Best 1st Mods and Up-pipe Questions

[TheBigChill]

 I searched around, but once again the sheer quantity of useless hits is staggering.


 I just bought a bone stock '02 WRX wagon, and want to  A) Make it sound a bit meaner and get a few extra HP    and   B) Get an aftermarket up-pipe on it to eliminate the possible cat issues. 

Which would you do first, a 3" CBE,  or an up-pipe and down-pipe ?  My experience tells me that a Up-pipe & Down-pipe would make the most sense (eliminate cats 1st, then do CBE).  Thoughts ?

What up-pipe is recommended ?    Some have flex sections, and some do not.  I like flex, but also know that it can sheer off.  Any input is welcome, because I'd really like to get the ball rolling on this.

 Thanks a lot, guys.

[FastfreddyRs]

I like solid ones best, i've seen 2 flex uppipes brake andat the flex mesh section and send metal flying into the turbo.

also get a good brand uppipe. do not get a megan racing uppipe they don't fit!!

[TheBigChill]

 Thanks.  I was def hesitant about the Megan unit.  I pmed you about that Perrin uppipe.

[Kavik]

call me cheap, but gut a stock up-pipe.  guaranteed fit and not wasting $100 or more

i agree with your plan of doing the catted bits first...only problem with holding off on the cat back is going to be that not many catless DP's will mate perfectly with the stock cat-back

[TheBigChill]

  I may do that, but figured a actual cat-less up-pipe will sound better. 

 At this point in time, I don't really want to go all out and buy up, down, and cat-back.  I just bought the car, and need to be cheap for a bit.

 I just hate having stock exhaust on a turbo car.  They perform and sound sooo much better when breathing easier.  Hmmm

[Kavik]

the gutted vs aftermarket is a long debated thing....people like both ways *shrugs*

I've got a dirt cheap 3" cat-back you could throw on as a temporary. guaranteed louder than stock 

[Photofixer]

I Gutted my stock up pipe.. Free vs 100 ..00 no difference in sound...

[Kavik]

the only think I've ever heard of any real difference is that the grimmspeed has a larger inner diameter.  (i think that was the one, somone correct me if i'm wrong)
everything else seems to just be brand name preference on a piece of pipe 

[TheBigChill]

the gutted vs aftermarket is a long debated thing....people like both ways *shrugs*

I've got a dirt cheap 3" cat-back you could throw on as a temporary. guaranteed louder than stock 

 Thanks, but I don't want to buy an exhaust system twice.

[idipskoalmint]

I've gutted a bunch of uppipes for people. It's somewhat of a pain in the ass, but if you're looking to save money, that would be a good option.

Advice:
1) Buy an OEM uppipe used. They are pretty cheap on Nasioc. This will allow you to gut the pipe at your leisure, and will mean no downtime for the car in the case something goes wrong with the gutting. Uppipe installs (especially on a car that's nearly a decade old) can be a bitch. Give yourself a chance to gut/install at separate times.
2) Do this outside with some sort of respiratory protection.

[TheBigChill]

 Will this work ?   I appreciate the help guys.  I feel silly asking all these questions, but I've never owned a Subaru before.


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/06-07-wrx-up-pipe-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem1e5d147cabQQitemZ130410642603QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

[TheBigChill]

I've gutted a bunch of uppipes for people. It's somewhat of a pain in the ass, but if you're looking to save money, that would be a good option.

Advice:
1) Buy an OEM uppipe used. They are pretty cheap on Nasioc. This will allow you to gut the pipe at your leisure, and will mean no downtime for the car in the case something goes wrong with the gutting.
2) Do this outside with some sort of respiratory protection

 Thanks, I don't think I'm going to do any gutting.  I have reservations about doing that, and then there being residual particulates of the honeycomb material left in the pipe.

[idipskoalmint]

Will this work ?   I appreciate the help guys.  I feel silly asking all these questions, but I've never owned a Subaru before.

Yes.

[Kavik]

Thanks, but I don't want to buy an exhaust system twice.

  don't blame you man....I just want this thing out of my garage, had to try 

[TheBigChill]

 Hahha, good try man.  

 There's so many freaking options, that it's making my head spin.  i just want a god damn up and downpipe combo that will bolt together easily, and will later adapt to a cat-back system....   Sounds like Fred may have something.

[spoolordie]

invidia catless dp
whatever uppipe you feel you like
then any cat back that mates to a flat flange style downpipe (the invidia is flat flange)

[Kavik]

maybe get a shop to weld a flat flange on your stock cat-back for now?  dunno how expensive that would be though

[TheBigChill]

 It's beginning to sound like it's an  "all or nothing" type of deal ....    I really don't feel like blowing $500+ right now, after dropping  $8,000 on the car.  Maybe just the up-pipe right now, for safety's sake.

[FastfreddyRs]

my downpipe will meet up to your stock catback

do it!!!

[Kavik]

^sweet
yeah, I said most don't mate up, but if Fred's does, that would be a great start 

all or nothing can be fun...but there's always ways around 
(Fred usually has the ways lol)

[bg]

fwiw, per Dom's recommendation I just picked up this uppipe for my '02 wrx wagon - good price and vendor:

http://www.rallysportdirect.com/shop/grimmspeed-subaru-wrxsti-uppipe-p-4094.html

[TheBigChill]

fwiw, per Dom's recommendation I just picked up this uppipe for my '02 wrx wagon - good price and vendor:

http://www.rallysportdirect.com/shop/grimmspeed-subaru-wrxsti-uppipe-p-4094.html

 That looks nice, but I've been seeing stock catless up-pipes off of newer WRX's going for cheap.  If there's really no difference, I'm not going to pay  $160 when a OEM catless is like $40-50.   Thank you for the tip though !

[spoolordie]

i was gonna put down Grimspeed uppipe for my choice i have a solid HKS one its not to bad

[TheBigChill]

 As I am looking at these up and down-pipes, I notice that not many of either have flex sections.  A full exhaust systems w/ no flex sections at all is a terrible idea.  I know one can always be welded in, but.....I don't know, this is getting to be a pain, hahaha.

[phong]

As I am looking at these up and down-pipes, I notice that not many of either have flex sections.  A full exhaust systems w/ no flex sections at all is a terrible idea.  I know one can always be welded in, but.....I don't know, this is getting to be a pain, hahaha.

If you aren't planning on going with a huge turbo in the future, I would look for a DP that is flanged for a stock style doughnut gasket.  This way you can get away without having one of those crappy mesh flex sections and you can use your stock axle-back for the time being.  The only real drawbacks are spring bolts and the fact that these downpipes typically tape down to 2.5" at the flange.