Muffler Bypass pipes

[Izzy]

This past weekend I installed muffler bypass pipes on the 2003 C2 coupe. First impression, they are LOUD. But cool loud for me. Awesome sound on the highway, high RPM, high speed.

This is the units I got, $199 at Ebay, and they look truly amazing, shiny.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAP...em=230184398298

Installation is quick, I will see about putting some pictures on later. Removed the mufflers and replace them with the pipes. The unit states that you can re-use stock clamps, but you can not. I got $2 clamps at Autozone, and done deal, works perfect. The install took me 45 mins for the first time. So will get it down to 30 mins to add to my track day setup (wheels and brake pads) changeover.

The sound and vibration reminds me of the Fabspeed mufflers at idle and low RPM. But incredible sound above 3500 RPM on 2nd, 3rd, 4th gears. Anyway, cheap thrills and giggles for a few days, looking forward to VIR in 2 weeks.

Edited November 6, 2007 by Izzy

[boggtown]

Agreed, very loud. But when your driving above 4 grand it really does sound awesome. Do you have headers? When I added headers to mine the sound went from ok to great. It really cleans up the tones.

[Izzy]

Have stocke headers. What headers you got and where you get them? Cost? I am cheap

[GranburyChuck]

Have stocke headers. What headers you got and where you get them? Cost? I am cheap

Izzy, thanks for trying these out. I am very interested in your impresson of these on a daily driver. My car has enough road noise with my tire and road combination that the stereo has to be turned up somewhat just to hear it well. Would like to hear the car sometimes but don't want to have to yell to passengers. Sounds to me like you don't leave these on all the time.

[Izzy]

Just got them Chuck, and so far is more of the "new toy syndrome". I will take them off primarily to not attract attention to my daily driver. I rarely cary passengers, and when I do, usually my young boys who absolutely love the "race car sound". You can hear the radio fine, no problem. You can't when you are accelerating hard. Otherwise it is a drone in the background kind of sound. What sold me was the $200, can't beat that for the grins and the ability to set off car alarms on the mid-90s Honda Civics (boy racers) on the parking garage.

Really got them for track days, not sure if there is any gain in HP, but the aceel response feels lighter, quicker. In the end, like taping a baseball card on the bike forks back in 1971, making that old sound boys like.

[ez996]

I have them too. I love it. I don't even turn radio on but it is not every day vehicle for me. Sound is just amazing from that flat six when screems at "correct" rpm range . Stock system does not do the justice. It has a sweet spot at 4k rpm and up. I have to look in to headers, I did not think it would be any improvments in the sound. I have some buzzing noises from rear bumper heat shielding but that can be easy fix. It is not for everyone- it's loud but oh well that is why I have this car- it's my stress relief.

[Izzy]

The sound is growing on me. I did drive 2.5 hours to VIR and back, plus a full day or driving on track. And the sound is phenomenal on track, awesome response. Driving to the track with new XM radio, it was not bad at all either. But agree with you, it is a cool cool sound, specially when the engine is idling the gurgling sound comes out....

[der meister]

The sound is growing on me. I did drive 2.5 hours to VIR and back, plus a full day or driving on track. And the sound is phenomenal on track, awesome response. Driving to the track with new XM radio, it was not bad at all either. But agree with you, it is a cool cool sound, specially when the engine is idling the gurgling sound comes out....

Hey Izzy, how are these working out for you?

[Izzy]

I only use them for track days, found them to be too loud for everyday driving. But I do need to be on phone for business on the road, and you really can't make a phone call driving with the bypass pipes on.