Rallysportz

Just got my cat from a fellow NASIOC member yesterday and couldn't wait so I had it installed the same day. I have a '93 Impreza so I had to have the flange at the cat rotated but other than that, perfect fit and a awesome boxer sound up to 3500. I don't have a muffler on so it's a little too much, I also have the stock midpipe still so it gets raspy and nasty as all hell at about 4500 in first gear, WOT. At highway speed it has much more pick up and doesn't get raspy with all the air being pushed through. Still don't notice very much power increase, also because of stock catback. Good mileage increase too. Will be getting a custom stainless 2.25" catback for a bit under $200 installed, more if I go for a nice muffler. Should fix the sound too, but for now, I can't lie and say I don't like being super loud, just for kicks.

StrykerGod

Cool, I'm saving up in my piggy bank for a full Stromung with the Track Pipe, I still have the OEM muffler on my 1995 Impreza, and I can't wait to get rid of it...

Rallysportz

Well I'm sort of doing it in sections and there's only one more to go. I got a custom 2.25 pipe hooked up to the cat, one piece all the way back to the 'glasspack' which is so blown out it may as well not be there. It is just rediculously, horrendously, disgustingly, way too loud right now. I found out there is no mandrel bender in Colorado anymore but when I looked under the axle, the bends are suttle enough so there isn't really any actual 'crushes' like the factory pipes. Just a few small buldges but looks real good. Still has as much clearance as stock, of not more. Stainless, installed, $150- pipe only. No resonator makes a BIG difference if you don't have a muffler and this thing sounds like three crotch rockets right next to eachother. Nice pull all the way to redline, first goes by so quick I have to try to keep up again. Butt dyno suggests about 8 more horseys to the road, possibly as much as 15 at the crank.

Will report back once I get a muffler installed. Any suggestions for what would sound good apprecitated.


BTW- current muffler section is still only 2" so I expect more gains with a real free flowing muffler.

StrykerGod

I was thinking of getting the Borla (non-turbo) headers first, and then the Stromung with the track pipe. The Borla is supposed to give you more power on the top end, and make it breathe alot easier. That would be first for me, then the Stromung, and then either a custom turbo or a TSI turbo, maybe a Perrin pulley in there along the way for more HP.

http://www.fastwrx.com/borheadnon.html

Rallysportz

Got the muffler hooked up and immediately noticed the difference, both in sound (of course) and power too. Just a basic 2.25" Magnaflow, not fancy or anything but sounds great, looks stock. Nice deep boxer burble up to 4000 then she starts screamin' like a banshee up top at WOT.

After a ECU reset and a few hours driving on the new system I really noticed a healthy torque gain mainly in the mid range which is really where I hoped it would be. Took an easy half second off the 0-60 but I think it's even a little bit more. Pulls freely up to redline at speed and cruises at high speeds much easier. I think I will have my mechanic swap in a magna flow cat where in place of the tiny stromung and virtually eliminate any high 'raspy' sounds. They're just made better since it's just the cat unit, no piping. Custom is the way to go!! Just under $700 for a cat, catback with muffler, full stainless 2.25", INSTALLED.

Borlas are next on my list but I'm worried about them lasting. Some people seem to love thiers while others say don't bother, even the newer ones break or crack. Same difference to me if I have to send my exhaust back to be replaced. Hopefully something will convince me to get them in the end....