Thursday, September 17, 2009 - 06:15 pm, by: Mike Beck(Gold_40gt)
So today I finally collected the mufflers I was intending to use on my UZZ31 last year but never did. Fortunately the guy still had them when I called him last week.
They are factory Boysen RS4 Audi Mufflers, with the bypass flap for the dual exit muffler. Fully stainless, 2 years old, 2.25" inlets.
After acquiring them I removed the rear left muffler and heat shield to see how well they fit. They are bloody huge, and JUST fit, Width wise is where the tight squeeze is.. in the correct position so the tip works with the cut out there is about 5mm of space on both sides, so its tight but will work. My muffler man is used to quirky projects on my cars so this will be the usual challenge for him.
Thursday, September 17, 2009 - 06:43 pm, by: Mike Beck(Gold_40gt)
Yeah, it will need to be mounted quite well, he usually does a nice job of that, did so with my BMW which had the same clearance issues.
Hmmm for now I will just leave the actuators as is, but once I get them fitted next week or so, I will probably invest in a small vacuum pump/solenoid in the boot area and operate them manually to close them.
As is, they are fully open so it would just be quieter with them closed, will be interesting to see how the sound changes.
Thursday, September 17, 2009 - 11:17 pm, by: Mike Beck(Gold_40gt)
Christian Somerville wrote on Thursday, September 17, 2009 - 09:56 pm:
Love these exhausts, what do these mufflers/tips sound like in comparison to the Lukey ultra flow mufflers?
Oh yeah, they are just awesome, best factory gear you can get really, especially at rock bottom prices. Cost me $300 NZD for the pair!
I haven't yet fitted them, that is next week.
But I would imagine it would be a nice deep quality note, that is not intrusive.
The Lukeys were my 2nd option but they are a hassle getting them in From Australia, however sound barky and aggressive, which is very nice.
One of my old setups with lukeys is on Youtube, under SC400 Lukey exhaust or something like that.
This is what I'm intending to have done. Next year I will look to get big headers and remove the cats, but a cat back will be adequate for now, I will have the system laid out in way that when its time to the fit the headers, I can have the pipes cut start of the mid muffler and link up the newly fitted headers.
Anyway, as bellow the diagram illustrates my plan.
Friday, September 18, 2009 - 06:09 am, by: Matthew Sharpe(Madmatt)
Whoa, those look frightening! They really fill out the cutouts in the rear bar nicely too. If you are intending to keep them open most of the time, I would just manually lock the actuators open and forget about having an adjustment for them. Either that or replace them with a solenoid as Adam suggests.
Friday, September 18, 2009 - 07:03 am, by: Mike Beck(Gold_40gt)
Matthew Sharpe wrote on Friday, September 18, 2009 - 06:09 am:
If you are intending to keep them open most of the time, I would just manually lock the actuators open and forget about having an adjustment for them. Either that or replace them with a solenoid as Adam suggests.
Yeah, they improve the look straight away.
Well fortunately, in their disconnected state, they are wide open, so the only advantage in getting them to function would be closing them... which is hardly needed. If I did want to close them I would probably install a tight spring to pull the lever down. Otherwise I will leave them as is!
Friday, September 18, 2009 - 07:05 am, by: Mike Beck(Gold_40gt)
Christian Somerville wrote on Thursday, September 17, 2009 - 11:48 pm:
Ahaha nice, nice diff! Oh, so do exhaust shops need to order the lukeys in from overseas? hmm, really wanted those
Not for you, your in Australia. I', in NZ & cant find a supplier. Once I had one that got them for $180 each... such a steal but that didn't last sadly.
Loooooks sooo good, just a quick question, the plastic lines coming off the rear tips, is that the vaccuum actuator? and if so what does that do and do you need it? VIDEO!
Tuesday, September 22, 2009 - 11:36 am, by: Mike Beck(Gold_40gt)
Yeah I'll get a video up later tonight.
Quite happy with the sound, its quiet as I expected. Mainly since I have run that X pipe style mid muffler, it really gives it a nice smooth note, but you know its a V8 when you give it a rev.
With the flaps closed on the rear mufflers its too quiet, but almost just right with them open so they will stay like that.
Yeah it is the vacuum actuator, doesn't work and theres not much point having it.
I'm going to order some Stainless 1 3/4 headers off Neil when he has them in stock, I figure replacing the stock 4-1 headers and getting rid of the cats (legal in NZ - for now) will make it even better, upping the power again.
With no cats and those headers it should make it just right. Tad quiet currently but has a good note, too bad the camera mic can't pick up the lower frequency notes.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009 - 04:49 am, by: Mark Donovan(Mark_donovan)
hey Mike, good to know you are back in the Soarer realm again. It's good to know there is someone in NZ who is actively working on trying new things with their car, we are all learning through your efforts.
Curious if you have also noticed, like I have, an increase in interest in Soarers over this past 9 months or so? Seems there are more questions being asked on Soarer auctions on Trademe for example, and I see slightly more Soarers around that appear to have people looking after them for a change.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009 - 07:19 am, by: Mike Beck(Gold_40gt)
Thanks Mark.
Yeah, the main reasoning is I've been through a few vehicles and theres nothing comparable to the Soarer, it's not just the fact they have bottomed out in their prices, but how much you can do with them and how much damn better they are than comparable cars.
Having that BMW 540i really, really showed me what a good car the Soarers are, or LS400 for that matter. When I said they didn't handle as well as the 540i was because they werent running sportier springs and 245 tires. When I had 215's on the BMW it was somewhat comparable to the soarer! Only good BMW is a new one.
Hmm your right there seems to be an increased in people after them, and less for sale. I think alot of buyers for cars like this have realised how good they are, outweighing the 'negatives' that alot of people had with them say 5-10 years ago.
I think they are one of the most trustworthy cars you can put your money on.
Same with the Celsior/LS400. Just at solid testimate to the Engineers in Japan. Reading a book about all that history at the moment fascinating stuff. Just wish I could find more video related stuff from Japan.
In fact I'd like another Celsior/LS400 too but I need more money. Sigh.
Saturday, October 03, 2009 - 09:09 pm, by: Mike Beck(Gold_40gt)
Christian Somerville wrote on Saturday, October 03, 2009 - 08:03 pm:
AGREE!
It just like, $4,500 Reserve for a 1995 2nd Generation LS400... ? It will sell for around that, maybe a few hundred higher, 6k tops.
And its still the same car it was 10 years ago, just has few more kms on it, but still does EVERYTHING just the way it did when it was new... so a 4 year old Lexus then... 70k?
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