This past weekend I was able to install my new UTR resonated test pipes. I promised I would write a review and post some sound clips on this site. I dont have any sound clips yet but I do have pictures (see attachments)

The installation was actually quite easy. I had about 30" worth of extensions on a 1/2" drive ratchet with a breaker bar, so I had no problem breaking all of the nuts loose from the engine bay or under the car. I did the install at my fraternity house, so it took a while to find a couple little things...like a jack. If I had done the install at home I could have easily done it in under 2 hours.

Anyway, the pipes fit very well, the support brackets lined up well enough to get the bolts through without a problem. The only thing I noticed was that they may be a little short...in other words, I had to pull the Y pipe forward about 1/4" - 3/8" to get the pipes to mate up. Besides that, they fit well and nothing rubs or anything.

I have them installed on a bone stock 03' with only a Z-tube. At first I had just the pipes on, and then I added the Z tube a few days later, but I could barely tell the difference with and without the Z tube (The z tube is only noticeable at higher rpms).

All in all the car is still "quiet" by my stadards...its just a little louder than stock. Basically imagine the stock exhaust note, only aplified slightly. When driving in the car, it sounds very good, and no rasp can be heard whatsoever.

However, last night I switched cars with my friend so I could hear the exhaust from outside while driving. From outside/behind the car there is a little bit of a raspy civic sound, although it is not very pronounced. I was really quite suprised when I heard it, because there is not even a hint of that sound inside the car .

I am planning to take some startup/rev and flyby videos this week, weather permitting.

 

great review. do these test pipes make you ckack engine light turn on?

 

I have an '03, so in my case no, the CEL did not come on.

 

great review........you feel any gains or no??

 

The issue I see with these pipes is that the resonators are small - like 5-6 inches - maybe even 4's????

Rasp will be inevitable and likely after about 200-300 miles be more pronounced as they wear in. Also - are the resonators spiral Louvre or perforated core?

I ask this because I have the Fast Intentions pipes and there is absolutely ZERO rasp - and I have headers! They have 8" resonators with perforated cores. No CEL throws after more than 1000 miles, now closer to 1500.

Rick

 

The resonators are perforated core, probably around 6" long. I dont know how to describe the sound. Like I said, inside the car I hear ZERO rasp...it was only when I heard it from outside that I noticed it. I do have two videos on hand, one is startup/rev (but the engine is cold and some of the rasp actually seems to go away after it warms up) and the other one is taken from a moving car with me accelerating away. I plan to make more/better videos, but i dont know when it will happen. Where is the best place to host videos?

 

hmmm....that would bother me. When exhaust parts are new and they make noises you don't like, those noises amplify over time - especially when they are associated with smaller parts like in higher heat locations - like test pipes and cats. They have a tendency to burn out and crystallize much faster - causing premature breakdown of the composites.

Keep a close ear on them and listen for harmonics....very important....especially during warranty periods.

BTW - what is the warranty period on the those?

Rick

 

To answer your question, no, I didnt feel any gains. However, I have only had the car for about 3 weeks so I am not familiar with it. I also find it hard to believe that anyone could feel less than a 10 hp increase on a car with almost 290 hp...I think most people hear the difference more than they actually feel it and automatically assume its faster .

 

Pretty accurate - b u t t dyno's DO feel gains in the mid range though. There is more throttle response as well and the RPM rise smoother in the mid range as well with test pipes and/or headers.

Also that 290HP is at the flywheel..not the rear wheels - so it is and can be felt if your is tune with your car. A properly setup and designed set of test pipes should yield about 10HP on a stock car.

 

We've had our resonated test pipes on our project car for over 6 mths., complete with a full exhaust system (UTR headers, resonated tp, and our prototype cat back system). So far they're performing as expected with no issues.

Our resonators measure 7", perforated and packed with stainless steel wool.
Steel wool withstands heat better and doesn't degrade over time like glass fiber packing.

On avg., hp gains are common for tp's and is more evident with a full exhaust system.
You should have your butt dyno recalibrated!!

Thanks.

 

Sound Clip CLICK HERE!

Thanks.

 

any chance of clips on stock exhaust?

 

I just posted some clips with stock exhaust and z tube:

http://videos.streetfire.net/video/55F36607-8157-444B-AE9D-CA3513C6CAC5.htm
and

http://videos.streetfire.net/video/48574500-1928-4D24-9732-B4F43986D677.htm
enjoy.

 

sounds very nice. what rpm does it make that slight rasp? does it do it when jstu normal driving or only WOT? hows the drone?

 

Like I said, you cant hear any rasp whatsoever from inside the cabin. The car basically sounds the same inside as it did stock, only a little bit louder. No drone at all.