Bigger pics please.

How old is your car, Imminence?.. Shouldn't need to go in for SMOG until your've owned the car for around 6 years.

 

Also, I'm very curious to hear some before and after sound clips if you can... Trying to decide if I want to replace my HFC's with these, but don't want the exhaust to be any louder than it already is.

 

Has it been bumped to 6 years? Mine is a 2007.

 

Yup, you should be eligible for the SMOG Abatement the first 2 times you reregister your car... year 2 and year 4.. which means you won't need to have your first SMOG testing done until year 6. Of course, the State of CA hits you with an extra $20 SMOG Abatement fee every other year, so they'll at least get their money out of you either way... that's all they really care about.

 

Ok, I have some good and bad news. Good news is the pipes fit perfectly and installation wasn't too bad. Removing the stock cats was a PITA.... specifically the two bolts that need to be removed through engine bay. Once the stock cats were out the ART pipes bolted up in minutes. Now for the bad news. O2 sensors would not come out of the stock cats!!!! Used penetrating oil, heat, ect...... sensors ended up stripping. The Nissan dealership in town wouldn't even touch them because they didn't want to be the ones responsible for wreching them. The previous owner drove the car through 3 winters so..... Purchased new Bosch sensors on the net so hopefully I'll be letting you know how these bad boys sound and perform next week. Sensors cost 1/2 as much as the pipes!!!!! Oh well, won't have to worry about those again.

 

Should have just bought Bosch universal sensors and spliced the harness. Those are a lot cheaper.

 

I was thinking about doing that but after a little research I found that people in general have had bad experiences with the universal sensors. Others have simply said they're junk. I'd rather spend the extra $$$ and do it right..... no reason to half azz something on this nice of a vehicle.

 

The rear O2 sensors are not that critical - just for OBDII compliance. I use a universal for the main O2 senor on my Evo. Works great.

 

Sorry to hear about having to replace your O2 sensors. It's never fun spending money on parts that aren't really going to improve the performace of your cart all.

So, any sounds clips with the ART pipes installed?

 

The only sound clip I could provide right now would be of the pipes without any sensors in the bungs. Sensors should be here by the end of the week so I might be able to provide a clip then...... not really sure how to post a sound clip??? Either way I'll be able to describe verbally what affect the new pipes have compared to the exhaust with the stock cats. I did have to fire up the beast with the new pipes on w/o O2 sensors to get it off the ramps. She sounded pretty mean and extra throaty so I'm hoping that's a sign of good things to come. Not being able to drive one's car for an extended period of time is the true test of one's patience. As a side note I called Bosch about their universal sensors and they do not make one for our cars so that isn't even an option. I ended up going with Denso sensors b/c they'll be here at the end of the week.... the Bosch ones I initally ordered wouldn't have come until mid next week.

 

Sounds good, man. Can't wait to hear them installed. Interested to see how they compare to my set-up with the Berk HFC's.

To make a sound clip, just make a video (with sound) with your digital camera and then post it on youtube, etc, and post the link. I've done this a couple time to take sounds clips of my exhuast and it's the easiest way I know how.

 

O2 sensors came today and the install is finally complete. I do have to say it was well worth the wait. Can feel the added power throughout the entire power band. Sound wise it is a bit louder under normal driving conditions but when you step on it is louder and deeper. I'd definately recommend these to anyone looking to replace their cats. Car idles fine and smells even better. I could feel a little extra power when I did the CAI and later the CBE, but these pipes far exceed both of those power wise (complements the other two). I'll see if I can get a sound clip for you guys sometime next week. UpRev dyno tune is next on the list and then I'll have some real numbers to look at. Temp is only in the upper 50's tonight so the car is really moving

 

Nice! Thanks for the update.

Any sounds clips yet?

I'm seriously considering these, but don't want it to be any louder than it already is.

 

Better late than never. Video is from my camera phone so it doesn't pick up how deep/throaty the sounds is WOT. Going from the stock cats to the test pipes did make the car quite a bit louder but it is a mean sound.

Uprev is next and then I think I'm down for a while

 

I think I'm going to ditch the Berk HFC for the ART test pipes in the spring. They just seem like the best "test pipe" option at the moment. And obviously, I want some more power.