Installed Arqray Single Ti W/ Larini De-Cat *Video Inside!

[L3x]

Well I finally installed the this setup, and I must say it does live up to expectations that I've been reading on the forum. My first impression upon starting up the car was shocking, this set up is LOUD. I've driven many street cars and no other set up I've come across was this this loud.

I find it embarrassing to start up this beast at night (I only tend to go out for spirited runs at night) because at start up, it really roars and I don't want a rude awakening to my neighbors. So what I tend to do now is keep my garage closed to when I fire it up to warm up. I've been skeptical about how this setup would sound like even though I've seen about a dozen videos but I must say, the sound decibels may not do it justice, but the overall tone and manner of the exhaust note is pretty similar to those videos I've seen. So for people who are in search of their setup, you can expect to have a similar tone with the videos you watch, but I do caution, this set up is extremely loud.

As for performance gains, I don't really necessarily feel a bigger difference although my ears are biased in thinking this thing is now a beast, the overall acceleration is quiet the same. The RPMs do seem to climb up a bit smoother and faster, but then again, that may be the sound that's giving me the bias. At WOT, this machine is a dream to listen to, it really does scream out very pleasurable tones. This setup is kind of giving me a bad habit as I want to be WOT at all times just to listen to the beautiful exhaust note. Another great thing about the exhaust is that it pops and gurgles quiet often, and when it gets hot enough, some nice back firing occurs as well.Some feedback from my friends have said it sounded like a crotch rocket, a Ferrari (I didn't think so), and even a plane flying over their heads. For those who are wondering how moderate driving sounds were, there is pretty much no droning with this system (Not that I noticed) and it is possible to drive it at a moderate sound level under 3000 RPM. I don't find it irritating at all and find it quiet nice. Some have said it sounds kind of ricey under 3000 RPM but I definitely don't think so.

As for my complaints, I only have 2. First off, my CEL went on and that's not a surprise as I haven't bypassed the 02 sensors yet. But what's really troubling me at the moment is that the car keeps stalling at idle. The revs at idle are very unstable and I have to blip the throttle quiet often when I'm at a stop to keep it from stalling. I get worried when cops are beside me as I have a dilemma of blipping the throttle to keep it alive or just let it stall and start the thing back up. Both can attract their attention as its quiet loud. Another issue is that I definately cannot drive this thing in heavily conjested traffic or rush hour as I'll have to keep blipping the throttle. This gets very annoying as I constantly have to do this but I am in search for a solution. If anyone has any insights, please let me know! As for my other complaint, the carbon build up on the car is quiet noticable as my car is aspen white. I was expecting this as this wasn't the first time I had a cat-less set up. However, the entire half of the back end is yellowish off white and I'll have to clay bar the car quiet often. This can be annoying but I definitely think its worth the trade off.

Overall I'm very pleased with this set up and I do encourage those who don't mind loud systems to get this set up. The titanium tip that sticks out is extremely nice to look at and when this thing is WOT, its always music to my ears. Now with no further a due, here's the video:

As everyone who owns this system would say and I agree, this video doesn't do the exhaust note ANY justice.

YouTube - Lotus Exige -S

This video should give you insight as to how loud this system is. I started WOT around 6 streets down and by the time I passed the camera I was in 4th so that should tell you something on how loud this thing really is

[robains]

You would have lean the car out with no cat and higher flowing exhaust, you need to add some fuel. The post cat O2 will be reading way off and likely push the sensor out of range (hence the CEL).

If you put the cat back on and then measure the voltage from reading (under load), take the cat off, measure voltage under same load. If the voltage range is higher without cat, then you can probably add a potentiometer ($2 radio shack part) and vary the resistance til you match the same voltage range as when you have a cat.

I believe this is the gray wire, black is ground and two whites are for pre-heat. Need to check.

Example:
With Cat: volts read 1 - 4v
Without Cat: volts read 4-5v

It might take more than just a potentiometer, but it's a start. Typically the O2 sensors are linear (but not always).

If the voltage range is lower without cat, then you'll need to "assist" the range readings and that will require more than just a resistor.

You'll want to clear the CEL though before adding fuel either via a Charlie flash or external ECU (EFI). You've probably got a good 7-10 whp laying dormant until flashed or fueled. On these cars, 10 whp IS noticeable.

[L3x]

Originally Posted by robains

You would have lean the car out with no cat and higher flowing exhaust, you need to add some fuel. The post cat O2 will be reading way off and likely push the sensor out of range (hence the CEL).

If you put the cat back on and then measure the voltage from reading (under load), take the cat off, measure voltage under same load. If the voltage range is higher without cat, then you can probably add a potentiometer ($2 radio shack part) and vary the resistance til you match the same voltage range as when you have a cat.

I believe this is the gray wire, black is ground and two whites are for pre-heat. Need to check.

Example:
With Cat: volts read 1 - 4v
Without Cat: volts read 4-5v

It might take more than just a potentiometer, but it's a start. Typically the O2 sensors are linear (but not always).

If the voltage range is lower without cat, then you'll need to "assist" the range readings and that will require more than just a resistor.

You'll want to clear the CEL though before adding fuel either via a Charlie flash or external ECU (EFI). You've probably got a good 7-10 whp laying dormant until flashed or fueled. On these cars, 10 whp IS noticeable.

Thanks for the heads up but I have no idea how to do that. I'll try to see if I can find a solution here, but its doubtful. Do you know of anymore possible solutions?

[Noisycow]

Start it up in the garage? I'd have to push it out of my neighborhood - then start it up.