Forget cobbling your exhaust for the UK mod which you may not like after it's done and you have to make another modification to either put it back to stock or cut back on some of the noise. There are too many pipe diameters to listen to to make a good choice. On line videos are useless. An aftermarket exhaust will bolt up in your driveway with a little help and jack stands. Find the Mighty Car Mods episode where they put an Invidia Q300 dual system on the car in 20 minutes. Neither of the two my buddy and I mounted took less than 90 minutes mainly to inexperience and rusted bolts. Just start spraying them with BP Blaster now and every week until you decide to pull the stock system or not.

Since your kids (not you) are in high school forget most aftermarket exhausts. They're mostly loud and all drone. Some drone louder than others and at different rpms. The Invidia Q300 was an aggressive attention getting system that I soon tired of at cruising speeds with my wife as the drone was right there at the speeds she's comfortable. Replaced it with the more adult, but still aggressive in VTEC Tanabe Medalion Touring system. Took less than an hour by myself as it's in 4 parts like the Invidia. My buddy swapped his Q300 for the same exhaust a week later. We're both running 63.5mm Berk High Flow cats. This exhaust drones on deceleration below 1500 rpm. (My complete stock exhaust is in my shed, orange side lights and shift knob in a box should the next owner want a pure stock car.)

-- Chuck

 

That's the nice thing about living in the same town, he can hear mine and decide if he likes it or not before doing anything. The mod has a jekl & Hyde behavior like the s2k. Easy on the throttle and it sounds stock, hammer it and it growls with some barks & pops on overrun.

 

Fully agree.

Ya gotta physically hear these systems to make an intelligent choice. Inside the car is the critical part -- that's where we are! Added complications are stock vs high flow vs test cats all of which influence the sound or noise as the case may be. It's a shame the UK Mod can't be set up for variations without cutting and rewelding. In the "time is money" argument a replacement bolt-on exhaust may be a bargain. And undoubtedly lighter weight.

And, as I found out to my expense, it's important that the Alpha Passenger (we all know who she is!) be comfortable too. Watch body language. "It's OK if you like it" type comments really mean you need to need to get a quieter exhaust.

-- Chuck

 

I agree with both of you that hearing it in person is important. Regarding being able to "tune" the UK mod, that was my hope with something like a butterfly valve that is in the middle of the bypass tube - to have the ability to restrict (or cut completely) the airflow in the bypass valve may be interesting. Not sure the (economic) feasibility of such a mod, however.

I agree, Chuck, on most aftermarket exhausts being too "young" for my tastes. The one you have looks interesting, and here is where youtube videos failed me again - I find it hard to tell the difference between that one and the stock exhaust. I'll have to try and listen to it in person sometime. And the wife factor is important - right now, she enjoys going on drives with me in the convertible. I'd hate to ruin that

I don't have any real plans yet on mods, but I find the following list interesting:

1. Berk HFC
2. <some subtle exhaust to take advantage of the HFC>
3. Hondata Flashpro + tune
4. On the fence on a K&N FIPK, but probably this as well.

But perhaps the first thing I'd grab would be a Flashpro - wouldn't mind lowering VTEC slightly, and if I recall correctly, even all stock it is feasible to lower it to ~5400rpm.

 

bitslop,

I might be getting into this a little late, but I have had pretty good luck so far with Victory Honda in Muncie. I know that is quite a bit south of Ft. Wayne, but they have done right be me so far. of course, I've only had my '06 since February, but they've been good so far.

Rex

 

FYI, looks like weather will be decent Saturday and I don't have any obligations. Will be attending cars & coffee.

 

Hey, cool - I'll try to make it as well.

 

Awesome! Finally won't be the only S2K there.

 

Alas, I really do need to find a good s2k mechanic now.

After getting a P0304 (pending fault, cyl 4 misfire), I did a valve adjustment. Some of the exhaust valves were tight, but cyl 4 took the cake - I could not fit my 0.005" feeler in there. I convinced myself not to worry, that surely I had caught it in the nick of time. I congratulated myself, cleared P0304, and hoped for the best.

A couple hundred miles rolled by with nary a peep, and optimism begin to build... and was crushed by another P0304.

I bought new spark plugs, and this evening while I was swapping plugs out I did a compression test:

1: 205 psi
2: 210 psi
3: 205 psi
4: 120 psi

Well, craparoonies.

I guess I need to bite the bullet, and bring it in someplace to do a leakdown test (I'm sure it'll be burnt exhaust valves). Once that is done, I need to figure out the next steps. I presume I am looking at valve replacements, and a head rebuild... ouch!

Maybe I'll also post in the "Under the hood" forum, and seek advice - and maybe get an idea of how wide I need to open my wallet.

 

Oh wow, so sorry to hear this! You're still in the honeymoon period of s2000 ownership and shouldn't have something like this pop up. Like I said at C&C Honda should've made a recall for this. Makes me feel like I genuinely dodged a bullet as my valve adjustment happened at similar mileage. Hope you navigate this issue as painlessly as possible, let us know how leak down test goes.