Cool. Thanks. Some videos would be nice to hear since you are the first one to make it fit on an RCF.

 

Just recorded the video. I’ll post it when it’s done processing.

 

I’m gonna re do the video and have a pop filter over a microphone so we can all hear it better lol. I’ll record it soon! I like doing things proper lol.

 

Looking forward to it.

 

also in CA and this is my understanding but i'm no expert. removing the secondary (like the invidia catback) will fail the visual inspection if it's a shop that follows everything by the book. best bet to be totally safe, and laws are always changing in CA, is to retain the oem midpipe and just do an axleback. if you get an aftermarket midpipe try to get it with high flow cats like a ppe but even then i believe it still may fail if it doesn't have a proper EO stamp.

https://www.smogtips.com/cat.cfm
"The smog check technician will check your vehicle's catalytic converter for an EO number/stamp. If the EO (executive order) number doesn't not match the correct EO number as indicated on the California Air Resources Board website for Allowed Aftermarket Catalytic Converters, your vehicle will fail the visual portion of the smog check as an "emissions tamper"

 

It will make it "look" cheap because it screams only had money to change the tips, and probably sounds that way due to resonator delete. May sound as if car is missing resonator and/or cats with aftermarket tips.

I prefer when the complete exhaust is exposed like 370z accompanied with the exhaust note.

So if you put aftermarket wheels is not OEM, is that a bad thing? And it goes for any other mods done to the car.

 

I just had a thought... imagine if some vendor ditched the idea of a axle-back exhaust and just made side pipes instead. That would probably look both terrifying and awesome at the same time.

 

Respectfully disagree with this completely. Only because it doesn't make it look cheap. Tom's does this with their axle back and their axle back is quality and is priced at $2,400. By no means is that cheap. It show emphasis on the tips, rather than the large muffler. Also Borla did that as well with only the rear section of their muffler. RR Racing has the entire rear muffler black...etc.

Tom's:


Borla:



I didn't want to paint the entire rear muffler only because you won't see it unless it's on the lift. You would however see the rear section of it when behind the car and that is what screams Fast and Furious to me. I used to like shiny mufflers ten years or so ago, but I much prefer the subtle OEM look as I am getting older. I have an STi that screams "look at me". I want the RCF to be louder but in a way that people don't realize anything was done. Plus this is a full cat back exhaust, it's not going to sound like it has a resonator delete or muffler delete at all. In fact, driving it has such a nice tone. It's unreliable that they muted the car so much from the factory. It has a nice aggressive sound without being obnoxious in any way. With this exhaust it's exactly how it should have come from the factory, noise wise. It has a nice high pitched acceleration sound. And then sitting there stopped it has a rumble but nothing that would indicate that anything was done. Then you take off and it's immediately apparent that this isn't a normal Lexus, which is awesome.

I'm not saying modding the car or changing wheels is making the car bad (even though some mods are definitely bad/rice). When you spend $70k+ on a car, I personally don't necessarily need "shiny" mufflers indicating to people I changed out the exhaust. That and there is no other chrome on my car. If I had a pre-face lift RCF, it might look better because of the rear window trim being chrome. But having nothing chrome on the car and then two giant shiny s/s mufflers just looked extremely out of place to me when looking at the rear of the car.

Painted only the rear section:




Here are a couple shots comparing it. Left side isn't painted, right side is. Everyone I asked (and there were many..lol) said they preferred the black since it didn't stand out and it made the tips the focal point, which I tend to agree with.


Both painted:


To me the focal point is this, the tips.



I'll get a full on rear shot but even at this angle you can't see any shiny muffler, which was the goal.



-Nigel

 

Looks great Nigel!
Which gaskets did you end up using at the header? I recently replaced the gaskets that came with the Invidia with Grimmspeed gaskets (no gasket sealant) after getting a CEL 20 months after installing the Invidia. Just got back from an 800 mile trip to CA and and the new gaskets have taken care of the CEL.
I did the same thing you did and painted the back of the cans black when I replaced the gaskets and I think it looks much better now. I also did a chrome delete around the windows. I think the chrome looked cheap, but that's just my preference.

 

I went with the grimmspeed double thickness gasket and was also very liberal with the copper exhaust sealant just as a safe measure. I also used the bolt that came with the exhaust but purchased the self locking Toyota/Lexus nuts because they are way better and I didn't want any chances of it backing out.




I can honestly say this exhaust sounds awesome. Videos don't do it justice at all. I was afraid it was going to be quiet because everyone says it's too quiet. But it's perfect. You know there is a big engine in the car when you accelerate and when you are sitting at a stop light there is a slight rumble, not obnoxious noise. But it's calm enough to still have conversations and listen to music...etc. It's great! It's funny I was pissed about not having android auto and now I find myself actually turning the music off/super low just so I can hear the exhaust note..lol

My two gripes with the exhaust is I do wish it would have utilized the same shape (recessed area) for the OEM gaskets as the borla and OEM mid pipe use. That would take out 100% of any possible CEL issues people are having. And the last one is I wish the end exhaust hangers had the little nub on them like stock exhausts. Only because my fear of the exhaust coming out of the hangers there is no nub to prevent this. Even though I have yet to read anyone having an exhaust slip out. It's just the two little details I wish they would have done, and this would have been perfect.

That's great you've put on that many miles and no CEL! Appears that the grimmspeeed gaskets are the way to go honestly, either normal or double thickness.

-Nigel

 

Liked what Nigel did with his exhaust so much that I did the same, only difference is that the paint I used was a higher gloss finish, but also rated up to 1200 degees...really happy with how this turned out, it's going on Monday and I can't wait to see how it looks on the car and how it sounds.

 

Noice! Looks good! Can't wait to see pictures of it installed!
You are going to love the sound!

-Nigel

 

I replaced the lower section of the back bumper with a carbon piece when I got the car wrapped, you really don't see much of the muffler in general unless you're down pretty low, but I'm happy with how it turned out. I've only had a few opportunities to take it out since getting the exhaust installed now, but it is definitely an improvement over stock and sounds best under WOT.

Curious if there would be any benefit to disconnecting the battery for a bit so that the ECU can re-learn with the new exhaust?

 

I did the same, it wouldn’t hurt lol.

 

Looks awesome!