Topic: Kelu is going Solo

[Kelu]

Next toy was exhaust Solo Mach kit and race (catless) downpipe. Oh yeah, I'm preparing for new drag races  

I must thank to Steve Mariano aka spiky3480 and Jeff, they helped me a lot with shipping and keeping local taxes low   .

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The wrapped piece is my race downpipe, I want to keep it secret   j/k, I didn't unwrapped it because I spotted there are many parts in it and will be a pain for me when I will have to transport them to the service to install it among the IC.

And the beautiful quad tips which I love even initially I wanted to keep the design of the stock tips:
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Wednesday I will install this and I will post pictures mounted on the car too. Can't wait to have them on my car and see the difference, yesterday I was to the dyno and I will go back next week after my ECM will learn the new upgrades.

[GXPinKC]

Kelu, the solo-mach-race and solo-quad-tips will be awsome after you get them installed.  I look forward to the pictures that you promise.  The fun just get's better and better.  I'm tired, just got back in town after the trip but wanted to respond to one post.

Ron

[elff]

Very Nice,
I like the quad Tips of the Magnaflow and I think the Solo looks even better with the offset between the inner and outer. 

Make sure you take some video with SOUND after the install. 

So how much is a ticket from Romania to MD?
You should come over for the Mod Meet.
Even though you won't be able to bring your Opel, I'm sure you would have a blast hanging out with a bunch of fellow mod addicts.
 

[DeepBlueGXP]

Now that is a cool idea, I'd reserve a bed for you...

[Kelu]

I love the tips being bevel.

I will do some videos after some time after installation, I want to provide with final sound of the exhaust

I did a small search, the ticket to Baltimore (i hope i choose correctly) is $1000-$1200 and using 3 planes and takes about 18h. I would love to meet you guys even I can't bring my car   looks like many of the most important users will be there but in these conditions is nearly impossible, already skipped my summer holiday because of the car upgrades  

[Arabas]

Hey Kelu, what is that new toy you have over there??? did u steel my solo man???
haha!! nice choice !! i will order a solo too in a few weeks, just can t decide if i will go with mach shorty or street race with the catalyst of course.. what do you think?
i suppose i will need all the advice i can get (spiky 3480 r u there?)...
pls post some pics of your GT with the exhaust. i d love to see that!!
p.s.i cut my leg at a rock, so i couldn t drive for a few days, but tommorow i will be on the road to visit some nice beaches. maybe i will get a video of the countrysite too..

[Kelu]

Wait to see my Norm's Rear Diffuser (takes some time to be made and not delivered yet)   and hear my exhaust  

Street race is a single side tip (no dual) if I'm not wrong and no muffler and it is highest when comes to performances, I went to mach being the quietest and race downpipe, go and listen all sounds from the videos, Solo has a nice collection of sounds and decide which one fits you. Steve (spiky3480) is very helpful get in touch with him.  

[jonymac]

I found this rate on Expedia -

 from  $953 Roundtrip  

1:05 pm Depart Bucharest (OTP)
Arrive Washington (IAD) 6:55 pm  Thu 8-Oct
Duration:12hr 50mn    Air France  2889 / 26  
 Connect in Paris (CDG)  

4:40 pm Depart Washington (IAD)
Arrive Bucharest (OTP) 2:15 pm  +1 day  Mon 12-Oct
Duration:14hr 35mn    Air France 39 / 1888 
 Connect in Paris (CDG) 
 
 
I'd be willing to pick you up, you could stay at our house and head to the mod meet for the weekend, and drive you back to the airport...

[Kelu]

jonymac sir, I'm overwhelmed about what are you willing to do for me I even dare to imagine how nice will be  , but when I start count my money everything disappears. I know myself and I worst than a woman when comes to shopping and my car is in the equation, a trip there will transform me in a madness buyer for everything which I see for my car. The flight will substitute my coilover kit, which I'm raising money for right now, and the spendings will burn my wheels/tires which I plan to buy. Maybe I want too much for my car, but this is me  .
In this moment is nearly impossible for me even with your help keeping my costs low, I appreciated a lot your willingness to host me, maybe if my income will have a boost in the coming months I will afford it. I will try to find a solution to this but until then I must re-thank you hundreds of times for your offer.

[spicy3480]

Kelu,
Looking great buddy...can't wait to see it all on your car.  Make sure you check for leaks after you install it, and before you drop the car to the ground.  Any leaks might cause a CEL, so inspect every connection...let the car idle, and feel for air around the connections.  I actually welded my entire kit on so I never have to worry about leaks.  I have to drop the system in one piece, but it is well worth it since the exhaust is really easy to drop...plus, welding it in ensures proper alignment all the time if your shop takes the time to line it up nice and straight. 

Arabus,
I sent you an email answering all of your questions!  Looking forward to your response.

[Kelu]

Thanks for input Steve,

You put me on thinking about welding everything, it's a good idea but is hard for me to achieve it, I know a good shop where I can weld my exhaust but they don't have the possibility to raise the car to install them also . I'm afraid to weld this together and then not to have room for small adjustments.

You mean to weld everything including the downpipe OR only mid pipe, Y pipe, muffler and tips?

I will install this in a Renault dealership owned by a friend of mine and I will have a guy doing this, the guy generally takes care of modified cars.

[spicy3480]

Don't weld the downpipe silly LOL...Just where there are band clamps...it is not necessary...I just did it bc my car was on the lift and I was like, What the hell...just do it while it's in the air.

[DeepBlueGXP]

Kelu,  No trip to the US this winter but perhaps coming to the Solstice and Sky Nationals next June.  Someone would let you ride shotgun and more than likely you can share a room at the hotel.
http://www.2010nassm.com/

[GaryH]

Don't weld the downpipe silly LOL...Just where there are band clamps...it is not necessary...I just did it bc my car was on the lift and I was like, What the hell...just do it while it's in the air.

This is true.  I had never worked with a system that the pipes butted up to each other rather that overlap, but it works great.  If necessary, you can have a rather large gap between the pipe ends.  Also, the Solo exhaust comes with everything except a second person to help with the install.  I think I could have done the install alone, but it was sure nice to have RickyD to help.  One person to hold and line up the quad tips while the other person tightens the clamps.

[Kelu]

DeepBlueGXP that's more likely   I have a plan now, finish my suspension and wheels upgrades and next year when I hope I will attend to the Nationals to buy my turbo kit.
Stop being offtopic or I wil report you, oh uh  

GaryH I will have a friend transporting my exhaust and my IC, the guy from the service, the friend which owns the dealership and me, 4 guys should be enough, i hope  , I will be pretty much the person holding the parts and reading installation instructions  
So the pipes are not overlapping on joints?  

spiky3480 Damn you, you got me thinking. You mean to weld all the 3 joints of the Y pipe, right? Tips are not so important to be welded by the muffler, they join nice using those 2 clamps (not those 3 band clamps) right?

I have talked with my friends, they can help me weld them but the welding shop is 1h drive from the installation service  

I'm afraid of:
 - I don't know which side I should weld the muffler, Y pipe is market with TOP on a side but the muffler it isn't  
 - by welding them will be no room for small adjustments in placement, also if I would need to change any angle of a joint for small trim I will have to cut it

Should I go welded or clamped?  

[spicy3480]

I welded the following three areas: connection in midpipe, both connections on rear section where band clamps would be. 

[Kelu]

I welded the following three areas: connection in midpipe, both connections on rear section where band clamps would be. 

midpipe is Y shape pipe?

[spicy3480]

The midpipe is the long pipe before the Y...there is a band clamp that goes on in front of the Y (towards the front of the car).  I welded the two pipes together at that band clamp also.