KGreb Posted February 10, 2005 Share Posted February 10, 2005 I received my turboback from Lachute yesterday. Install was easy, took about 2 hrs taking my time. Product - The turbo back comes in several pieces - downpipe (replaces 2nd and 3rd cats), resonator pipe, y-pipe, and two mufflers. 3" piping to the y-pipe, and 2.5" to the mufflers. New gaskets are included - 1x3", 2x2.5", 3" donut; reuse your turbo->downpipe gasket. I had to source four 10mmx40mmx1.5 flange bolts and nuts for the downpipe->resonator and resonator->y pipe connections. Julien will be including these in all future orders based on my feedback. The quality of the welds and piping is superb. Everyone I have shown the system to has been very impressed with the build quality. The larger oval tips are a very nice match to the stock valance and my wife couldn't tell the difference at first glance - except the new mufflers were cleaner Installation - The downpipe section mated perfectly to the turbo and fit to the hanger was spot-on. Mufflers and y-pipe were equally simple. There is not much clearance to some of the heat shields, but I have not found any evidence of contact after 50 miles of driving. Connection to the resonator pipe presented two problems. First, it was not immediately obvious which side of the resonator pipe connected to the downpipe. I used the donut gasket here, as on the stock exhaust. Secondly, the flanges are much thicker than stock (which is a good thing in my opinion), which prevented use of the stock spring bolts. I replaced them with two of the previously mentioned flange bolts. Julien has assured me that there should not be a problem using standard bolts here. Driving Impressions - The system has a very subtle exhaust tone at idle. A person unfamilar with the vehicle would have a difficult time distinguishing from a stock vehicle. It is louder at idle, and I can finally hear my engine at idle. I actually have turned over my starter a couple of times at idle on the stock exhaust because I thought the engine was not running. I don't think I will have this problem anymore. During normal driving, the system is louder, but inoffensive to most and very smooth/refined. At full throttle, the sound is aggressive and will make people take a second look at the car. Personally I would prefer a bit quieter tone at cruising RPMs, but the system is very nice as-is. The thick wall piping on the bellmouth muffles any excess turbo noises nicely, unlike the TXS exhaust I had on my WRX. There is a significant, immediate, noticable power increase; much more so than on my old WRX with turboback. I suspect it must be in the 20-30hp range to be able to feel it this obviously. I have a couple of pictures and will try to attach them separately. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rao Posted February 10, 2005 Share Posted February 10, 2005 Nice writeup. Sounds like a well made piece. Rob IF YOU CARE ABOUT YOUR CAR YOU SHOULD NEVER DRIVE IT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrGT Posted February 10, 2005 Share Posted February 10, 2005 Sound clip on this site : http://www.lachuteperformance.com/videos/muffler_ypipe.avi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rommel Posted February 10, 2005 Share Posted February 10, 2005 I would agree with KGreb, I only got the axle back for now, everybody from the SFV meet said that the it sounds nice, real quiet at idle but you can hear the boxer rumble if you start to rev. And I do agree with the workmanship. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KGreb Posted February 10, 2005 Author Share Posted February 10, 2005 Here's a couple of pics of the downpipe and one of the mufflers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LandShark Posted February 10, 2005 Share Posted February 10, 2005 K, Do you (or can you) take a pic of the DP bellmouth entrance from the turbo flange side? It looks like this DP does not capture the wastegate gases, or I don't see a divorced pipe? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KGreb Posted February 10, 2005 Author Share Posted February 10, 2005 Landshark, it's an ovalized bellmouth at 3". There's a picture in the vendor classified forums. May not be optimal for absolute maximum power, but should handle the stock turbo or any bolt-on just fine. http://www.legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7185 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rao Posted February 10, 2005 Share Posted February 10, 2005 It is a bellmouth and I believe thier intent waas to have the bellmouth open enough to provide a path for the exhasut coming out of the waastegate without making it so big so as to cause turbulance. If you look at a downpipe that has some miles on it you can see where the exhaust froom the wastegate hits the stock plate and the bellmouth on this downpipe is in that approximate location. Rob IF YOU CARE ABOUT YOUR CAR YOU SHOULD NEVER DRIVE IT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
driggity Posted February 10, 2005 Share Posted February 10, 2005 Any idea why they use a donut gasket instead of just a regular 3" gasket? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KGreb Posted February 10, 2005 Author Share Posted February 10, 2005 I believe they wanted to accomodate users with the stock downpipe/Lachute catback or Lachute downpipe/stock catback. I didn't try, but it looks like you could make it work with the stock pieces pretty easily. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricardo Posted February 11, 2005 Share Posted February 11, 2005 lachute subaru performance is in my area, a well renowned place for subaru tuners, a friend of mine had his ecutek tuned there.... incredible. they can be trusted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KGreb Posted February 11, 2005 Author Share Posted February 11, 2005 I took an hour drive at 80mph+ cruise this evening. The noise level at cruise is bothering me a bit too much. Going to try Lachute downpipe + stock catback and see how that works for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigspin Posted February 11, 2005 Share Posted February 11, 2005 Hey guys,I am new to this forum, Julien pointed it to me. I was one of the test monkey's for their exhaust system. They used my car in the sound clip !!!! Lachute has invested a lot into this system, it takes over a day for their fabricator to assemble everything and almost an hour to be backed the next morning a complete system....trust me I saw this !! As for the sound, I know they tested 12" and 18" resonators and two different muffler types. Depending what combination was used for the sound and what was shipped might affect end sound. Ask Julien about resonator size and if there is an option for a larger one ??? I have know and been a part of this shop for years, if something is wrong, they FIX it. Not just their work, anyones work.... without question. Even if you did not by parts from them, they still support and help you out of a jamb. I constantly refer any subaru junkie to them whether in CA, FL, Vancouver, Toronto or Montreal, why ????? They are one of the best in North America. I am fortunate enough to visit and see a lot of different shops across the company, but I always end up comparing their craftsmanship to that of Lachute. I am saving up to get my system for spring time. Looks stock, quiet sound, but 30hp ???? Kick-Ass cool in my opinion !! Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firedawgs Posted February 11, 2005 Share Posted February 11, 2005 So, do they sell just the Downpipe? Updated my vBGarage: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KGreb Posted February 11, 2005 Author Share Posted February 11, 2005 According to their ad in the vendor classifieds, the downpipe is available separately for $595 with cat or $445 without. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firedawgs Posted February 12, 2005 Share Posted February 12, 2005 That is a hefty $$$ for a downpipe. Updated my vBGarage: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firedawgs Posted February 12, 2005 Share Posted February 12, 2005 Oh, now I see $2,795.00 for turboback. WOW! Updated my vBGarage: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rao Posted February 12, 2005 Share Posted February 12, 2005 That's Canadian $, the US$ price is 1,835.00 Rob IF YOU CARE ABOUT YOUR CAR YOU SHOULD NEVER DRIVE IT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sduford Posted February 12, 2005 Share Posted February 12, 2005 That doesn't add up, the current exchange rate is about 1.25 Sylvain www.digitalfotographer.com - Audi Q5 Club - MB-GLK Club Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firedawgs Posted February 12, 2005 Share Posted February 12, 2005 The correct amount is $2,264.26 US. That is alot of money. The going exchange rate today is 1.2344 Here is a good currency convertion link: currency converter Updated my vBGarage: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
axis008 Posted February 12, 2005 Share Posted February 12, 2005 Sounds... so..... good! -ben Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigspin Posted February 12, 2005 Share Posted February 12, 2005 I can relate that it is expensive, but would not complain about the cost of a part unless you were sure it is not worth it. There have been sevral kits sold and posts have been made attesting to the parts, fit, and performance. Some people can not justify paying 95$ for a pair of jeans, and others can not justify paying good money for an exhaust. My point is you do not hear people complaining about a 95$ pair of jeans ??? Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rao Posted February 12, 2005 Share Posted February 12, 2005 If you read the post by Lachute offering the exhaust for sale, the price for the turbo back is $1,835.00. They are also offering it for much less in CA$ http://www.legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7185. Rob IF YOU CARE ABOUT YOUR CAR YOU SHOULD NEVER DRIVE IT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KGreb Posted February 12, 2005 Author Share Posted February 12, 2005 That is a hefty $$$ for a downpipe. It's on par with Cobb's pricing for a catted downpipe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KGreb Posted February 12, 2005 Author Share Posted February 12, 2005 Well, I'm trying a couple of parts combinations as it's just too loud for me at cruise. The sound clip on the web is mufflers only, its much louder with the whole system in place. Have been talking to another forum member who got his on today and he had similar feedback. Lachute downpipe with stock catback is a very nice combo so far, hardly and difference from stock sound, no odd resonation. I can unreservedly recommend this combo. Going to try Lachute downpipe + mufflers on stock resonator and see how that sounds. I'm guessing at this point, but I think the Lachute resonator pipe needs a much larger resonator. There's certainly room to add a larger one. Going to contact Julien on Monday with my subjective test results to see what he can do to improve the product. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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