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OK, firstly, Yeah, I'm a noob, if you want to give me crap about it, that's fine, but I reserve the right to give you a kick in the figs later.

OK, so, I've got this GTS-4, so stock that it still has that new car smell. Mmmm mmm... leathery fresh... Anyway, I want to get a bit more out of it... Yeah, I've got the bug, my wallet is already starting to go bulemic, vomiting up money as fast as I can put it in there.

but apart from that, I got a few questions about my first few mods. I've searched the forums , and got a lot of conflicting views, and a lot of advice that assumes I'm willing to spend more on the car than what I bought it for, so if all these queries have been answered before, forgive me, or don't and your nads will meet my boot at some later occasion.

So. To start with, I thought the exhaust and intacke could use a trick. Bought an Apexi pod and adapter ($150) , and have my eye on an apexi N1 evolution exhaust system ($1.2k part), I've read some good reviews on the forums about the apexi exhaust, so I've decided that spending the extra dosh could be worth it.

The questions:

1. Do I need an engineers cert for these mods?

2. If I put them on myself, and then go to a place that can dyno tune an awd, will they sign off on the engineers cert?

3. Should I also look at a new cat, and other pipes? about how much is a good price for these, and any recommended brands?

4. any awd dyno places in melbourne anyone can recommend?

5. What's a fair price for fitting these two items if i can't be arsed, or if it works out easier to do it at the same place that has the dyno.

that's it. I'm on a budget (aren't we all) but I'd rather spend the cash initially to get it done right, than spend later to fix up problems made by inferior parts/ fitting.

And just to get it going, my future mod plans are mostly handling based, I'll throw on some strut bars, some coil overs, and maybe a lick of paint.

Well, any opinions? Oh and flamers, just remember my size 12's....

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No you don't need an engineers certificate for exhaust modifications, for two reasons. It is not related to safety, and exhaust components are regarded as expendable (like tyres, spark plugs, batteries and so on).

But whatever you do, it must still conform to certain legal requirements. There must be a functioning catalytic converter located in the original position, and noise must be within the legal limit. Ground and body clearance must be sufficient, it must not leak, and the exhaust exit must be located behind the last window that can be opened. Apart from that you can do pretty much whatever you like.

How much is entirely up to how much you want to spend.

if your going a full exhaust system get the high flow cat as the standard ones are quite crap

Yeah, I was looking at a metalcat, as these seem to be the most recommended on the forums.

I'll probably use a silencer, I want to have a sleeper. that's kind of why I picked a gts-4. It's a bit different.

Kind of funny about the past the last window bit though. I didn't know that. Guess no side mount exhaust for me, but it'd be legal to have a rooster tail exhaust?

well, I guess I'll bolt those bits on and take it to a dyno. Thanks guys.

er... Any particular awd dyno you can recommend?

If the new exhaust is not a turbo-back one, then keep looking. It is important to get the gasses away from the turbo as quickly as possible; opening the exhaust up after the cat does not achieve that end.

You don't need a pod; you will start feeding hot air into the engine, and the last thing a turbo needs to see is hot intake air. The factory air box flows quite well, in my experience. The problem is in the stupidly small (therefore restrictive) snorkel mounted on the underside of the LH headlamp. Remove the headlamp so you can remove and chuck the snorkel.

If the new exhaust is not a turbo-back one, then keep looking. It is important to get the gasses away from the turbo as quickly as possible; opening the exhaust up after the cat does not achieve that end.

OK, but I was thinking of getting the catback, adding a metalcat, and a 3" front pipe, won't that effectively make it a turbo-back, or am I off base?

It's also been a matter of what parts I can find, most places don't advertise price, and if I call up and sound like I don't know anything (which isn't far from the truth) I'll probably get my pants pulled down on the price, laughed at by everyone else, go into a downward spiral of drinking and self abuse, and then wake up one day in a pile of my own excrement wondering where my life all went wrong, then recalling my exhaust dilemma and cry myself into oblivion.

My personal preferences are to go for a HKS, Apexi or Kakimoto turbo back exhaust system, but finding a full turbo back system price has been impossible, hence the plan to build one from components.

Or am I hitting myself in the head with a tack hammer?

Try Asking Exhaust shops you dont really need to go spend big $$$ on a exhaust because you are paying for the brand name you should be able to get a turbo back 3'5" for around the 500 - 600 mark that will be Mandril bent SS, also the price would also go up and down because of the muff,

Also if you want a sleeper dont get a cannon every man and his dog has one on the back of the car.

I would go the POD and for $20 make your own CAI, much better

Try Asking Exhaust shops you dont really need to go spend big $$$ on a exhaust because you are paying for the brand name you should be able to get a turbo back 3'5" for around the 500 - 600 mark that will be Mandril bent SS, also the price would also go up and down because of the muff,

Also if you want a sleeper dont get a cannon every man and his dog has one on the back of the car.

I would go the POD and for $20 make your own CAI, much better

Yeah I got my own sheet steel and a set of tin snips that should let me make a CAI around the pod.

I might take the car into an exhaust shop and see what they say. I was leaning towards brand names for reliability and quality, but if there's not much difference, I'm certainly not afraid t save money.

Try Asking Exhaust shops you dont really need to go spend big $$$ on a exhaust because you are paying for the brand name you should be able to get a turbo back 3'5" for around the 500 - 600 mark that will be Mandril bent SS, also the price would also go up and down because of the muff,

Also if you want a sleeper dont get a cannon every man and his dog has one on the back of the car.

I would go the POD and for $20 make your own CAI, much better

where can you get mandrel bent stainless steel TURBO BACK exhausts custom made for 600 bucks? hook me up as i may be interested to run a group buy for stageas at that price!

Found this on uniqueautosports.com.au

X-FORCE STAINLESS EXHAUST SYSTEM FOR SKYLINE R32 & R33 GTS-T

TURBO BACK STAINLESS EXHAUST SYSTEM FOR SKYLINE R32 & R33 GTS-T WITH HIGH FLOW CAT INCLUDED

USES ONE PEICE DUMP/ENGINE PIPE.

COMPONENTS AVAILABLE SEPERATELY

FULL SYSTEM PRICE: $980.00

OR

CAT BACK PRICE: $725.00

OR

DUMP/ENGINE PIPE PRICE: $370.00

How does that look? although from what I see here, I don't understand why I can't buy a cat back exhaust, add a metalcat and a dump pipe to make it a turbo back. Still, it'd be cheaper to buy it all in one, and I suppose exhaust really is nothing more than a pipe with a cat and a muffler.

And it's also less than the cost of the apexi evolution for a whole system.

Try Asking Exhaust shops you dont really need to go spend big $$$ on a exhaust because you are paying for the brand name you should be able to get a turbo back 3'5" for around the 500 - 600 mark that will be Mandril bent SS, also the price would also go up and down because of the muff

says the bloke who wants to put 6 turbos on an rb20, in my opinion i would personally buy a brand name exhuast, there is no doubt that you do pay for the name, however you are also going to be sure your getting quality mufflers, decent thickness piping, proper bends, hangers line up,

get a car with a cheap exhuast, and sit it next to one with a china exhuast, looks, sound, quality there is no comparison

getyourself a batbml dump and a decent catback, the xforce systems are supposed to be ok for cheapies.

getyourself a batbml dump and a decent catback, the xforce systems are supposed to be ok for cheapies.

Sounds good, where can I get a batmbl dump, and how much am I looking at? A metal cat wil cost me about $300, Apexi N1 evolution cat back $1,100, add these to a dump pipe and i'm looking at about 2 grand if I do the install myself and get it dyno'd, I'm guessing.

Still, that amount might even be worth it. It's a bit more than the $1500 I'd intended to spend, but if it'll get me a few more AWKW, I'm all happy, and I'm yet to hear anyone complain about an apexi exhaust.

Kind of funny about the past the last window bit though. I didn't know that. Guess no side mount exhaust for me, but it'd be legal to have a rooster tail exhaust?

Not that funny really. They are worried about exhaust fumes getting back into the car if you run with a back window open. So in a passenger car, you cannot usually bring the exhaust out in front of a back wheel, but in a ute you could.

Same with a truck, side exhaust anywhere behind the cab is fine, or a vertical stack is o/k but it must be behind the last widow that can be opened.

There are also rules about not having the exhaust pipe projecting out beyond rear bumper. It is all fairly obvious stuff.

Edited by Warpspeed
Not that funny really. They are worried about exhaust fumes getting back into the car if you run with a back window open. So in a passenger car, you cannot usually bring the exhaust out in front of a back wheel, but in a ute you could.

Same with a truck, side exhaust anywhere behind the cab is fine, or a vertical stack is o/k but it must be behind the last widow that can be opened.

There are also rules about not having the exhaust pipe projecting out beyond rear bumper. It is all fairly obvious stuff.

Yeah, it's not really something I'm after, though side mount exhausts might be cool, i't probably rather keep it simple for now.

here you go, he sells good cats to, so maybe have a chat to him about that too if you havnt got one lined up?

http://www.skylinesaustralia.com/forums/in...topic=74022&hl=

Even a second hand jap exhuast is fine, so long as the mufflers have no loose chunks, and its in decent condition, you can save yourself a fair wack of money too, if your on a budget,

having sayed that, if you do buy that apexi setup, youll never look back

Edited by Jolinator
here you go, he sells good cats to, so maybe have a chat to him about that too if you havnt got one lined up?

http://www.skylinesaustralia.com/forums/in...topic=74022&hl=

Even a second hand jap exhuast is fine, so long as the mufflers have no loose chunks, and its in decent condition, you can save yourself a fair wack of money too, if your on a budget,

having sayed that, if you do buy that apexi setup, youll never look back

Thanks, I think I'm kind of set on the apexi set up, I'd rather spend the extra for the quality. If I was all about saving cash, I'd buy one off ebay. I'll probably go the batmbl twin dump, and maybe even a catco cat if they're recommended.

I can just hear it now.

Thanks to everyone who's helped me here.

you don't need a 4wd dyno to dyno your GTS4. Just pull the 4wd fuse and its fine for a 2wd dyno.

Thats the way most GTR and GTS4 get tuned including mine....

Just noticed your in the SAU VIC Club, have i seen you one one of the cruises? We should meet up next time...

Meh it was a Idea about the 6 Turbo's Just wanted to put it out there and see what ppl say no need to bag me out about it.

Also Just because its a brand name doesnt mean that it isnt just as good as someone who is a exhaust expert and could make you the same for cheaper. And sound :thumbsup: if it flows and does the job who cares what it sounds like and really I dont think I have heard a crappy sounding skyline. Even my mates R32 with a 25 in it he brought a cheap turbo back exhaust and sounds mint. Also try looking at importing one thats second hand even.

you don't need a 4wd dyno to dyno your GTS4. Just pull the 4wd fuse and its fine for a 2wd dyno.

Thats the way most GTR and GTS4 get tuned including mine....

Just noticed your in the SAU VIC Club, have i seen you one one of the cruises? We should meet up next time...

only just joined, haven't been out with the group yet, but hell, yeah, I'd be keen to meet up and maybe pick your brain a bit about the mysterious and wonderous GTS-4

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