Update 2: Headers installed and impressions at post #40.
Update 1: Intake, B-pipe and muffler impressions after 3 days at post #12.
Hi all,
Late last week I received a number of items from AJR for my Fit:
1. Carbon fiber intake
2. Response Headers
3. B-pipe
4. 50s v2 muffler
Here are my impressions...
In general, AJR's packaging is OK. My headers were put in the same box as my 50s v2, and insufficient packing material was used. As a result, one edge of the header inlet put a small dent in the rear part of the muffler canister. It was minor, but still noticeable upon unpacking the parts. Since it's on the rear part of the canister, I'm not exchanging it. I would have had this been on a more visible area of the muffler. Insist that AJR package each part separately to avoid such things from happening to you. Also, no license plate frames were included as promised, but Sam followed up with me after reading this, and has since sent me these along with some other goodies, which shows *excellent* customer care post-purchase!
Thank you!
Anyway, everything else arrived in top quality with no scratches or dents, and all within one week.
Installation notes:
1. CF intake: First thing I noticed? No instructions. Installing an intake is easy, but if you've never done it before, you have to spend some time looking online and printing them out yourself. There should at least be some text-only instructions/tips in the box.
Anyway, everything was straightforward except for clearance on the battery. I had to remove the protective cover and shift the battery a few millimeters to the right in order for the CF box to fit. No problem. Everything else fit like a glove, and the rest of the install went without a hitch. Oh, the only other problem is that one of the clamps' diameters was very small, so it was a tight squeeze getting it threaded. But it worked. Otherwise, the grommet, piping, hoses, etc. all fit great. Nice quality piece, and I like that the blue hoses and filter match the VBP paint on my Fit.
Install difficulty: Easy. Aside from moving the battery and test fitting everything, this is a very straightforward install and should take no more than an hour if you take your time.
2. Response Headers: Speaking to the headers themselves, these are of the highest quality. Beautiful welds, bends and a winning finish that really shines in the engine bay when you look behind the motor. Fitment is perfect (you can use all stock gaskets/hardware).
Install difficulty: Medium. Of all the I/H/E components, this is the most difficult if you don't have a good set of tools. If you're having trouble loosening any of the nuts and bolts, use a penetrating liquid like PB Blaster first and let them sit for 15-30 minutes. The bolts between the header outlet and catpipe are particularly tricky, so take your time. This job can be done in about an hour and a half, but give yourself two to three hours if this is your first time, particularly if you're working under natural light and don't have access to a well-lit garage bay.
3. B-pipe: Get yourself 2 nuts that fit your springbolts back at the muffler. Because the T1R B-pipe does not have threads on the outlet side, you can't use your springbolts to hook up to the muffler with the supplied hardware. These 2 nuts really should be included. For now, I'm temporarily using the standard bolts/nuts included with the B-pipe, but I'll be using the proper springbolt setup as soon as I can get myself to an automotive store.
As for the pipe itself, this is a quality part! Great welds, bends, and finish. Fitment is perfect. Everything aligns to the hangers with no problem. As others have mentioned, it hangs a little low, but I haven't had any clearance problems yet. Once I'm dropped on coilovers, we'll see how I do with driveways, speedbumps, and ramps.
Overall, I would have to say that this was the highest-quality piece of my order (along with the headers).
Install difficulty: Easy. If you're having trouble with loosening nuts (the three at the catpipe/midpipe might give you a little trouble), use a penetrating liquid like PB Blaster first and let them sit for 15-30 minutes. Silicone spray works extremely well for removing stubborn rubber hangers. This should also only take about an hour if you take your time.
4. 50s v2 muffler: First impression is that this muffler is heavy. It seems to weigh about the same as stock, and it's a substantial piece. I had some plastic stuck to the underside of the muffler that didn't want to come off, and the previously mentioned dent in the back kinda tarnished the otherwise nice finish on this part.
The circuit-style tip is cool, although the cut didn't seem perfectly straight. Then again, it's tucked a bit under the bumper, so you can't really see it. After it was installed and I drove around for a while, it looks like it's not hanging perfectly even, but that can be fixed with some minor work on the hangers. Like the B-pipe, I enjoyed perfect fitment on this muffler in terms of how it mates up to the B-pipe and the hangers.
Install difficulty: Easy. Silicone spray is useful if you're having trouble with the hangers. Everything else is very straightforward. Leave the protective covering around the tip until you're finished, and if you want to be extra careful, wrap the tip with a cloth to prevent any scratches resulting from it hitting up against the bottom of the bumper. This is a quick 30-minute job.
Afterwards, I reset my ECU and went for a spin.
Driving/overall impressions:
I went from stock to having these three parts put on, so my car went from near-silent to not-so-silent.
Overall, I was expecting the exhaust to not be much louder than stock, but the B-pipe/50s v2 combo is pretty loud under load. Conversely, it is quiet at idle, normal acceleration, and cruising. I've run or been around just about every exhaust since 1990 on Hondas, Toyotas and Subarus, and I'd put this one on the quiet/moderate end. It's not super-mild like a Fujitsubo or GReddy, but it's not crazy like an Espelir JGT500 or Blitz Nur Spec on an STI (that's my take on quiet vs. loud). With just the muffler, I found the sound to be pretty quiet (just about perfect IMO). It definitely got louder with the B-pipe.
Today is still my first day post-install, so it'll take a few days for the exhaust to get broken in, and for me to adjust to the sounds and changes from these mods.
In a nutshell, however, I absolutely LOVE the way it sounds! For a Honda, it has a nice, deep bass-heavy sound. Definitely a far cry from the Autozone fartcans so common to small imports. So, from a sonic perspective, I'm really happy with it, and you get a really nice balance of sounds from the intake and the exhaust.
Looks-wise, I'll probably do more CF throughout the engine bay to help balance out the large CF intake box. It looks nice, but it's not totally in-your-face, either. I like that.
The muffler is pretty low-key as well, and unless you know what the stock muffler looks like, the Average Joe probably wouldn't notice. The polished canister looks great, and the tip doesn't scream "Look at me!" However, its larger diameter definitely gives the car's hindquarters a beefed-up look.
Conclusion:
I think these are very worthwhile mods, and for the money, I think the quality is exceptional. Aside from the few negatives I mentioned, my experience with these parts have been quite positive. Ben and Sam also responded to all of my emails and calls, and took good care of me on this purchase. That says a lot too: that the company selling these parts exhibit good customer care. That's a quality which is surprisingly rare in the import aftermarket industry.
Thanks for taking the time to read this. Hope it was helpful, and I'll be happy to answer any questions that come up.
-Mike