I just got my Catless Vibrant DP installed thanks to skymynx.

My Current Mods:
2.90" Pulley
GM Stage 2
GMPP Performance Exhaust
Catless XTC DP
GMPP Manifold
Torque Dampener
AEM Airbox Mod

Here are a ton of pictures before and after install. The before and after video will be coming shortly - putting it together right now.

Before painted



BTW, did you guys know we have a part from Saab in here?



Stock DP




3 15mm Bolts from manifold to DP


02 Sensor




Unbolting this beotch


Gasket...Mine were fine - didn't have to get new ones

 

Free *****




Stock DP vs. Vibrant DP






GMPP Honed Extrude Manifold (I forgot to measure the damn thing)




Hookin' her up

 

First Impressions

Sound: I could not tell a difference when first turning it on. We checked for leaks, nothing...At full throttle it's louder, but it DOESN'T sound much different. THUS those of you who say it sounds like a Subaru with aftermarket pipes, you're all full of it. But definitely more volume when you get on it. I wouldn't say it's unbearable, so those of you who have contemplated a catless DP for those reasons, don't worry about it.

Drive: I felt a noticeable difference...it's fun, there's almost a whooshing sound when you get on it. I felt more power lower in the RPMS, espeically in 1st gear opposed to when I put the 2.90" pulley in. Now I need a tune...

A special thanks to Alex for installing this.

Video

 

wow u took like 100 pics lol looks good

 

What a noob...why don't you make a tutorial of how to get 5 bolts out?

The only video we want of you is one like this

...Just giving you trouble jimmy

 

How do you like that wideband son? How much did you pay for the dp?

 

I just got a ZZP 3" catless DP, with a 2.5" flange for the stock cat-back, that I put on my car. The rest of the exhaust is stock. My car is noticably louder now. It isn't as loud as my bro's SS/SC with the GMPP sport catback, but louder then stock. Maybe since you already have the cat-back it negates any real difference the downpipe makes? That doesn't sound right but it's my best guess. I also have the nifty wooshing noise, nice to know it isn't something wrong with the car . The comparison to a subaru exhaust may not be that far off with my current setup, it sounds really...weird for a cobalt. It kind of does sound like a subaru *pouts*. Maybe a cat-back will fix that problem hehe.

On a side note, for those of us that are un-lucky enough to only have 1 O2 sensor bung, and are using it for a wide-band (AEM UEGO in this case), the stock after-cat O2 sensor clip is actually push-pinned into the top of the rear transmission mount. It took me forever to find that damned sensor clip.

I also broke a total of 3 bolts getting my exhaust apart, 1500 miles on the car, no rust anywhere... (I think I failed bolt removal school). A corded drill, some titanium tipped drill bits, and grade 8 nuts and matching bolts/washers from Lowes makes everything better .


Note: I am not trying to thread jack or say the ZZP catless DP is better, I'm just giving a comparison of another car with a catless downpipe, but different exhaust setup.

 

DP looks nice man! I cant wait to drive up to CED and get the extrude honed manifold and the R/T DP. Good job with the pics!

Mike

 

^ Man, that thing is just to insane...that kid blowing his brains out is just sick...specailly when your girl is talking about hurting herself...bleh

Anyways, Nice pic! I painted me GMP manifold with high temp paint and it looks like its polished or chromed. Don't like how the stock cast turns rustic...other then that everything looks great.

 

More power in the lower RPMs? Bet you're ready to limit boost in 1st gear via HPTuners; looks like you'll have to disable the second O2 sensor ASAP anywho.

You're getting ahead of me with the mods, I've been slowed down while I wait for gauges to arrive...

 

looking forward to the vids

infernokron, can you get a vid id like to hear what no cat+stock DP sounds like

 

Got a couple of questions. Why does the second o2 sensor need to be disabled? And you said something about limiting boost in first gear. Can you explain why? I'm just wondering so dont kill me. haha

 

That sure looks like a xtc downpipe, i have the same one, and it has a vibrant flange?

-Scott

 

1) It'll constantly throw a catalyst inefficiency code and light up the check engine light if left active.
2) To gain traction in the top of 1st gear instead of sending the tires up in smoke.

 

you didnt notice a sound difference , i just put on the zzp 2.5 w cat and i noticed a much deeper sound

 

The volume is louder...maybe a little deeper but not much.

I bought it from a guy who said it was an XTC...then I saw that Vibrant flange...I don't know.

The second 02 sensor is for wideband. I don't have wideband so there's a "blank" 02 sensor in there to fill in the whole

I was disappointed when we turned the car on that we didn't hear a different sound note. Maybe it's because of the resonator?

 

Who's your welder.......had it a little high/hot don't you think

BTW thanks for tons of pics......good for a how to

 

Oh and I'm workin' on the video...

Where's my friggin' rep people?!

 

+1 .....or how ever much it's worth

 

+rep cant wait to see the vid

WTF nevermind it wont let me give you any yet for some reason

 

It's almost done...it's not that exciting all just warning you...Not like the others I've done

 

I just wanna hear it with the all your mods becuase thats the route I was gonna go with my mods.

 

Video is up! Check post 3

 

Sounds good man, definitly can hear a change in the sound. Any chance you could get a fly by vid sometime?

 

Yeah I'll make a better video...maybe tomorrow