up.

Hehe, ya know i was thinking about making some of these..since i can get the parts for a good price..it just sucks that i only have a crappy ARC welder and no MIG welder..and of course, barely any welding skills :o I suppose if i can have a bulk welding rate or something, i could do this...it took me most of the day to make this, just cutting, and test fitting and all that, but i'm sure copying it wont be hard, now that i know how to do it..There really isnt too much to it..lining up the flanges was the hard part

How about just a hook up with the flex section and flanges? :thumbsup

I'll definately buy one if you start making them, keep us informed on your plans with this!!!

I believe I'd purchase one as well. :thumbsup

Wow, that actually looks really good.:thumbsup

anychance that you can flnage it higherso that if need be, the turbo plus first section of the DP can be removed, without removing the whole DP.

Otherwise looks good. I wonder if we can fit a 2.5" on there?

No need to flange it higher, i had no probs putting in the first section. I just put it up to the turbo from underneath the car, with the fan removed. The section that bolts to the cat was on and tight, no need to remove the whole thing. I didnt want to flange at the end of the HRC pipe, cause the room there for a flange was very tight, as it could have had issues clearing the water crossover pipe. So i just moved the flanges down a bit..

The downpipe i made is flanged higher, it is actually flanged right at the end of the hrc section and then bolts up to the 2.5 inch section, this section then goes under the oil pan into a flex section into a 3 inch pipe into the cat. either way I think removal and installation is the same. i'll try to get some pictures at lunch and post them today.

lates
james

this is a view from under pointing up. Notice the 2.5 inch 1/2 inch thick flanges.



This is a view from the top down the first part of the DP was painted with hi temp black, you can see the bolts that hold the 2 flanges together. this is the stock HRC upper section. it bolts to a 2.5 inch 90 degree to go under the oil pan.



HEHE this is the money shot!
it shows the 2.5 inch 90 degree section coming under the pan and is welded to a 2.5 inch flex section. this then goes into that massive 3 inch s bend section and is flanged to fit the 3 inch cat.

I love it!

Lates
James

Nice setup. :thumbsup


95 Eclipse RS : 5 speed
15.901 @ 88.34mph
Jeep TB writeup - http://www.dimensia.com:81/jimbo/JeepTBfor2gnt.html

if people are that interested we can have a 2.5" mandrel HRC downpipe made flexsection 2 piece

anyone want one?

give maybe 3-4 weeks or so to get things moving got customers motors and turbo kits in the shop being built but we can have one made

tig welded 2.5" o2 bung flex section

want to start a group buy?



james man where did u get that long flex section?

Bill

I'm down for a GB if you guys get something going. Although my avenger is longer I'm probably going to have to get some extra piping welded on anyway..

the avenger should not have to have a different pipe it has more room infront of the motor but the downpipe length should be the same

Bill

Yo I got the flex section from roadrace engineering, they are a couple miles away from me.

Lates
James

anyone know if the star kit come with a flex section downpipe?

I'm in for a GB too.

davo no that is why the star kit has had downpipe fitment problems because it doesn't have a flex section...

so thats 2 or 3 people..?

lets shoot for 10 ill make a post in the GB forum over the weekend..

Bill

how much, and if its a bolt on, i greatly interested!!!!!!!!
-------jezreel

you can count me in if the price is right.. hehe.. it will have a flex section, and 2 piece im all up on it.. also i might need the flange which connects to the cat for it to bolt up to the stock cat since i dont plan to upgrade it just yet could you do this?
how about coating this 2.5" dp etc? can you and how much?
thanks
Michael
99gs (broken) Motor being built now
HRC Stage 2 8-Injector Setup
Fully Built by Early August 2003
2GNT Member #32

I believe I'm in also if the price is right, but judging from all the other stuff you sell and make, I think I could afford it. :thumbsup I also like the coating idea as an option.

IF we get a minimum of 10 peeps it will go like this:

2.5" mandrel bent tig welded

02 bung tig welded in

bolt in replacement

SS flex section

no coating for the standard Group buy



coating will be determined ona individual basis if u want it we'll get u prices other then that probably not gonna be standard (keeps prices down..)

price will be set around the middle of this week detmeringin some things with partner...

Bill

im interested....



14.7 @ 93mph / 7psi 185hp/180tq

i would be interested if you make it in 3 inch. i would also like to know if it would fit a standard HRC kit. i assume so but dont want to guess at it then find out it doesnt fit my 5k kit. :7

As long as they are guaranteed to fit and the price is right, I am most interested. Make'em!!!:thumbsup

i for one hope that this will be priced around the 200 area. i am not looking for the looks department. it can be brown and crap; all i want is a downpipe that flows better than the stock/hrc thingy that doesn't leak.
-------jezreel

hijacked!!!!!!

thats correct buddy :) wanna built me a dp like yours? im only a call away hehe
Michael
99gs (broken) Motor being built now
HRC Stage 2 8-Injector Setup
Fully Built by Early August 2003
2GNT Member #32

I'm in as well. I wonder if it can go from 2.5 to a 2.75" to fit my 2.75" catback and catalytic converter....

Frickin figures. I buy all the crap to make my own, and someone comes up with a groupbuy :thumbsup

Ill take one, but I only need the piece that would replace the hrc dp. I have custom exaust from the hrc dp back so if i could open up that part a bit I would be hap-hap happy! :o

I'd love to see this happen. Keep it in the $2-300 range and I'm there.

Corbin

'95 ESI-T
HRC+FMIC+ETC...



Gimme fuel...Gimme fire...Gimme that which I desire

If it's in that range, I might have to back out. I'll keep my word, whatever it is. I just need to know what price.

10 people 250$ plus shipping

15 people 225

20 people 200$

all prices are not including shipping...

Bill

3" will be later its a possibility to be included on an individual basis into the group buy for this run...
contact me personaly about this..

here the thread link

http://forums.2gnt.com/dcboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=12&topic_id=8626&mesg_id=8626&page=