Just a few pics of recent exhaust install.
This is what was removed and will be up for sale soon;
HKS Super Dragger Catback
.
looking good,
which one did u get??
Thanks for the props!!
The DP and TP had the “Edge Racing Sport” name plate tig welded on it but there were none on the Catback/X-pipe. But all of the welds, bolts, gaskets were all identical which follows inline that Edge Racing Sport, Megan Racing and Tuning Pro’s Catbacks are all made by the same asian company. They’re just sold under a different name by different importers/companies. So my whole system is a 2.5" polished SS that could be considered a Megan Racing system. I couldn’t tell you what the actual name on the system is though. Not that it really matters much anyway.
very nice. im not sure, but isnt an X-pipe only beneficial to a NA car? how come you didnt go with a 3"?
nice exhaust by the way thats a really clean underbody:R
Hi Hans
I’m not sure if the benefits of an X-pipe are exclusive to the NA. It’s supposed to balance the exhaust pulses and is supposed to do that better in an X config rather than an H config that is also seen in some catbacks. Although this catback for the 2+2 was designed for the USDM market, meaning that it’s for an NA Z. The TT 2+2 version of the Z was never imported to North America. That being the case, I saw no after market 2+2 catbacks available with resonators integrated. I say this because most TT (for the 2+0) catbacks had resonators incorporated into the X-pipe / H-pipe. I’m waiting on a vendor for his new supply of spun SS cats that are 11" long, come in a variety of ID’s and are available with 330cell/sq" ceramic or 220cell/sq" metal composition. I’m waiting on the metal ones which will be welded into the test pipes just before the rear flange. Anyone knowing of a good muffler shop that can do this with Tig weld would be appreciated.
As far as going to 3", I felt that it may be a bit excessive. 3" would also remove more of the bottom end torque in lieu of better higher rpm torque. I felt this was a better choice also being that I still need to pass emissions tests (took me 3 tries last December to BARELY pass 
).
the X-pipe does help with some scavanging in a NA car, but im pretty sure on a turbo car, the energy from the individual exhaust pulses is absorbed by the turbine in the form of heat and mechanical energy. on a turbo car, the goal is to have as little back pressure as possible, the ideal exhaust would be none at all after the turbo. if there is no back pressure, the turbo spools faster and thaz how you get your low end torque. what you said about smaller diameter exhausts giving more torque is correct, but only on NA cars. that is why im going with a 2.25" on my NA SR build.
considering it is a twin turbo rather then a big single turbo, i am pretty sure you’ll be fine with 2.5" and you cant beat stainless steel! that exhaust is beautiful. it must sound awesome!
^+1 on the xpipe…
But since your TT a 2.5" would be min dia to use… 3" would be optimal.
R:drivin
Ahhh, OK, well that makes sense. And thanks for the props too. Maybe that’s why the turbos spool up quicker now. That and the AIV delete has added a bit to it’s character. The exhaust note is not harsh at normal throttle speeds but does have a nice growl we you get onto it. Highway speed note is good once above 110kph.
3"?, Hmmm, I didn’t know that. The oem was tiny - 2 1/16" OD. My research on other Z boards didn’t emphasize the need to go any further than 2.5". I think the split downpipe has some extra benefits too that the oem system didn’t have. There weren’t any catback systems within my price range that eliminated the H or X pipe config. Now, to make sure I can pass the next enissions test. :rolleyes:
Update:
Just advised that the new shipment of Metal Cats came in to the vender and were shipped to me yesterday. System is sounding pretty good but since I’m never outside the car when it’s moving, I can’t really be very objective. Some of you guys that I met at the last meet would have a better description of how they sound. Anyway, expecting the Cats by the beginning of next week and hopefully installed the following day or 2. I call them Metal Cats because they have a metal core (which are twice as expensive) as opposed to the standard ceramic core that almost all cats are made of. These are the Cats;
