My 3M aerosol clear bra started to Bruce Jenner into an opaque bra, so this weekend we commenced peeling. Its like the car got a sunburn.



3M Paint Defender, part number 90000. $25 a can, just ordered 2 more.

 

how long did you have that on there????? ^^^

 

Back from my mini vacation and had some open space on the way to work in Mexico.
Nothing says "welcome home" like slipping tires at 110mph.

 

You work in mexico ?

 

Tony, you're crazy for working in Mexico LOL and crazy for driving that fast on an open highway in Mexico

 

Since last July, so about 9 months and a LOT of miles.

 

Really no but it's a running gag for the locals.

 

I like the older tachometer style with the prominent redline marking. The little tick mark my '12 has at redline is hard to see at a quick glance.

Mexico. Righttttt

 

Parked today for a long lunch at a remote restaurant, visiting with a friend. He wants me to rev the engine while he listens out back, and in that moment the acoustics were just right, and I've been getting accustomed with the new exhaust for over a week.

The short story: I heard the dreaded hiss that makes AroundTheG37 so miserable. On decel, after revving quickly from idle, like there's a soupcan with BB's in it, getting spun around. Only for a split second, but repeatable.

So that happened.

 

The question becomes, are you always going to be listening to for it, letting it drive you a little crazier every day, or ignore it?

I guess I'm not sure why FI is held in such high regard around here:
--incomplete/missing/cheap hardware
--missing hangers
--long lead times
--hiss

And didn't Alfredos cats have issues with the welds? I dont get it

 

I tried to listen for it afterwards, and failed. I don't think I'll have trouble ignoring something that isn't in my face. However, if I lived and worked in a daily environment where the acoustics put this in my face, then yes... I'd probably go insane. Parking garage, maybe? IDK. AroundTheG37 seems to have a freakishly good ear for abnormal sounds, and he was right about this one.

To your other points:

They gave me two 2-bolt gaskets on the assumption that you re-use the gaskets at the cats. My mechanic didn't want to do that, hence the need for another pair.

They gave me exactly enough nuts and bolts, each flanged and serrated. The observation that I'd prefer stainless steel is my own issue.

The cans only have one hanger, and that seems OK. I'm probably not going to have another welded on. The cats, however... yes, that's a bad design. They need to support the cross-member there.

The lead times are disclosed up-front. Impatience doesn't change that fact.

The hiss... I very much suspect this is a natural acoustic artifact of the VQ37HR, which is normally masked by the OEM exhaust.

Yes, one of Alfredo's cats snapped its welds. And FI replaced it under warranty.

 

FI RHFC finally going in this Thursday.
paired with an ARK catback

 

I can only speak to this so far, and I have to agree. Very, very up front about the time it will take to build these out. People love them, and most guys I know that have them, love them. One of the guys in my club has them on his 370Z, and it's epically amazing. He would never go anything else, and that's a huge turnon...just saying. I feel like FI has done their due diligence in ensuring they made a quality item that sounds epic, but I haven't received my stuff yet, so what do I know?

 

I just wish Fast Intentions had a better answer for this hiss and rasp because they guaranteed no rasp yet I have it. WTF

 

I've been trying to piece together SS replacement hardware for the exhaust. So far, I've acquired six 3/8" coarse-thread flange bolts with matching 3/8" flange nuts, each with serrated flanges, and in stainless steel. And actually, that took some doing, between a local fastener store for the nuts, and a place in Albany NY that had the bolts.

However, I'm having a b1tch of a time finding the same in 7/16"... of which I need 8 sets. Apparently, 7/16" is not a common configuration when you throw in the requirement of stainless steel and serrated flanges.

Grrr. I'm wondering if 1/2" will fit. Or metric 11 or 12?