Well HFC would be easier i guess, because you dont' have find the parts and not sure of how well the job is going to be. Also if you want custom pipes and you want it from the cat back with SS pipes you're looking at around 600 bucks i think. Also they way customs pipes work mean you have no idea how it's going to sound. Right now I have custom pipes but i get a weird sound when the RPMs drop, it's the exhaust sucking air back in I think and depending on how you change your pipe it would change the tone, I've had this before and now it sounds slightly higher pitched.

really depends on what you feel like.

 

if i do berk HFC's do i have to cut the stock piping? or does it bolt right up?

 

It's a direct bolt on, but it's not really backyard job unless you had loads of tools.

 

i have access to a lift and a pretty good amount of tools? what's needed? torch(maybe) and wrenches... and possibly some bolt loosener????? how much are the hfc's... i need 2 of em right?? i'm kinda a noob

 

they are like 500 bucks for both, Where are you they are illegal in CA now. Umm the hardest bit is breaking the o2 sensors becareful if you do it yourself they are like 200 bucks each. I didnt' do it myself I have mine done at my dealership.

 

went to berk website and they're asking 549.99??? i might just have to stick with quiet exhaust

 

i'm in NY. everything is illegal here

 

Go find Andy@hpautoworks, he'll hook you up. I think the group buy is over now but i got mine for 419 shipped.

 

alright. thanks a lot bro, you've been a huge help!

 

I hope so lol. Good luck let us know what you decide.

 

How about some Fast Intentions Hi Flo Cats

 

They use the same magnaflow cat part, but FI you need anti foulers.

 

Nope, if you get the Berk HFC's (or the FI HFC's) they are a simple bolt in. If you do decide to do them yourself, you will need an O2 sensor socket, a universal joint for your socket wrench and some really long socket extensions, maybe 30" total. It's the 3 forward most bolts on each cat that are a biatch to get to, especially the ones on the driver's side. An like you said, depending on how old your car is and how siezed up everything is, but you may need to torch the nuts or use a nut splitter on them. Incidentally, Berk does provide new hardware with their HFC's.

You can get them much cheaper than that. Like Clement said, give Andy a call at HP Autoworks in AZ. His everyday price for the pair of them is around $489, but I just recently set up a group buy with him for $419, so you may want to ask him if he can do any better than the $489. Tell him Adrian sent you and that I said he would give you a good deal. LOL

I'm with Clement on this one... almost every car I've seen with the FI HFC's has gotten the dreaded CEL (check engine light). Travis' is the only one I know of that hasn't had a CEL problem with the FI cats, but I believe he has the anti-foulers. His car is also a 6 spd, so maybe that makes a difference too... difference ECU = different tollerance for mods? I've even read that some people have even continued to have the CEL problems with the FI cats even after installing the anti-foulers. Go with the Berks... you will have much less of a chance of getting a CEL.

 

Hey man... I haven't done my custom x-pipe yet. Clement, Csquared, was the one that got that done. I was going to weld up my own custom x-pipe, I think... However, if your looking for someone to do a custom pipe for you in your area, then just go to magnaflow's web-site, and they will give you a list of dealers in your area... just find one that will do custom exhaust work and you are all set. There are 3 places within 5 miles of my house that I called and they said they could do it for me, so I'll take it to one of them if I decide I don't have the time to make my own.

Here's the x-pipe (Magnaflow Part # 10790) I was planning to use:

http://www.allmagnaflow.com/product.php?productid=760

Along with 2 of these resonators (Magnaflow Part # 10445); one per side:

http://www.allmagnaflow.com/product....0&cat=0&page=1

The rest would just be custom 2.25" SST piping from my Berks back to the Tanabe.

Hehe... It'sso funny that you mentioned this, because my wife has't even noticed it yet. I would have sworn that she would have at least noticed the HUGE tips, but she hasn't even noticed those yet.

As far as the Berk's go, we ended up getting 14 buyers on the GB and out of everyone who's had their's installed so far (which is about 10 people), not one person has had a CEL... There are still a few people that haven't installed them yet, including me (knock on wood), so hopefully we all continue along the same trend. So, either you had a bad 02 sensor, or you just simply had a very mod "unfriendly" ECU. Do you happen to know your ECU number? Just curious, because I got my car in October '08 too (need to check the actual builddate, though). FYI... My ECU number is: 23710-1NA0A

Congrats on the new house... that things definitely gonna sap into your mod money, though.

Definitely do the HFC's first, as they are the main bottle neck in the factory exhaust. Once you get the Berk high-flow cats, which use 2-3/8" piping, then the factory 2" resonator assembly becomes the bottle neck, so then you would benefit from having a custom 2-1/4" or 2-3/8" x-pipe / mid-pipe made up to mate your 2-3/8" HFC's to your 2-1/4" Tanabe axle back. You will also get the biggest HP increase for your money out of the HFC's, no doubt!

 

Hey Adrian, why are you looking at An X and 2 resonators and not the Resonated X like I got? I think that would be a cheaper route, also are you planning on putting flex joints back into the exhaust? I really can't wait till you put on your berks to see if you get the sucking back exhaust sound and if your set up gets rid of it. I do not have a full custom piping from the cats though, but it's possible that because i'm using 2" pipes/stock pipes instead thats why I have 0 drone.