"Hymee" Catback fitted - Pics
12-16-2003, 04:14 PM
#1
"Hymee" Catback fitted - Pics
Yesterday we got a new custom Catback fitted to Wildcard's (aka D.G.W.) '8. Nice looking car in the silver!
Wildcard drove up from Newcastle to get the job done. (9hr drive)
I've attached pics in the following posts (my hosting is up to it's limit at the moment).
The system comprises:
Wildcard, myself and Les spent lots of time sourcing the best looking tips. Wildcard Sr. also liked the "quads", but the pipes look a bit small. The ones we ended up with look genuinely tough, and make my stockers look woosy in comparison!
The workmanship is top notch. Les is a highly regarded "pipe specialist" - a real craftsman. Seeing him in action really is a treat.
"The sound?", I hear you ask! We fired it up and it burst into life. It was reasonably quiet at idle, but louder and deeper than stock. Just a nice subtle note to let you know something is there. Blipping the throttle brought a huge smile to Wildcard's dial. The odd crackle on the over-run, but not over the top. We let it warm up a bit, then gave it a few short higher RPM bursts. Very nice indeed.
What was really impressive was when Wildcard first took it for a drive. I was waiting out the front of the shop, and he came out of the side street, and gave it some going past me up the front street. It sounded absolutley awesome! That is not something I would say lightly, having come from the V8 world, where the word rice conjures images of disgust! I followed Wildcard for a a few km and was continued to be impressed.
I spoke to Les later that night, and he said all the boys thought it sounded awesome on the drive-by. That is a big statement from a bunch of blokes in back T-shirts and jeans more used to custom building pipes for big-block drag cars and custom hotrods.
It was getting late, but we managed to get to the independant dyno shop (PowerTorque Engines) to compare dyno runs. I don;t wan't to publishing anything yet, as it has become apparent that perhaps the "safe mode" does come into play on the dyno - the new system really started to take off in the mid-high RPM range, but then it was obvious (to the trained eye of our Mark Mc) that something funny was going on, as the computer appeard to be holding it back. Stay tuned for more on this. One thing I would like to do is rig up a signal generator to plug into the wiring harness, and simulate the front wheels turning. In my spare time
Anyway - enjoy the photo's. If anyone is interested I can arrange.
Thanks to Les for his time and effort in getting this going!
The underside of the muffler/tailpipe assembly:
Wildcard drove up from Newcastle to get the job done. (9hr drive)
I've attached pics in the following posts (my hosting is up to it's limit at the moment).
The system comprises:
- Stainless steel rear pipe. Couples to standard mid pipe with custom made connector. Flange bolted to muffler assembly.
- Custom made mandrel bent stainless steel splitter.
- Twin custom made stainless steel mufflers, double offset. Mandrel bent inner perforated tube. Highly polished.
- Stainless Steel Tail Pipes.
- Double wall polished stainless steel tips. They are "MagnoFlow" style. The tips alone cost a friggin fortune (~$160 each)!
- Standard hanging points.
- Can unbolt and be replaced with standard system. Standard system not butchered for any "bits".
- Sounds freaking awesome.
Wildcard, myself and Les spent lots of time sourcing the best looking tips. Wildcard Sr. also liked the "quads", but the pipes look a bit small. The ones we ended up with look genuinely tough, and make my stockers look woosy in comparison!
The workmanship is top notch. Les is a highly regarded "pipe specialist" - a real craftsman. Seeing him in action really is a treat.
"The sound?", I hear you ask! We fired it up and it burst into life. It was reasonably quiet at idle, but louder and deeper than stock. Just a nice subtle note to let you know something is there. Blipping the throttle brought a huge smile to Wildcard's dial. The odd crackle on the over-run, but not over the top. We let it warm up a bit, then gave it a few short higher RPM bursts. Very nice indeed.
What was really impressive was when Wildcard first took it for a drive. I was waiting out the front of the shop, and he came out of the side street, and gave it some going past me up the front street. It sounded absolutley awesome! That is not something I would say lightly, having come from the V8 world, where the word rice conjures images of disgust! I followed Wildcard for a a few km and was continued to be impressed.
I spoke to Les later that night, and he said all the boys thought it sounded awesome on the drive-by. That is a big statement from a bunch of blokes in back T-shirts and jeans more used to custom building pipes for big-block drag cars and custom hotrods.
It was getting late, but we managed to get to the independant dyno shop (PowerTorque Engines) to compare dyno runs. I don;t wan't to publishing anything yet, as it has become apparent that perhaps the "safe mode" does come into play on the dyno - the new system really started to take off in the mid-high RPM range, but then it was obvious (to the trained eye of our Mark Mc) that something funny was going on, as the computer appeard to be holding it back. Stay tuned for more on this. One thing I would like to do is rig up a signal generator to plug into the wiring harness, and simulate the front wheels turning. In my spare time
Anyway - enjoy the photo's. If anyone is interested I can arrange.
Thanks to Les for his time and effort in getting this going!
The underside of the muffler/tailpipe assembly:
Last edited by Hymee; 12-18-2003 at 06:55 AM.
12-16-2003, 06:00 PM
#7
The system is going to be $800 - $850 fitted (but I am waiting for confirmation). Wildcard got a special deal 
He also took digtital video/audio but is unable to download ATM due to lack of suitable equipment (firewire etc).
Sorry I can't advise on the actual price, but this a complex situation. PM me and I can give a private summary. If enough are interested I will probably arrange something similar to the grills.
BTW - This might look like some thinly veiled advertising... Don't worry, there should soon be a Hymee sponsorship banner here real soon!
My objective, as with the grills, was and still is to provide car enthusiasts like me high quality products at affordable prices. And I won't be giving up my day job!
Cheers,
Hymee.
He also took digtital video/audio but is unable to download ATM due to lack of suitable equipment (firewire etc).Sorry I can't advise on the actual price, but this a complex situation. PM me and I can give a private summary. If enough are interested I will probably arrange something similar to the grills.
BTW - This might look like some thinly veiled advertising... Don't worry, there should soon be a Hymee sponsorship banner here real soon!
My objective, as with the grills, was and still is to provide car enthusiasts like me high quality products at affordable prices. And I won't be giving up my day job!
Cheers,
Hymee.
12-16-2003, 06:22 PM
#8
I forgot to mention... Mark from PowerTorque thought it sounded spot on as well. That is a big statement from a V8 supercar engine builder, ex professional racer, top-10 bathurst finisher, and someone who like to poke rice jokes at me.
He also said the work Les did was top shelf stuff.
Cheers,
Hymee.
He also said the work Les did was top shelf stuff.
Cheers,
Hymee.
12-16-2003, 06:40 PM
#10
Yes - I am awaiting the chance to be able to do better dyno checks without that "safe-mode". Something I am looking into now.
Anyone got a G-Tech Pro we could do some street testing with? Maybe that goes on my Christmas wish list
It appears from what I have read elsewhere there is not a real lot available from the cat back. Indeed, it would not be possible to make an exhaust any less restrictive than this one other than going straight out through the rear rotor crest!
I believe that most of the restriction in the stock exhaust is probably in midpipe/cat/exhaust manifold in the first place. The next project is a new mid-pipe with a hi-flow cat. Then headers are on the agenda. The benefits of the new cat back should be more applicable to a free-er "front half" of the exhaust. And then a tune as well sometime
Cheers,
Hymee
Anyone got a G-Tech Pro we could do some street testing with? Maybe that goes on my Christmas wish list
It appears from what I have read elsewhere there is not a real lot available from the cat back. Indeed, it would not be possible to make an exhaust any less restrictive than this one other than going straight out through the rear rotor crest!
I believe that most of the restriction in the stock exhaust is probably in midpipe/cat/exhaust manifold in the first place. The next project is a new mid-pipe with a hi-flow cat. Then headers are on the agenda. The benefits of the new cat back should be more applicable to a free-er "front half" of the exhaust. And then a tune as well sometime
Cheers,
Hymee
12-16-2003, 07:32 PM
#12
Originally posted by AMG
So tell me , does it throw flames out the back
So tell me , does it throw flames out the back
I was lucky enough to drive it round the block for him to hear what she sounded like from the outside. All I can say - It was fun! - yes, dear readers - even more fun than normal!
Cheers,
Hymee.
12-16-2003, 07:55 PM
#13
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Hi all,
As you can imagine I'm very happy with the new exhaust. Sounds great when you step on the gas, but it's also quiet when you want it to be. Exhaust note at idle is a little deeper, but not much louder, so you don't look like a dick sitting at the traffic lights. Cruising on the hwy is the same - a little deeper but not really much louder than stock. When you want to make some noise though, oh baby! It'll be a while before I turn the stereo back on again I think. I can also get a nice crackle out of the exhaust when I come off the accelerator quickly.
On the subject of power, I went back to the Dyno this morning. Same problems as yesterday with the ABS light coming on at about 7000rpm. Performance is better than stock up to that point, but then the power drops off. The dyno log shows a change in the mixture once this ABS light comes on, indicating that the ECU is doing something to the timing or mixture as the ECU engages some sort of 'safe' mode. So the real answer wont lie on the dyno until someone can trick the computer.
On the road though, there is obviously no ABS light at 7K rpm and the car continues to accelerate nicely. My butt tells me that there is probably a little bit more go, but as has been said elsewhere, there aren't really any huge gains to be had from a catback system anyway. My gut feeling is that there is an extra 5-8 kW at the wheels.
Aurally it's a different feeling though. The deeper and louder exhaust note is a pleasure to the senses, so even if I'm not going much faster, at least I feel like I am!
Thanks to Hymee for all his great work again in getting this project off the ground.
Sound files will have to wait until I get back to Newcastle in the new year. By then I should have my Rotary Extreme intake installed as well.
Wildcard
As you can imagine I'm very happy with the new exhaust. Sounds great when you step on the gas, but it's also quiet when you want it to be. Exhaust note at idle is a little deeper, but not much louder, so you don't look like a dick sitting at the traffic lights. Cruising on the hwy is the same - a little deeper but not really much louder than stock. When you want to make some noise though, oh baby! It'll be a while before I turn the stereo back on again I think. I can also get a nice crackle out of the exhaust when I come off the accelerator quickly.
On the subject of power, I went back to the Dyno this morning. Same problems as yesterday with the ABS light coming on at about 7000rpm. Performance is better than stock up to that point, but then the power drops off. The dyno log shows a change in the mixture once this ABS light comes on, indicating that the ECU is doing something to the timing or mixture as the ECU engages some sort of 'safe' mode. So the real answer wont lie on the dyno until someone can trick the computer.
On the road though, there is obviously no ABS light at 7K rpm and the car continues to accelerate nicely. My butt tells me that there is probably a little bit more go, but as has been said elsewhere, there aren't really any huge gains to be had from a catback system anyway. My gut feeling is that there is an extra 5-8 kW at the wheels.
Aurally it's a different feeling though. The deeper and louder exhaust note is a pleasure to the senses, so even if I'm not going much faster, at least I feel like I am!
Thanks to Hymee for all his great work again in getting this project off the ground.
Sound files will have to wait until I get back to Newcastle in the new year. By then I should have my Rotary Extreme intake installed as well.
Wildcard
12-16-2003, 09:15 PM
#16
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Excellent pics. Why did you choose two mufflers (like the HKS RX8 catback) instead of one (like standard / Borla model)?
It's just that I've been talking to a company here in Adelaide that is currently prototyping an exhaust on the RX8, and they believe (but have not confirmed / tried yet) that one muffler might be the go ... something about gases mixing too early or something. I wasn't quite paying attention to the reason at the time.
It's just that I've been talking to a company here in Adelaide that is currently prototyping an exhaust on the RX8, and they believe (but have not confirmed / tried yet) that one muffler might be the go ... something about gases mixing too early or something. I wasn't quite paying attention to the reason at the time.
12-16-2003, 10:24 PM
#17
DDB,
Mmm - the gasses have already well and truly mixed waaaay before the mufflers.
Ask around, ask questions. The hard part is often sorting through the good advice from the bad. Ultimatley you have to decide that for yourself.
The scientific reason we used 2 mufflers was to achieve efficiency in the flow. We believe we have done that with our design.
I could write up a really smick looking marketing perspective/sales pitch, and talk about all the research and development that went into this. And how we got acoustics specialist involved to fine-tune this bit and that bit. Some people might believe that. But I don't want to go down that path. It would be bending the truth.
I do want to share with people what we have achieved. People might choose to take copies of the pictures I have posted to other shops and hope they can do a good job. Some places will be able to, but we have seen many shockingly built systems from places that should now better. I also had great confidence in the people I entrusted my first LS1 exhaust to - I was poorly disspointed. But I now have a good relationship with Les after he did a proper exhaust for it.
I am hoping to save people from that anguish, and present a ready made, high quality system that can be shipped anywhere, and simply bolted up as a replacement.
We didn't employ any acoustic specialists - but those who have heard it are mighty impressed!
However, we did employ the many years of hard won experience of someone I can trust.
Cheers,
Hymee.
Mmm - the gasses have already well and truly mixed waaaay before the mufflers.
Ask around, ask questions. The hard part is often sorting through the good advice from the bad. Ultimatley you have to decide that for yourself.
The scientific reason we used 2 mufflers was to achieve efficiency in the flow. We believe we have done that with our design.
I could write up a really smick looking marketing perspective/sales pitch, and talk about all the research and development that went into this. And how we got acoustics specialist involved to fine-tune this bit and that bit. Some people might believe that. But I don't want to go down that path. It would be bending the truth.
I do want to share with people what we have achieved. People might choose to take copies of the pictures I have posted to other shops and hope they can do a good job. Some places will be able to, but we have seen many shockingly built systems from places that should now better. I also had great confidence in the people I entrusted my first LS1 exhaust to - I was poorly disspointed. But I now have a good relationship with Les after he did a proper exhaust for it.
I am hoping to save people from that anguish, and present a ready made, high quality system that can be shipped anywhere, and simply bolted up as a replacement.
We didn't employ any acoustic specialists - but those who have heard it are mighty impressed!
However, we did employ the many years of hard won experience of someone I can trust.
Cheers,
Hymee.
Last edited by Hymee; 12-16-2003 at 11:35 PM.
12-16-2003, 11:11 PM
#19
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Hymee,
That's cool. I'm sure the guy has his own ideas and agenda (the guy I was talking to). Like I said, he was talking about 1 muffler, not two - but since his friend's RX8 is the prototype (to be done this week or next) - no firm decisions have been made.
From looking at the pics of the HKS exhaust, they went down the same path as you. And I think HKS would have done some extensive testing on their own.
The shop also (obviously) wanted me to use one of their custom from scratch jobs rather than use a bolt-on.
But I am interested in what you (and Ric Shaw) and anybody else have to offer before I decide. FWIW, what sort of price would you be considering to ship the unit to Adelaide? Hit me privately if you don't want to let me know in public.
That's cool. I'm sure the guy has his own ideas and agenda (the guy I was talking to). Like I said, he was talking about 1 muffler, not two - but since his friend's RX8 is the prototype (to be done this week or next) - no firm decisions have been made.
From looking at the pics of the HKS exhaust, they went down the same path as you. And I think HKS would have done some extensive testing on their own.
The shop also (obviously) wanted me to use one of their custom from scratch jobs rather than use a bolt-on.
But I am interested in what you (and Ric Shaw) and anybody else have to offer before I decide. FWIW, what sort of price would you be considering to ship the unit to Adelaide? Hit me privately if you don't want to let me know in public.
12-16-2003, 11:41 PM
#20
dbb,
I shipped my old "before Les" Commodore exhaust to a guy in Melbourne. He arranged the freight company, but it cost him $80 from memory. That was for a full V8 twin 2.25" system from headers to chrome tips, from Les's shop to his place.
I'll contact "The Dovel King" on the LS1 forum and find out for you and let you know. Whatever cost the actual freight is we need to ad a couple of bucks to bubble wrap it etc. (In my huge shipping room hehehe. I think that is my living room spelt wrongly)
Cheers,
Hymee.
I shipped my old "before Les" Commodore exhaust to a guy in Melbourne. He arranged the freight company, but it cost him $80 from memory. That was for a full V8 twin 2.25" system from headers to chrome tips, from Les's shop to his place.
I'll contact "The Dovel King" on the LS1 forum and find out for you and let you know. Whatever cost the actual freight is we need to ad a couple of bucks to bubble wrap it etc. (In my huge shipping room hehehe. I think that is my living room spelt wrongly)
Cheers,
Hymee.
12-16-2003, 11:49 PM
#21
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Looks like another quality 8 accessory from Hymee! Great work.
When I finaly get around ot ordering my 8 I know who I will be talking to regarding accessories... 1 Hymee grille & 1 Hymee cat back.
When I finaly get around ot ordering my 8 I know who I will be talking to regarding accessories... 1 Hymee grille & 1 Hymee cat back.
12-16-2003, 11:53 PM
#22
New Member
Hymee catback... nice.
Give me a quote later on. Sound like the Amuse titanium one is about $3k so your one is cheaper (and stainless steel too) :D
If it is under $1K installed then... though choice. Spent another K I can get the RE Amemiya in HK. I guess I should support local business
Give me a quote later on. Sound like the Amuse titanium one is about $3k so your one is cheaper (and stainless steel too) :D
If it is under $1K installed then... though choice. Spent another K I can get the RE Amemiya in HK. I guess I should support local business
12-17-2003, 12:03 AM
#23
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Hymee, to all intents and purposes it looks like you've done it again! our own homegrown guru.
Looks awfully like a tractor exhaust: do you think mine could be invoiced as such?
Looks awfully like a tractor exhaust: do you think mine could be invoiced as such?
12-17-2003, 12:26 AM
#25
Originally posted by jax8
Hymee, to all intents and purposes it looks like you've done it again! our own homegrown guru.
Looks awfully like a tractor exhaust: do you think mine could be invoiced as such?
Hymee, to all intents and purposes it looks like you've done it again! our own homegrown guru.
Looks awfully like a tractor exhaust: do you think mine could be invoiced as such?
Takahashi - sounds like a tough choice - <1k or 2k? If you think it will be a better system if I charge more I can accomodate you on that
Stainless should be good for 20 - 25 years.
If anyone wants a cheaper version if they are only going to keep there cars for 3 years etc on lease, then we can do the same in aluminumised mild steel for roughly (very) half the price, same quality. Should be good for 5-6 years. Remember - you can always bolt-on your old system at disposal time.
Cheers,
Hymee.
Last edited by Hymee; 12-17-2003 at 12:29 AM.