D-Rob

For the past two years or so, I have been driving around my personal project car ('98 Civic coupe, stock K20, T3/T67 on E85) with a small 2.5" downpipe, due to space constraints in my engine bay with my old-school Full-Race top-mount manifold and the EKK1 mounts.

The car made pretty good power considering the size of the exhaust (a tick over 500whp on 15psi), but as of lately, the downpipe itself had seen better days. You see, the downpipe on my car was the first thing I had EVER TIG welded in my entire life, and needless to say, it was a monstrosity.

Pics of said monstrosity:





As you can see, it leaked, was cracking at every flange, and lacked a flex section.

After much deliberation, I decided it was time to part with my sentimental "first fab" (along with my pieced-together 3in exhaust, made from 16 sections MIG welded together), and venture into a brave new world with the project. Plans were then set in motion to have the new 3" T304 downpipe exit vertically through the hood of the vehicle, so I went ahead and welded up the first bend or two, and mocked it up, ready to make the final 45-degree turn towards the heavens.




At this point, I stopped welding and went home to mow the lawn (grass grows like crazy here this time of year, and I'm a complete n00b home owner). After some thought, I decided that my expensive carbon fiber hood wasn't the most cost effective thing to replace if I decided to bring the car back to stealth mode, so I got to cutting some metal.





I know, you guys probably think I'm nuts, but I just see this as the first (or second) step towards leaving the realm of street driving, and slowly becoming more of a dedicated track car project.

Finished product:




Even added a little rice to the mix

Flame tip, y0.

And installed





I left the tip stuck out an inch, just to ensure the at the side marker wouldn't melt.

First driving impressions? Super quiet on cruise, and the unmistakable sounds of a turbine are music to my ears. It is a tad loud with the windows down, but with the passenger window up, it's just as civil in the cabin as the full exhaust was. I can still hold a conversation with a passenger at normal volume, and enjoy my meager stereo.

Boost comes on a good bit sooner, and it is a tad lean compared to before, so I'll have to find some time this week (perhaps after shop hours) to slide it on the dyno and touch everything up. If all goes well, I'd like to crack the 575-600whp mark with the stock bottom-end K20A2.

As always, questions/comments/hate/praise is welcomed.

Thanks for taking a look at my junker.

- Derek

MR.johnson

love it.

Furyof4

Good to the finished product. I was surprised how quiet it is.

Love it.

93lsv_turbo

effing sex!!! it would totally suck if the car was running and someone stood in fornt of it not knowing it was an exhaust

darkvader0

Do you have any of those "BLACK SMOKE" diesel trucks in your area like we have here in Texas? Modified turbo diesel trucks with stacks coming out the pickup bed emitting pounds of black soot?

Would love to stand on the stwo-step next to one of those with your exhaust lol. "Black smoke? LEt me introduce you to Blue Fireballs." Lol.

4cylfiend

iTrader: (1)

Sick!!

ketchup!

iTrader: (1)

this car is slow

boostedBLUfg2

looks nice. my only question is.. what is the point of the flex pipe? the entire dp is only like 2 feet long, seems completely unnecessary when most people use a flex pipe because their DP is hooked up to an entire exhaust.

calboi

looks hella good bro

LightningTeg

Love it. I plan on a similar setup except out the bumper instead.

AlexDphoto

****ing sweet!!!!

b16racereg6

iTrader: (2)

BAD A$$!!!!

blackeg

love it! now we need some vids


this makes me want to make a downpipe that comes out somewhere up front

MoreCowbell

excellent!

Turbo-LS

iTrader: (4)

nice, looks like that S2000 that has 700+whp with the exhaust like that. Looks good and douns mean with the k/f. blue flames are nuts too

turbohatch96y7

iTrader: (15)

Nice work looks perfect. I have to agree with makes me wana make a front exit exhaust and makes me wana k swap too..

HatchVX

looks pretty good, kinda reminds me of the S2kFromHell's old exhaust. I would like to see a vid. Great work.

MR.johnson

engine movement is engine movement.

BMo Tuning

bout time

JDM IN MY SOL

Never cease to amaze me

SovXietday

Man, still a year behind me. Took you forever to finally go turbo, and finally popped that DP out of the side.

Looks good dude! And yeah, the sound is just awesome in my car with it out the bumper.

DX_JDM_HATCH

Nice work!!!! I think it would look better flush but I get your concern.

s2kfromhell

I loved my exhaust like that! looks good bro!

Schister66

I love it and it looks awesome, but i wouldn't want to drive it often. I ran open 3" dp for a while and eventually it gets old...so does getting pulled over for noise violations

00siboy

iTrader: (3)

I've seen that s2k also, looks sweet on the civic as well. Just wondering...if get pulled over for noise violations can u get ticketed for emissions violations as well?