If anyone has been following my previous posts, I'm putting in an order for a HRC kit in two weeks. The problem is, after the stage 2 kit, i'm not going to have the money (right away) to upgrade my catback. What do you guys recommend me doing? I mean-- I can afford the aftermarket exhaust in like 2 months.. but if I get a stage 1 instead I can get the exhaust first because then i'll have some cash still. Personally I love the sound of my OBX muffler, so I was thinking I could throw a high flow cat in there for now? Advice please!

whats the worst that can happen if i just have stock catback + OBX muffler

also, if you think i def. NEED the exhaust what is the one everyone stands behind? I saw that HRC sells a 3"- does anyone have it?

Thanks again

PS this board is 10X more helpful than dsmtalk

:wary

I would go for a greddy or a TANABE!!!!:9 I love how the RM version looks *drool* and both have a nice deep tone

The worst that can happen on a stock exhaust is that you won't be able to hit your desired boost pressure. Example, you might only hit 5 psi on a stage 2. Although there are other disadvantages by keeping your stock exhaust like slower spool up, higher EGT's (more exhaust air getting backed up), etc..........

With a bigger exhaust, you can lower back pressure (who needs back pressure on a boosted car anyways) which tends to help reduce detonation and coolant temperature under load.

Oh yeah, in my opinion, the best exhaust on ANY turbo car is NO exhaust!!!!!

Youll be fine with the setup you have now. Im in the exact same spot your in and had the same question. So I called Hahn yesterday and asked them about it, I have the stock exhaust w/aerospeed muffler, and they said it will be absolutly fine. Actually.... he said it will be over kill with a stage 2. Hummm..... but the website says an exhaust is highly recommended.:wary

I had a stock exhaust with a magnaflow muffler for a few months on my car and I used to hit 7 psi just fine. You'll be fine dont worry about it.

thanks. that answers my question- so basically when i CAN afford the exhaust I should see some decent gains in power output. thats one less thing to worry about <whew> - i'll buy the stage2 then.

any other exhaust recommendations ? I really would like to find someone who has the HRC 3" and see what they say about it.

I ran 7psi on a stage 2 through 100% stock exhaust with no problem. It just took forever to spool.

Let me know when you are interested in purchasing an exhaust. I have GReddy EVO's for sale 3" $500

As far as recommendations go for exhaust, I couldn't be more happy with my Thermal R&D 3" turbo cat-back. It sounds badass. N/A you'll hear a rasp at about 4k but after my stage 1 it's never sounded better. It's about $650 though...

I have Star Stage 2, with stock exhaust and an aftermarket muffler.. I hit 15 psi of boost (opps), I just don't recommend it unless you want to rebuild your motor quickly like I did.
I do notice higher EGT's, and it taking a while for the damn turbo to spool up, but when it does spool up it sounds like a deisel spoolin hehe.

i was told the piping is the same in our car as in the GST, but the GST had a better flowing muffler, if you have a better muffler, shouldnt be a problem.

I spent alot of money on my thermal catback so if I hafta run less boost to keep it, so be it! :)

jcurcillo and fly1 are running stock gst exhausts...they did see longer lag periods but trust me they are both fast as shizzle...jcurcillo has a little fix for this as will fly1 in the near future but they are both running them now...its not going to hurt anything, if you don't have a egt gauge that should be the first thing you buy, and get a probe from TRE..they are quick and accurate..highly recommended!

Im lazy and still have stock exhaust. I just have 2 mufflers. I was gonna get dual 3" but it wouldn't fit unless I spent a rack load of $ so I still haven't changed my exhaust. I have been turbo'ed about a year a 2 months at 8 psi most of the time. Car just cant breathe and isn't as fast. Might changed exhaust after passing emissions if I ever do. I was supposed to pass back in Jily 2002 but I keep failing and my next date to pass is the 15th of this month. MAN IM LAZY.
-Dave