blackbmagic

I purchased the sinister 4" exhaust from hawks. I was extremely pleased when it arrived. Though I could have done without some of the marks made while in the bender. Having been working with it and seeing it on my car for a few weeks now, Its not all that large. When I first layed eyes on it, I was udderly impressed on how ridiculously huge it was.

I liked the quality of the bends, no crimps, crinkles or ripples. The welds were very professional and the provision for the rear hanger was in just the right spot. What I didn't like was the 4" to 3" adapter welded on(what a waste) Needless to say I got rid of that. Overall nice quality. Hawks hooked me up with 4th gen hardware and quality band clamps.


All was great, Until of course the day came when it was time to install. The mid pipe came no where near the front y-pipe. Not only did it not come near the y-pipe, but it wasn't even lined up horizontally or vertically.

A little disappointment, but still overly satisfied with the quality of the kit. Being I can fabricate, and do fabrication work on a daily basis it was no huge deal other than a few bucks out of my pocket.

I had to purchase a 4' section of 4" diameter exhaust pipe, as well as two 4" diameter J-bends. As well as a 4" band clamp to hook up to my custom Y-pipe.

I added a 1' section to the existing kit towards the front of the vehicle. then welded on a J-bend, another 2' section towards the rocker panel, and then another J toward the front attaching it to the Ypipe. So it would clear the floor pan.



Everything else in the rear lined up more than perfect, and looks absolutely killer. I'm a huge fan of the hideaway tip one of the main reasons I purchases the system. I am currently waiting on the simple finishing parts to my engine(radiator, PS pump, Belts), and I will post some sound clips. Cam is a custom comp 270/280 .480 lift and 108LSA. It should sound very nice.

The exhaust hangs down even with the torque arm, so coming from a low hanging true dual setup I am quite the happy customer. All said and done I dropped a whopping $430 for the exhaust shipped and then another $100 for the extra 4" pipes and 4" SS clamp from Airflo.com.

UnderCover89TBI

iTrader: (25)

so thier is no muffler? I like the setup. and like you aI am a fan of the exhaust tip not showing. great job.

blackbmagic

No, muffler. Sinister kit is made to have a removable rear mid section, you can add a muffler and band clamps at any time in a few minutes.

UnderCover89TBI

iTrader: (25)

that's what I thought. sweet. I like it.

blackbmagic

Here is a sound clip of the first startup untuned.
Here it is

Anybody have experience with borla xr-1 mufflers? Needless to say I want one.

BlackenedBird

iTrader: (5)

Looks like it is made to reach the cat, which it didn't reach where you wanted it to for your application. So basically you are running an open exhaust with a long pipe. It will sound better after you get it finished.

blackbmagic

It is a finished exhaust. Far from an open exhaust through a long pipe. There are hours of fabrication work involved in getting a 4" pipe to fit under an F-body while keeping stock ground clearance all while mating with a custom 3" y-pipe.

Will it sound better with a muffler, doubt it. Will it sound quieter with a muffler, yes I am quite sure it will. The system is designed to be used as a straight exhaust with provisions to use a muffler on the street. Thanks though.

Thirdgen89GTA

iTrader: (5)

If it works for you and floats your boat, go for it.

Personally it sounds too loud for the street.

I have heard the XR-1s in a few sound clips, but none in person. I like the sound from the clips but that all depends on how it was recorded. The input levels, outside, or inside....etc.

bartstalder

I like the setup look but the sound clip wasnt working for me. Do you have other clips that you could post or PM to me. Really like the look.

UnderCover89TBI

iTrader: (25)

Eh dont like it. too loud and doesnt sound good to me. too obnoxious. thats why I got the cutout

Orr89RocZ

iTrader: (20)

I had a xr-1 clone muffler on my 383 single 4". Did didnt muffler much but had a KILLER WOT tone! Insanely awesome. I switched to a dynomax ultraflo round 6" case and it did alot better on sound absorbtion, but was still loud. Had good tone tho.

System looks great. I think its 100 bucks too much money for what you get, but its quality. I may buy one for my 4th gen car which has a 3" SLP system on it now. I'd put on my xr-1 or ultraflo muffler tho, right under the gas tank section probably and just dump after. Problem is I LOVE exhaust tips and with a trans am, they are designed to have tips out the back. Not sure I could get used to the look.

blackbmagic

Best part about it is you don't have install one. Sounds 100% better than a cut tout. Dozens of builds under my belt speaking that opinion. Provisions for a muffler when on the street, and no muffler when tracking it. Also come out cheaper than the mufflex kit allowing you to purchase a better muffler.

I don't think its the best sounding exhaust either out of everything I have heard in my life time. As any one can tell.. in person> digi-cam sound. Most of the sound comes from the cam. When you are near the car you get that certain sensation when you know something sounds/feels good. The quality and craftsmanship is there IMO that's a job well done.

A lot of people think the sound of the car comes from the exhaust. Exhaust only slightly changes the sound but mostly altering decibel levels. Cam/Compression/Heads/headers will all alter the sound. Not so much the exhaust.

I do want a muffler though, I have heard the hush powers quiet noisy systems down a lot. I wasnt ever a fan of flowmaster, so I am still thinking about the xr-1. I will look into the ultraflo.

J91

How about giving it some throttle I mean all it's doing in the vid is idling. Would like to hear it at higher rpm.....

blackbmagic

On a fresh rebuild, timing not adjusted 100%, carb not tuned, and just finishing cam break in at 9:00 at night. Yea it was just idling.

Now that the cam is broken in the carb is tuned and the timing is set, I might post up another clip with a few burps of the throttle soon.

Orr89RocZ

iTrader: (20)

Heres an open 4" over the axle on a 406 miniram motor. This is basically the same kind of exhaust, longtubes into ypipe into 4" straight over axle, no muffler

Its the best sounding car I've ever heard, or should I say fbody i've ever heard. Its unreal in person. Some cars sound good with open pipes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVUNNFoz2_8

J91

Thx guys....

UnderCover89TBI

iTrader: (25)

My cutout sounds good though

88gunmetalgta

iTrader: (1)

MOAR PICS!!!

I want to see just how the hideaway tip looks from different heights and angles.


I've been looking at the sinister setup for a while now, and when I get the LT's, this is the exhaust I'm going with. I will prolly also use an XR-1 oval muffler as well, so I expect some high quality sound clips if you decide to go that route

t-top havoc

iTrader: (3)

Heh heh heh.........
Sounds like a race car!!!
Careful not to excite the Mustangs............

RubberDucky

iTrader: (4)

Lol, should put this on my V6.

White'89

iTrader: (8)

x2 against flowmaster. Almost all the exhaust jobs we do we use a flowmaster knockoff, and for half the price they sound identical.

Never used Borla myself but we had a c4 corvette in the shop one time with a borla catback and the idle wasn't crazy but just like Orr said the wot sound was AMAZING.

UnderCover89TBI

iTrader: (25)

flowmaster ripoffs? like the IMCO mufflers?

blackbmagic

I will grab some more pics of the hideaway tonight, you can tuck it up pretty far but I have mine just below flush with the bumper. I didnt want any exhaust getting up into the bumper causing resonance/ bouncing sound forward.

As for the sound clips I really want to get some better sound clips but my camera phone just lacks so much sound quality. Not sure what else to use.


Edit: I found some pictures. I really try to avoid taking pictures of the rear, it was rear-ended. Bad enough to stress the paint but not bad enough to break the bumper cover.