American Racing Headers Long Tubes (w/ Off-road X) Installed!
07-30-2009, 03:23 PM
#1
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Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Merritt Island, FL
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American Racing Headers Long Tubes (w/ Off-road X) Installed!
On Tuesday, I had American Racing Headers 1 5/8" long tube headers installed with matching off-road X-pipe. Real Street Performance installed the headers, and I got a tune from Brenspeed to accommodate the long tubes.
I had a hell of a time with the X3 tuning device. The last time I uploaded a tune, the serial number of the device was not required for the tune. That is no longer the case. As a result I needed to update the firmware on the tuner. Before you update the firmware, you must return to the stock tune which results in a non-drivable car due to the fact that I have a JLT CAI.
When I tried to update the firmware on the X3 with the X3 firware update from SCT's website, the tuner died. Not cool. With a non-drivable car and 30 mins away, you could imagine that someone got a 'Hey, whacha doin' right now?' sort of question. Not too fun.
After researching old purchase orders, looking up info at the SCT website, and getting calls from both American Muscle and SCT, I found out some very interesting information. My X3 was sold to me before July 25th, 2008. (I bought mine June 6th, 2008). As a result, my X3 is no longer considered an X3, but rather is considered a SF3. I then had RSP update the tuner, and BAM! It worked! I came over from work (another 30 min drive lol) uploaded the tune and drove away.
First impressions: YES! The thing is loud. The video below doesn't do it justice at all. Not even close. Not loud when during idle and not much louder than stock (from inside the car that is) when cruising. My Borla stingers still have the drone, but I don't think it is as pronounced as it was before. My main worry that when I bought the LTs w/ OR X was that the sound would be too raspy. It is very raspy, but in a good kind of way. The only problem is around 2500 rpms, it can sometimes trumpet and sound kinda metallic depending on the rate that I am accelerating. That is not too desirable. It'll work for now, but I think there might just be a giant muffler hunt in my future. Anyways, here is a crappy digital camera video.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfKuToOlHKE[/youtube]
I had a hell of a time with the X3 tuning device. The last time I uploaded a tune, the serial number of the device was not required for the tune. That is no longer the case. As a result I needed to update the firmware on the tuner. Before you update the firmware, you must return to the stock tune which results in a non-drivable car due to the fact that I have a JLT CAI.
When I tried to update the firmware on the X3 with the X3 firware update from SCT's website, the tuner died. Not cool. With a non-drivable car and 30 mins away, you could imagine that someone got a 'Hey, whacha doin' right now?' sort of question. Not too fun.
After researching old purchase orders, looking up info at the SCT website, and getting calls from both American Muscle and SCT, I found out some very interesting information. My X3 was sold to me before July 25th, 2008. (I bought mine June 6th, 2008). As a result, my X3 is no longer considered an X3, but rather is considered a SF3. I then had RSP update the tuner, and BAM! It worked! I came over from work (another 30 min drive lol) uploaded the tune and drove away.
First impressions: YES! The thing is loud. The video below doesn't do it justice at all. Not even close. Not loud when during idle and not much louder than stock (from inside the car that is) when cruising. My Borla stingers still have the drone, but I don't think it is as pronounced as it was before. My main worry that when I bought the LTs w/ OR X was that the sound would be too raspy. It is very raspy, but in a good kind of way. The only problem is around 2500 rpms, it can sometimes trumpet and sound kinda metallic depending on the rate that I am accelerating. That is not too desirable. It'll work for now, but I think there might just be a giant muffler hunt in my future. Anyways, here is a crappy digital camera video.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfKuToOlHKE[/youtube]
07-30-2009, 03:28 PM
#2
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Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Spring, TX
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My X3 was sold to me before July 25th, 2008. (I bought mine June 6th, 2008). As a result, my X3 is no longer considered an X3, but rather is considered a SF3. I then had RSP update the tuner, and BAM! It worked! I came over from work (another 30 min drive lol) uploaded the tune and drove away.
I think SCT needs to hire a new software development manager.
07-30-2009, 03:28 PM
#3
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Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Orlando, FL
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07-30-2009, 03:32 PM
#4
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He did like my wheels. 
I mentioned that you said this was a good shop, and he said that you should probably have a blown engine by now. He says you've done practically everything to blow that engine, and somehow miraculously you haven't. Pretty funny stuff there!
I mentioned that you said this was a good shop, and he said that you should probably have a blown engine by now. He says you've done practically everything to blow that engine, and somehow miraculously you haven't. Pretty funny stuff there!
07-30-2009, 06:38 PM
#7
It's loud enough just without trumpeting and I'm sure it flows pretty well.
I used to have an O/R H before the LTs and it used to trumpet a lot.
Congrats on the new headers, I'm sure you're loving the new found power.
07-30-2009, 06:50 PM
#9
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07-31-2009, 07:42 AM
#10
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So as for the trumpeting issue with the stingers, what would be a good axle-back muffler to get rid of the trumpeting as well as helping reduce some of raspiness caused by the O/R X. I would like to keep the O/R X and just do a muffler change out.