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I purchased the CMB from Soul Performance.
See Pics Below
Excited to say the least to install this. Will hopefully do this tonight or tomorrow, so i thought i would open a thread for those interested / considering buying & installing this.
I will document as much as a i can. Before & Afters etc.
I am located in Australia.
John at Soul performance was a gentleman in helping me. From my initial email, very fast responses. Got the product out to me and took about 4 days in transit (including 2 of those days being a weekend). very fast for international shipping.
It came very well & nicely packaged.
He also ordered for me (from another company) the LWB Seat Angle adjusters and packaged them into the shipment of the exhaust to save me the mess around of ordering them and paying international shipping separately. Something he did not have to do at all. But did it free of charge. Which really helped me alot.
Enjoy the pics guys! More to come!
Sorry for all the dropbox links. For some reason, i cannot upload these pics within the forum. Even other photo hosting sites.
Anyhow, i was too excited and ended up fitting the exhaust this afternoon.
I dont have a hoist. So i parked my car just out of my garage where is was at an angle where i had enough room to work.
Worked out quite well actually. As we all know, there is no need to remove the rear bumper bar to complete this job. Yes i can see how it would be easier to do with the bar removed. Though i had no troubles completing this with the bar on. I never felt like it was in the way at all.
Im no mechanic, but i do like a good DIY job and i have a few tools.
You do not really need any special tools. Usual T30 to remove the undertray from the engine.
Socket Set with extension and deep sockets.
Took me about 2 hours in total. Though now i know how to do it, could be done in alot less time.
Sorry i didnt take any pics during the installation process. My hands were all dirty and there were a few swear words along the way. I now really admire those who stop mid way and take pics and video etc. I dont know how you guys have the patience for it!
I will say, loosen the 5x 13mm bolts from each side of the factory muffler, and kind of jiggle the muffler box around then take off the factory tips to enable you to jiggle the muffler box off.
That probably took the most time. I also had to loosen the factory clamps around the catalytic converters to enable me to shimmy the exhaust box off better.
When putting the new exhaust on, after i clamped it all in, i was checking for leaks, and all of the clamps were leaking. I did then go around and tighten them all by hand again, and 3 of the leaks have gone. Only one (the small pipe that connects to the flex pipe) has the slightest leak. Can feel a bit of air rushing out of it.
This is not a manufacturing defect. Its more the way i have clamped it down im sure. What i am thinking of doing tomorrow is loosen everything and kind of let everything fall into place. Give everything a bit of a jiggle and tighten it all up again.
My initial impressions of the new muffler by pass.
Its absolutely louder. Its a DEEPER tone.
The transition from Vales closed to valves open is alot more apparent. Where as with the stock muffler it was alot harder to hear the difference.
There is obviously more resonance within the cabin (that comes with a lounder exhaust)
But sound is really subjective.
I will get more video in the coming days. In hind sight i KIND of wished i got the black tips, but on the other hand i have silver wheels, and silver wing uprights, so it does tie in nicely.
One thing which i didnt realise is the exhaust outlets are actually quite small (im not sure of the exact diameter) and its only the tips that enlarge the overall diameter.
Looking at it from the back, i dont like the fact one can see it. Though im guessing over time with the carbon build up this will all turn to black and it will be alot less noticeable.
The overall construction of the exhaust appears to be very nice. I dont know much about welding etc. But the welds do look very nice.
Inside the exhaust there are some little gaps between where the two metal surfaces meet. Though i dont think this will affect the performance. There were no gaps on the outside whatsoever.
I love the finish of the metal. Its very nice. Looks like really really nice quality.
I do not feel any performance gains ( i didnt expect too by the way- but i was just clarifying for others) I also dont feel any decrease in performance.
Inside the exhaust there are some little gaps between where the two metal surfaces meet. Though i dont think this will affect the performance.
I'm not sure if I'm interpreting the pictures right but it seems like the parts that bisect the pipe stick into the other pipe quite a way? Is that what's actually happening? If so I'd imagine that would effect the flow of the exhaust gas quite a lot? Maybe I'm just not seeing the picture right?
And I take it you just put on a center bypass and left the side mufflers in place? Any plans to remove them?
Anthony thank you for all the kind words, it has been a pleasure working with you : ) I can't wait for some flyby videos, your cold start clips are such a tease haha. I've saved a few of your photos onto my computer as I'd like to keep a few for future reference if that's okay. I just tested them and it seems I can post them up, so here they are
__________________ SOUL PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS Quality Exhaust Solutions, Fair Pricing, and Outstanding Service
John Gaydos- Owner, Performance Specialist
Cell - (484) 883-6197 johng@soulpp.com
I'm not sure if I'm interpreting the pictures right but it seems like the parts that bisect the pipe stick into the other pipe quite a way? Is that what's actually happening? If so I'd imagine that would effect the flow of the exhaust gas quite a lot? Maybe I'm just not seeing the picture right?
And I take it you just put on a center bypass and left the side mufflers in place? Any plans to remove them?
Sorry for late reply.
Im not sure what you mean by the pipe sticking into the other pipe? There IS a small gap on the inside where the pipes meet. Maybe a 1mm to 1.5mm gap. Very slight.
Yes the rest of the exhaust is stock. Just CMB.
No plans in the near future to remove side mufflers.
Today finally i got to take the car out for a nice proper drive (few hundred kilometres)
The weather here has been atrocious, but today was a good clear day.
All i have to say is, anyone who is on the fence about buying this system should fall on the side of buying it.
When i first installed it, i was dubious about the sound. Not so much the sound of the SOUL CMB, but just an CMB in general.
They all sounded (the different brands) so similar on the YouTube Videos. But im sure in real life they all have their unique sound.
This exhaust is bloody fantastic. At lower RPM's, its a much deeper tone. At idle and driving at lower speeds.
When you get to higher speeds and up in the rev range, this exhaust absolutely screams. Its really that exotic car sound that we all love.
Anyone who is considering doing a CMB, GET A SOUL item.
I did about 2 hours on the motorway in my travels today, and at motorway speed there is no drone (well not any more than was already there with factory Centre Muffler)
Its not just that i am happy with the product, but the service was really zero fuss too. Professional. Fast. No fuss.
I just selected the product. Specified the tips i wanted.
Got a price on powder coating black which i ended up not opting for (price was fine, i just thought i would go with silver to match other parts of the car)
Even shipping to Australia was very fast.
I didn't take any videos today. I hope to take some before Christmas, and i will upload them. But Videos absolutely WILL NOT do this incredible sound any justice.
Some of us might think the price is too low, therefore it will be a sub par product. Get those thoughts out of your head.
It is a realistic price for a superior product. It really is.
At the end of the day its a Muffler Bypass pipe. Its not like its a full exhaust system from headers back etc. Though after my experience with this product, i have no doubt a full system from SOUL will not disappoint.
Im NOT knocking other brands out there that are at least double the price. How can i? I have never tried or used them, or even heard them in person for that matter.
But dont ALWAYS think that paying double with get you double the enjoyment. If that makes sense.
All in all, anyone who is considering a CMB, dont look past this item.
I will post videos shortly for your enjoyment.
On an update of the look of the tips. the inside has built up with lots of carbon, and they are fully black inside (as expected).
The transition from the pipe, to the larger tips is not noticeable.
Im not sure what you mean by the pipe sticking into the other pipe? There IS a small gap on the inside where the pipes meet. Maybe a 1mm to 1.5mm gap. Very slight.[QUOTE]
Maybe it was just me but one of the photos seemed to show, where one pipe intersected another, that it was not flush but protruded into the pipe? Sounds like that isn't the case. Appreciate the rest of the write up as well.
“But dont ALWAYS think that paying double with get you double the enjoyment. If that makes sense.
All in all, anyone who is considering a CMB, dont look past this item”
Ok ok you just convinced me. I just placed an order. I ordered the slash tips, hope they look ok. Apparently today is the last day of Black Friday pricing. Thanks for your post. Buyer for my gt3 wanted the Sharkwerks left on my car. Hope this sounds as good.
Maybe it was just me but one of the photos seemed to show, where one pipe intersected another, that it was not flush but protruded into the pipe? Sounds like that isn't the case. Appreciate the rest of the write up as well.
Hmm, ok, i know what you mean. Maybe it DOES protrude by 1mm. Or its just a small small gap.
I really dont think this would affect anything.
12-11-2018, 12:04 AM
GT3RS SOUL Centre Muffler By Pass (CMB) Install
