A FABulous break in the winter doldrums . . .
Winter in Kansas can be a pretty dreary time for a driving enthusiast - no DEs, no AX, no winding mountain roads to travel - and while I still enjoy my CS as a daily driver, I have missed not being able to tinker with it as well.
Fortunately, we finally had a nice warm spell which coincided with a day off, so I decided it was time to install the FABSpeed catback exhaust that has been sitting in my basement. I did it myself in the garage using jackstands (much easier to remove the wheels and inner shields, to get at those pesky nuts on the header flanges).
A little over 3 hours later, I was done - after one skinned knuckle and a small cut on my chin when I dropped one of the exhaust cans on my face.
*OUCH*
[Aside: have you ever noticed how many mechanical tasks would be easier if we were born with 3 hands instead of 2?
]
Time for a test drive: Interestingly, at idle it doesn't sound noticably different than the stock system, however under throttle, it definitely sounds more "muscular", and WOT is quite nice. There is some drone present around 2K RPMs with partial throttle (like when cruising at 50 mph in 5th gear). Based on a recommendation on the forums, I extended the exhaust tips about an inch beyond the bumper surround, to minimize the drone, but I'm not sure I like that look, so I may push them back in a bit, and try adjusting the tension/torsion rods on the exhaust hanger to see if that makes any difference.
I haven't tried to evaluate the performance aspects yet, since I'm waiting on Version 4 of the Softronic tuning software, to take full advantage of the mod. I've still got several more items to install before the track season starts again in March, including new brake rotors and GT3 brake ducts, a new fire extinguisher mount, and trailer tie-downs - maybe next week-end . . .
Fortunately, we finally had a nice warm spell which coincided with a day off, so I decided it was time to install the FABSpeed catback exhaust that has been sitting in my basement. I did it myself in the garage using jackstands (much easier to remove the wheels and inner shields, to get at those pesky nuts on the header flanges).
A little over 3 hours later, I was done - after one skinned knuckle and a small cut on my chin when I dropped one of the exhaust cans on my face.
*OUCH* [Aside: have you ever noticed how many mechanical tasks would be easier if we were born with 3 hands instead of 2?
]Time for a test drive: Interestingly, at idle it doesn't sound noticably different than the stock system, however under throttle, it definitely sounds more "muscular", and WOT is quite nice. There is some drone present around 2K RPMs with partial throttle (like when cruising at 50 mph in 5th gear). Based on a recommendation on the forums, I extended the exhaust tips about an inch beyond the bumper surround, to minimize the drone, but I'm not sure I like that look, so I may push them back in a bit, and try adjusting the tension/torsion rods on the exhaust hanger to see if that makes any difference.
I haven't tried to evaluate the performance aspects yet, since I'm waiting on Version 4 of the Softronic tuning software, to take full advantage of the mod. I've still got several more items to install before the track season starts again in March, including new brake rotors and GT3 brake ducts, a new fire extinguisher mount, and trailer tie-downs - maybe next week-end . . .
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