Exhaust Ideas
02-27-2015, 10:29 PM
#41
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Okay that's good information to have thanks! 
So in your guys' opinion, what is the best first mod to make? Assuming you only want to spend a couple hundred or so dollars.
So in your guys' opinion, what is the best first mod to make? Assuming you only want to spend a couple hundred or so dollars.
03-02-2015, 04:50 PM
#45
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Do you guys recommend 5/16" or 1/2"? Also, I read that if you do this mod you can still fit the engine cover but not the stock sway bar. If I don't put the engine cover on, can I keep the sway bar?
03-02-2015, 05:01 PM
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Sorry I meant the strut bar! Okay thanks, and since I live in California im assuming I don't need the copper one correct? What would be the difference between 5/16" and 1/2"? I'm assuming more power from 1/2" but would the strut bar and engine cover not fit?
03-02-2015, 11:18 PM
#51
Copper won't matter.
Intake spacer I doubt will be noticed in a smog check. If it is, it's a real easy fix. I've taken my plenum off a million times. It's so easy.
DIY your own cold air intake and get a spacer. Buy a cheap dual 2.5" to 3" Y pipe on ebay. It will bolt up to your stock midpipe, get gains, and cost 150$ or less. Keep your stock intake for smog time. Or incase you get a ticket. Also a super ridiculously easy mod to revert to stock.
As for exhaust in general, in California everything behind the cats is fair play, as long as you "don't have a cut out" and have "adequate muffling". Cut outs are illegal, but I've never seen anyone get screwed for them. If your car is crazy loud it can definitely land you in some heat, but if you putt the car around intersections and keep an eye out for cops it doesn't matter.
Intake spacer I doubt will be noticed in a smog check. If it is, it's a real easy fix. I've taken my plenum off a million times. It's so easy.
DIY your own cold air intake and get a spacer. Buy a cheap dual 2.5" to 3" Y pipe on ebay. It will bolt up to your stock midpipe, get gains, and cost 150$ or less. Keep your stock intake for smog time. Or incase you get a ticket. Also a super ridiculously easy mod to revert to stock.
As for exhaust in general, in California everything behind the cats is fair play, as long as you "don't have a cut out" and have "adequate muffling". Cut outs are illegal, but I've never seen anyone get screwed for them. If your car is crazy loud it can definitely land you in some heat, but if you putt the car around intersections and keep an eye out for cops it doesn't matter.
03-03-2015, 12:13 AM
#52
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With more air going through the engine though you need more fuel too correct? I don't want to run lean since this car is my DD. Will the plenum spacer require a tune afterwards or is it safe?
03-03-2015, 05:58 AM
#54
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You should be fine without a tune for a while. I wouldn't tune until all the breather mods are done.
03-03-2015, 07:07 AM
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The copper allows you to install it and forget that's it's there no matter what the ambient temp is. The isothermal comes with a valve on a coolant line that you open when the outside temp drops to around 55 degrees. Otherwise you leave the valve closed. You can read more about it at the Motordyne website.
03-03-2015, 10:33 PM
#57
You don't need coolant going to your throttle body. Don't pay attention to all the iso whatever crap.
Wait to get your tune when you've done all your bolt ons. Or call into a place that does flash tuning and see if they could do a reduced price for a second tune... Its usually about $300 a flash though...
The 03's run pretty rich up top stock, I know that much. A tune with all boltons would really wake up the car.
Wait to get your tune when you've done all your bolt ons. Or call into a place that does flash tuning and see if they could do a reduced price for a second tune... Its usually about $300 a flash though...
The 03's run pretty rich up top stock, I know that much. A tune with all boltons would really wake up the car.
03-04-2015, 01:23 AM
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Okay I will wait for the tunes, are there any signs I can look out for though to know if my car being lean is destroying the motor? Also, is there a DIY guide for the plenum spacer?
03-04-2015, 04:22 AM
#59
Remove intake
Remove the air hoses on the left and rear
Remove all the bolts
Lift the upper plenum up slide in metal spacer and the plastic spacers.
Carefuly set down the upper plenum
Use new bolts and reatach every thing.
Good luck :-)
03-04-2015, 07:13 AM
#60
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