Clean BRZ WRB PP Build

[Prodigalson]

Originally Posted by atomicalex

I need to attend your vinyl wrapping seminar....

Great! I need to attend your driving seminar!

[Prodigalson]

Since I recently purchased a JDL UEL, I have been rethinking my exhaust plans. Originally, in addition to the JDL UEL, I planned to get a JDL combo OP/FP with resonator and cat. I may still do that but at the moment I still have my high flow catted Depo Racing FP/OP. When I used it with my OEM exhaust manifold in place of the OEM FP & OP it wasn't much louder, so I hope that it won't be unbearable when swapping out the OEM exhaust manifold for the JDL UEL. The Thermal R&D cat back has a Hemholtz resonator, and also a normal 14" resonator was added. The FP/OP has a 200 cell high flow cat so expect that the noise level shouldn't exceed my tolerance threshold, lol.

I also plan to send the JDL UEL to Swain Tech for White Lightning (http://swaintech.com/race-coatings/race-coating-descriptions/white-lightning-exhaust-coatings/) ceramic coating. It will have two benefits:

1) Reduction of underhood heat. I don’t want to worry about cooking coil packs or sway bar bushings. Swain Tech suggests that 50% reductions in temp are likely.
2) Increased exhaust scavenging due to higher exhaust velocity. From my reading, it's worth about 2% improvement in power. For our vehicles, that's 4hp.

Also, since the Depo Racing FP/OP is inexpensive, I plan to heat wrap it to help keep the exhaust velocity as high as possible. I know that exhaust heat retention benefits diminish as you progress further down the exhaust, but the wrap is cheap, so I'll give it a try. I also know that it will trap moisture/salt but that’s not much of a concern to me as the FP/OP is cheap. Also, the wrap might also help with noise reduction to some degree. I'm not expecting much, I'm thinking of it being more of a possible fringe benefit. I plan to wrap the wrap with stainless steel flashing. This should protect/prolong the wrap annd will likely offer further noise reduction.

[Prodigalson]

Sound deadened the trunk today and installed all red Valentis with Ninja gaskets.

[Prodigalson]

Received my used JDL UEL last week. I promptly sent it to Swain Tech for White Lightning ceramic coating, they received it on Friday. From what I've read, the turnaround time is usually 4-5 weeks, so hoepfully I'll be able to install it along with the red seatbelts during the week of Labor Day.

[ka-titties]

Doin' it right. I'm liking this build a lot! Keep it up

[Prodigalson]

I received my White Lighting coated JDL header back only three weeks after i sent it to them. I'm watching for a used 2.5" JDL front pipe/over pipe (i have posted a WTB request), in the meantime, I'll use my catted Depo racing combo pipe.

[ett808]

About to do a bunch of sound deadening. Noticeable sound reduction?? I think I will go a little more overboard though... (@_@)

[Prodigalson]

Originally Posted by ett808

About to do a bunch of sound deadening. Noticeable sound reduction?? I think I will go a little more overboard though... (@_@)

I didn't notice as much improvement as i expected. I think more deadening would be beneficial for sure.

[Goingnowherefast]

Originally Posted by ett808

About to do a bunch of sound deadening. Noticeable sound reduction?? I think I will go a little more overboard though... (@_@)

Originally Posted by Prodigalson

I didn't notice as much improvement as i expected. I think more deadening would be beneficial for sure.

Powertrain NVH engineer here.. It's not always about adding more deadening, it's about where it's being put and what kind of material it is (absorbing vs. barriers). Realistically, you'd have to run a full transfer path analysis to understand how the sound is travelling to the cabin. Not all NVH treatments (even from the OEM's) are effective.

TLDR: Sometimes it's best to save the time/money and leaves things alone. Proceed wisely.

P.S. Great build so far

[Prodigalson]

I had a stay at home vacation this week. Did some home maintenance stuff (cleaned out, organized and power washed the garage, put in three yards topsoil, five yards of mulch in our flowerbed) and also bought four motorcycles last weekend:

1969 Honda CL350 K0 (this is the one with the red & white tank)
1970 Honda SL350 K1 (the one with the silver frame. Needs total restoration & engine is seized.
1970 Honda CL350 (not pictured. Is a parts bike for the first two)
1971 Honda CB500 (not pictured, eBay part-out)

Finally, yesterday I was able to get some work done on my BRZ. Got the JDL UEL installed along with the high flow catted FP/OP. It sounds great. Very subdued at idle, burbly, and poppy with throttle. Howls at WOT. Fitment is great, installed easily. I still plan to get a JDL FP/OP combo pipe with a high flow cat and resonator, but the depo racing pipe will suffice for now.

Today I was able to install the 6.5" rear speakers using a SLS printed adapter I found a STL file for online. I installed them with a set of speaker baffles with some poly fill inside. 3M VHB was used to bond the baffle to the adapter, then I put a strip of foam along the perimeter to help seal it to the plastic panel. Initial impressions: I don't think Subaru has much power going to the rear speakers, but they'll have to break in to really get a feel for what improvement they may make. Overall, the sound is a bit fuller. The drivers were only $8 each on parts-expess, so I'm not out much if they don't end up making much of a difference.

I removed the red tS webbing from the deployed assemblies I found on eBay for $80, then wound them back onto my original seatbelt assemblies. It's not a difficult job, except you don't want to actually release the spool until you are ready, as rewinding it without any webbing would be a chore. At this point, the interior is finished. I may end up getting an OEM+ sound system later on, but at the moment, I have no further plans.

I also performed my final sound deadening project: the quarter panels. It's easily the most noticable sound deadening improvement by far. I hear virtually no tire noise from the rear. It's well worth the effort.

[ka-titties]

I love staycations... Looks like yours was very productive. Good work!

[Prodigalson]

On my way home from my first autocross yesterday in my BRZ, I thought the clutch pedal was lower than normal, and also my cruise control would not engage. Turns out the pedal was not fully returning to the uppermost position. Right after I bought the BRZ I swapped in the $10 Rockauto 3/4" slave cylinder I used on my FRS. Between the two cars, it lasted 19,700 miles. Reinstalled the factory slave cylinder and all is well. I plan to buy an OEM 3/4" slave cylinder as I really like the feel of it over the softer stock behavior.

[Prodigalson]

I finally have the last piece of the exhaust, the JDL combo OP/FP with the resonator and high flow cat. I plan to install it in two weeks.

Additionally, regarding the rear speakers; I have not noticed much difference with the 6.5". It might be a touch louder and possibly a fuller mid-range sound, but I would not bother with it unless I was taking it apart for some other purpose.


Regarding the overall sound deadening effort; I suspect that it's helping a lot with exhaust noise. I hardly hear the exhaust unless I'm at WOT. The sound system is improved. If I had to assign a numerical value to the percent improvement, I'd say maybe 15%.