Best Exhaust for Integrale EVO2 & 17in versus 16in Wheels

[Ewaaaaan]

Im looking for a Stainless exhaust for an EVO2. Perhaps with a wee bit of noise. Any experiences? Any performance gain? Downsides?

Also, any reports on how the car hadles with 17in wheels? The 17s look good but are they too harsh or heavy on steering?

[Evoluzione]

Ewaaaaan said:

Im looking for a Stainless exhaust for an EVO2. Perhaps with a wee bit of noise. Any experiences? Any performance gain? Downsides?

Also, any reports on how the car hadles with 17in wheels? The 17s look good but are they too harsh or heavy on steering?

A 3" SS system with or without cat will release a few horses, the problem you will find (apart from cost) is that the smaller Evo 2 turbo doesn't like the back pressure (which the OE system provided) being removed and will eventually overspool and destroy itself (less chance if otherwise standard). Those and the noise on longer journeys are the only downsides really.

You've pretty much summed up the 17" wheel; they look great, but give the car a clumsy feel, harsher ride and also rub on the wheel arch liners.

[grale23]

Evoluzione said:

A 3" SS system with or without cat will release a few horses, the problem you will find (apart from cost) is that the smaller Evo 2 turbo doesn't like the back pressure (which the OE system provided) being removed and will eventually overspool and destroy itself (less chance if otherwise standard). Those and the noise on longer journeys are the only downsides really.

You've pretty much summed up the 17" wheel; they look great, but give the car a clumsy feel, harsher ride and also rub on the wheel arch liners.

Second that..!

[grale23]

Evoluzione said:

A 3" SS system with or without cat will release a few horses, the problem you will find (apart from cost) is that the smaller Evo 2 turbo doesn't like the back pressure (which the OE system provided) being removed and will eventually overspool and destroy itself (less chance if otherwise standard). Those and the noise on longer journeys are the only downsides really.

You've pretty much summed up the 17" wheel; they look great, but give the car a clumsy feel, harsher ride and also rub on the wheel arch liners.

Second that..!

[DeltonaS]

Ewaaaaan said:

Im looking for a Stainless exhaust for an EVO2. Perhaps with a wee bit of noise. Any experiences? Any performance gain? Downsides?

Also, any reports on how the car hadles with 17in wheels? The 17s look good but are they too harsh or heavy on steering?

Superspint seems to have a nice system, comes with a decent performance gain as well (see their website for performance graphs), even more so with a new exhaust manifold. The original manifold is quite restrictive.

Another, but probably a more expensive option, is a full titanium system from Scara73 (www.scara73.com), next to a performance gain it comes with a weight saving of 14kg's.

Edited by DeltonaS on Wednesday 17th December 21:54

[mallygreen]

I had 17"s fitted with FE springs which did make the ride a little harsh,so I fitted coilovers and the steel underbrace which totally transformed the handling of the car and made it a dream to drive.

Edited by mallygreen on Wednesday 17th December 21:04

Edited by mallygreen on Wednesday 17th December 21:07

[grale23]

Becareful with uprated manifolds unless you want to replace them often……usually crack and not cheap.

[Ewaaaaan]

Thanks to all. I'll go 17in but with sus upgrade. Thoughts in the best coilover setup at the moment?

MallardG. Cheers, get rid of the VW and make room for a my grale in your garage

[footsoldier]

Just to add some confusion - I bought my car with 16" wheels and BC coilovers. I then fitted 17" speedlines, which do look better but do rub.

The ride was harsh, both on 16 and 17. so I decided to go back to standard suspension. I spoke to Steve Smith and Walkers, and he agreed this was a good plan for road-only use, and Walkers found me original and replacement standard parts and fitted them about a year ago.

I much prefer the car now, it is more complaint and more 'authentic', in that it rolls and then grips (in a big way!), instead of skipping on bumpy roads. Much more comfortable and compliant for road use, and really feels more hooked up than before. There's a reason that the standard car got such good reviews at the time...

Still have rubbing on lock, but it's not a big issue for what I use the car for, and I can always go back to the 16s at some point. (maybe that will be the best set-up of the lot, I've not run 16s since going back to standard) I am on Goodyear Eagles which are very good in all conditions.

Having said all that, I stil have the BCs in my garage. Ewaaaan; if you want them FOC, so you can try coilovers, just PM to let me know - I'm out if UK til around 9 Jan but happy to send them to you after that.

Edited by footsoldier on Saturday 27th December 22:43

[Jamo12t]

Hi Ewaaan

Did you have any success in getting a exhaust - if you did what did you go for in the end?



Footsoldier - have you got Dave Jones' old car, remember seeing it at the LMC shows for years and took a trip with him over to Ireland with them. Have you got the walkers exhaust & chip as I'm thinking of getting something similar sorted on mine.


Cheers

James

[coupe20vtnz]

I have 17x8 with 215/40/17 Tyres.

On full lock - it rubs the guard liners every so often - normally only leaving a driveway etc...

I have not driven a car with standard suspension (I have Koni & Eibach springs) & standard wheels - but mine doesn't feel too hard at all....

[Harris_I]

Every car I have ever owned that has had the wheels 'upsized' has been less enjoyable to drive. More unsprung mass always means a clumsier feel. I also have wondered whether to give the 'grale the look it deserves with the bigger wheels but ultimately feedback and ride quality is much more important to me, and truer to the ethos of the car.

BTW, mine runs on Black Art Design coilovers. Strongly recommended. John Whalley used to be the distributor but sadly closed shop a while back.

[footsoldier]

Jamo12t said:

Hi Ewaaan

Did you have any success in getting a exhaust - if you did what did you go for in the end?



Footsoldier - have you got Dave Jones' old car, remember seeing it at the LMC shows for years and took a trip with him over to Ireland with them. Have you got the walkers exhaust & chip as I'm thinking of getting something similar sorted on mine.


Cheers

James

Yes, it's his car, although Walkers brokered the deal, and we never met. Car was (and still is...) in great condition and has been very reliable for me. When I bought it, it still had Ireland markers on it if i remember correctly.

It does have the Walker's chip and exhaust, and came with that, so I can't compare before and after. It's definitely quick enough to be exciting, and you can't beat a bit of old-fashioned turbo lag, which it still has!

[footsoldier]

Harris_I said:

Every car I have ever owned that has had the wheels 'upsized' has been less enjoyable to drive. More unsprung mass always means a clumsier feel. I also have wondered whether to give the 'grale the look it deserves with the bigger wheels but ultimately feedback and ride quality is much more important to me, and truer to the ethos of the car.

BTW, mine runs on Black Art Design coilovers. Strongly recommended. John Whalley used to be the distributor but sadly closed shop a while back.

I'd agree, and am close to taking off the 17" wheels, much as they look better. The standard suspension is, in my opinion, also better. Maybe different if you're (race)tracking the car, but I'm not planning to.

[Jamo12t]

Hi guys

Coupe20vtnz - car looks great - love the numberplate!

I'm running an Evo 2 with pretty standard shocks and FE springs, not too harsh and I prefer the slightly lower stance the later springs give. It's all standard just with the cat removed but starting to get the itch to improve it. Going to try and get the Scara73 exhaust off ebay and then maybe get a walkers chip.

Any advice - just like to get the pick up a little quicker.

Cheers

[Ewaaaaan]

Thanks all, appreciate the opinions. Ive just imported the car and it turns out to have a SS exhaust already fitted.

Im still undecided by the 17in wheels but if i do decide to go that way i`ll go the whole hog with high-end bouncy bits and fill them with shiney new brakes and callipers. Im just waiting to see if the cars a keeper or not. Its sitting in Keiths at the moment and ill pick it up later this month when back in UK.

[hedgeperson]

If anybody here wants FE springs, I've a set sitting unused in the garage. They were on my car for about a year before I had the car returned to standard.

Just pay me for P&P & they're yours.

Cheers,
Hedge