[SuperSaiyan]

Well, after about 6 months of talking about it and 2 weeks of procrastination, I have finally got my SSA V2 Headers on. I did a LOT of research on this so I determined that I could not do it myself. I didn't have the tools, the lift, the patience, but most of all, the mechanical know-how. THe DIYs looked very thorough so major KUDOS to those people that can do this install on your own!!!

I was going to put a magnaflow hiflo cat in it's place but I'm going to just use the factory rear cat, have another flange welded on, and use that to pass inspection and quiet it down when I need it a little more quiet.

I paid $230 for the headers from Firebug here on NT.com (THANKS AGAIN!) and I was charged $300 to install....it took 6 hours (plus a lunch break) and it turned out wonderful. They were very professional and they WILL do the rest of my work from now on my Tibby....provided that I have no weird issues in the next few weeks/months.

The only issues that we had were a broken and stripped stud on the front header....simply replaced. One of the O2 sensors almost had to be replaced but we were able to get it out of the manifold without stripping it out. And the lower O2 sensor would not fit in the bunghole provided (it was right against the starter) so they had to seal that one and weld another one a little lower.

I am noticing a noise that I do not recognize. Is it rasp or exhaust leak? I think it might be an exhaust leak. I'll have to take it back and get them to listen. Anyone here have any ideas?

Now for the good part. WOW, what a difference in overall performance. I was really hesitant about this but this is NOW OFFICIALLY my FAVORITE MOD! The sound is so much meaner, the pickup is noticable, and the throttle response is increased. The downsides? Exhaust smell without a cat takes some getting used to and the drone on the inside of the car at 2500-3500 is really loud. If you want to carry on a conversation, you must learn to listen harder and speak up louder. Other than that.....it was so worth the wait. Below are sound clips or before and after. Everyone wants to hear sound clips so I hope these do not disappoint.

Before the Headers. ARK N2 Dual outside and inside

http://s85.photobucket.com/albums/k...ders/?action=view&current=ARKN2outsidecar.flv
http://s85.photobucket.com/albums/k...rrent=ARKN2insidecarfromreardrivingaround.flv

After SSA Header install: ARK N2 w/ SSA w/no cat

http://s85.photobucket.com/albums/k...iew&current=ARKN2andSSAHeadersfromoutside.flv
http://s85.photobucket.com/albums/k...rrent=ARKN2andSSAHeadersfrominsidenormald.flv
http://s85.photobucket.com/albums/k...rrent=ARKN2andSSAHeadersheavythrottlefrom.flv
http://s85.photobucket.com/albums/k...rrent=ARKN2andSSAHeadersfrominsideWideOpe.flv

Please send opinions!!!

 

[breaker]

sounds amazing. good job!

 

[04shark04]

Sounds sweet, but your ARK outside clip BEFORE headers sounds much different than mine. Hmmmmm wonder why that is.

 

[SuperSaiyan]

Ummmm, dunno why that is. Is that a good thing or a bad thing????? What does yours sound like?

 

[04shark04]

Yours still sounds good, but mine is a lot deeper. But it could also be cause its a sound clip. It would differ than if I'd actually be there.

 

[Ignarus]

Nice clip's man

 

[SuperSaiyan]

Yours still sounds good, but mine is a lot deeper. But it could also be cause its a sound clip. It would differ than if I'd actually be there.

Well, I am using a Sony digital camera (one of the slim T1 models) and not a video camera. The sound in person is much deeper than it sounds on the video clip. If I can get a hold of a video camera that will record sound at that frequency range, you would hear a massive difference.

I just used what i had.

 

[Tiburon628]

way to loud IMO

 

[DrftPretty]

Often it takes a few thousand miles before exhaust is full broken in. Usually gets deeper.

 

[SuperSaiyan]

UPDATE:

It's been a couple of days and I thought i would chime in with some opinions of my own. I still like the sound. It's a bit loud with the race pipe in. Needless to say, my neighbors know when I go to work in the morning when I crank my car and let it warm up at 6AM. I am considering putting a cat on it sooner than expected but I'm not sure yet! Having a conversation in the car when you are driving around 45-55mph gets a little hard to do sometimes.

But all in all. A good investment. I thought I could feel a difference in power but I'm starting to wonder if all I feel is the louder noise. Maybe a little better throttle response in midlow rpms (2500+)....only a dyno will tell.

 

[Rezin]

Very nice, but whats that cartoon slap/punching noise when you close the door?

 

[SuperSaiyan]

that is the black trunk cover thing coming down as I shut the hatch. I listened to it again and laughed. I never thought it about it as cartoon slapping.....but it does!

 

[RedTuscani2k3]

sounds really good. is ur ssa raspy.. kuz it dont sound like its that bad..
http://youtube.com/watch?v=SWCr-1J3f44 heres my SSA and evofusion exhaust.. my ssa sound raspy.

 

[staw512]

sounds good...........

 

[SuperSaiyan]

sounds really good. is ur ssa raspy.. kuz it dont sound like its that bad..
http://youtube.com/watch?v=SWCr-1J3f44 heres my SSA and evofusion exhaust.. my ssa sound raspy.

Not too bad in my opinion. I can deal with it.....for now.

 

[jsalamone7]

does anyone have a clip of the ark n2 dual with an injen sri?

I have the sri and I am going to buy the N2 burnt tip (see sig lol)

I would like to hear it