This weekend Kev and I installed the FGK goodies that arrived a few weeks ago. Once again my Trueno was on the ramps of GH heavy lift division and we started dismantling my old Apexi N1 Evolution catback, old mild steel 4-1 manifold, and the horrible decat/ECV pipe monstrosity!
With the exception of two rusted bolts on the catback, everything came out easily. The strut brace and distributor cap were moved to swap manifolds. Here is the shiny new Super Ex in its virgin stainless steel colour. It has since turned a lovely shade of gold in its new home!
FGK thought of and supplied everything we needed, and I mean everything, down to the last gasket and washer. Here is the nice bracket that supports the lower end of the collector where it joins the next section. The bracket bolts to the bellhousing and then a U clamp and support secure the collector to it . You can also see the spring loaded bolts that hold the next section against that tough donut type joint. It gives a perfect seal but still a little flexibility (not tightened up yet in this shot).
Things started to shape up very nicely as we added all of the sections. It was such a pleasure working with brand new parts and clean nuts and bolts. Everything just fits together so easily! The FGK system follows a neater line under the car and is higher up off the ground than the old system. I haven't scraped it off anything, yet.. I will probably cry when I do but still will not raise up the car haha. At least the down pipe has a part number etched into it so can be ordered separately if I ever kill it during full compression on a some nasty bit of Irish road...
You can see the new location of the O2 sensor just after the collector, the factory sensor is retained, using a cable extension kit, new gasket, and more new bolts supplied with the kit.
Final tightening of all the bolts was left until everything was lined up and in place. The only unexpected thing was having to disconnect the rear coilovers to the fit the muffler over the axle, as the "S" section is a bit longer than on the N1 and joins the midsection in front of the diff rather above it....
...which brought us nicely to the muffler! My measurements worked out just right and the twin tips fill the exhaust space perfectly! I'm very pleased with the slash cut tips too, very nice quality..
The coilovers were then reconnected, strut brace and distributor cap reset, and the car quickly put back on the ground so we could finally start it up to hear it....and get that lovely new exhaust smell. It certainly has a much quieter idle than the old system, but has a suprisingly sharp clean sound when revved hard, the Super Ex and stainless decat making themselves well known through the back box. Some flames were even coaxed from it with enthusiastic revving, and I discovered that when you get back on the throttle after a high rev lift off there are some lovely pops out of it. Its the best of both worlds, quiet and calm for normal driving but it still comes to life when you drop a gear or two.
Another nice job complete and Fujitsubo is
GarageHachi approved :)
