LSD Power-4 Exhaust Installed - FA5

[PhobosFA5]

So I finally ponied up the dough for the LSD Power-4 exhaust system (Power-4 is the Sedan version, the coupe gets the J-Sport). The shipping was pretty damn fast and it was packed very well. In fact, it took me a little while to get the thing out of the box because it was sealed inside with packing foam, pretty cool. So it took me a while to get the positioning right on the jackstands with my slightly sloping driveway. But after I had it solid and sturdy it only took about an hour. None of the bolts were too hard to "break", though the positioning of the top bolt where it connects to the cat was pretty annoying :P

So, having installed it myself, here are my thoughts on the package:

-Installation was pretty nice, especially with the V-Band clamps. I had to remove 5 bolts from the OEM, but I only had to put 3 back on technically... It can take a few minutes to get the clamp positioned if the pipes are not sitting flush, but once its on, its on.

-The tip looks great, clean looking stainless steel, diameter isn't too wide, and the tip doesn't stick out too far. I have noticed that, after driving the car for a while and examining the tip that there is a slight smell of burning and what looks like steam coming out of the muffler. Upon examining the bumper, paint, rubber hangers, and anything else that could be causing it, I have seen no damage. I'm assuming the exhuast pipes are just "burning in" so to speak, does that sound about right?

-The SOUND is great, very aggressive, nowhere near "rice". Its obviously not the same sound that comes from a V-8 powerhouse, but it is distinctly a great sound for an import car.

-The LOUDNESS however, is one of the few things I'm having an issue with... Driving in a neighborhood, shifting at 1.5k-2k, it seems quite loud. I'd say it's on par with my radio set to volume 25, with the difference that the exhaust sound is being projected outward rather than inward. Getting up to speed on normal roads, with the radio going and noise from other cars, its only slightly louder than I'd expect, and driving on the highway is awesome. The sound of the car when it's revving up to 8k is nothing short of amazing, it puts a smile on my face every time. While maintaining a steady speed of 65-75 there is minimal droning. It is present, as it would be on almost any aftermarket exhaust, but it also depends on how much throttle you tend to keep open while maintaining that speed. If I attain the speed I'm aiming for and then just coast for a while, I can't hear a thing.

-I can also feel a good difference in performance, mostly in the midrange. Of course, our stock exhaust wasn't very restrictive in the first place, and I'm not claiming that I can feel exactly 13.5 more horsepower (as it is advertised), but rather just a more responsive feel through the range of the tach. (It's probably closer to 6 or 7 HP to the wheels, I doubt it hits as high as advertised).

So in closing, I realize this thread already fails due to a lack of pictures :P I'll see about getting some pictures/video up in the next few days... I love everything about this exhaust, with exception to the price and the volume of the exhaust note. However, neither are so bad that I wouldn't recommend this setup for my fellow FA5ers. Hopefully LSD comes out with a removeable silencer attachment that I would be able to use for my daily driving needs, but other than that, they do great work :)

*edit2* LOUDNESS update! So I've been a little worrisome all day because of how loud the system sounds when driving (all windows down and sunroof open). However, my worries have been allayed! My dad came home and I asked him if he thought it was loud, to which he responded with "why don't I drive it down the street and you can hear for yourself". I am extremely glad he did this. The car has a wonderful sound and its nowhere near as loud as I was thinking. In fact, it seems just about perfect. With that out of the way I can safely say my money was well spent and would recommend this to those Sedan drivers who don't want to get the 2in. extension :) Actually, scratch that, I would recommend this to any Si owner, this is definitely an exhaust setup worth having.

*edit* PICS! These were taken with my cellphone. They came out surprisingly well, considering its a camera phone I also took a couple of videos with my phone, but quite on the contrary to the photos, they were surprisingly bad :\ Between the wind and other cars driving by, the poor quality of the mic did the sound no justice At this point I'm not gonna post them, as I'd rather not give the wrong impression about how it really sounds.

[SCSi]

Thanks for the review, I have been debating between this and the vibrant for a while now, and I think im going to go for it. The price is about on par what you would pay for a normal exhaust, plus the welds to the midpipe. Atleast that is my justification for the 6 hundies.

Also, thanks in advance for the videos, we need good sound clips.

[Clutchmaster]

pics?

[jocasti]

nice write up!! ive been looking into LSD for a few weeks but hardly anyone has this setup. Cant wait for them pics!!

[sidecut305]

[ensoniq]

Buy it =D ... I've had it for nearly a month now. Love it.

And I have pics of mine, Its in the Corsport section. Under their LSD thread.

[PhobosFA5]

Bump for pics

[PhobosFA5]

Bump for Loudness update

[ensoniq]

If you want videos search youtube, LSD themselves have posted sound clips, as well as 2 other members including me... Its not hard to find soundclips... and I'll post more this weekend.

[PhobosFA5]

Personally I thought the sound clip from LSD themselves was invalidated by the fact that the test car was driving down a road lined with large trucks.. which made it echo quite a bit more than what it sounds like IRL (I think you would agree with me on that?) Plus nobody hates variety when they are making a $600 decision :P

[07mugencivic]

looks cleans....

[sidecut305]

Thanks for the pics, looks awesome...glad you're liking it!

[jokka]

just got mine installed.. it's pretty loud

Did you get any white smoke coming out from the exhaust right after installation ?

[ensoniq]

Only smoke I had was from the WD-40 burning off when it dripped off the rubber hanger onto the canister .... and its not that loud! Its sexy soundin!

[jokka]

it's very very deep.

[PhobosFA5]

Originally Posted by jokka

just got mine installed.. it's pretty loud

Did you get any white smoke coming out from the exhaust right after installation ?

Yeah, I had a wispy white smoke coming out the end for a few days, but I checked again today after driving around and there was nothing.. Not sure what it was, but I'm guessing the insides of the pipes were just "burning in" for lack of a better term.

I had my DCRH installed today, and it didn't really get much louder... the sound is more aggressive, and it seems like the first couple thousand RPMs are slightly louder, but when cruising there is less overall "drone". I'm pretty satisfied

[JMorris]

To me this is the best sounding exhaust out, mainly because of the sound on deceleration. I didn't buy it because of the reported drone. Like a dumb ass I got the skunkII 60mm. Ya it sounds killer when you get on it and it made a good bit of power but it's a poor choice for me, too loud. Might as well have got the lsd and not had to weld the 2".

[Juss]

Are you sure it isn't loud inside and outside? 'Cause i don't want to make a second mistake i've done the first time with my Scion tC. I'm thinking GReddy Ti-C or LSD......at least GReddy comes with a silener, does the LSD come with one? And is the LSD 60mm?

[JMorris]

If you are concerned with volume I would get the evoII. Both the tic and lsd will probably be loud, though I have not heard either in person.

[Juss]

^^ yeah i know what you're saying about the EVO II....but everyone has that exhaust, my dad has it on his IS300. I wanna get somethin different.